Know anything about washing machines?

[Swerd]

I have to replace a 10 or 11 year old washing machine . It was a Maytag that I bought new in either 2002 or 2003. At that time, I didn't know it, but that well-known washing machine maker was already trailing black smoke and was soon going to fail.

All my prior experience with washing machines pointed in one clear direction – get a Maytag and ignore the other brands. A Maytag washer could easily last for 25 to 35 years. The others, maybe 12 to 15 years. Prior to the washer I now have (which is circling the drain), I had bought a used/rebuilt Maytag in 1984 for $250. I had that until 2002 or 03, so it lasted nearly 20 years in its second life!

Unfortunately, Maytag as it once was, is history. The name exists but it isn't at all the same. Also, since the last time I had to shop for a washer, the whole industry seems to have changed. In addition to the time tested top loaders, there are front loaders, and new "high efficiency" top loading machines. All of them are controlled by "smart" microprocessors. But the shocker for me was the price. As high as $1200 !

So without lengthy debate about the different designs, is there any washing machine that is as bullet-proof as the old Maytags were? Or should I just pick what ever model is on special and stop worrying about it?

[Alex2507]

A purchase like that for me warrants a $25 subscription to consumer reports. That's all I know.

[96cobra10101]

I know what you mean. I bought a used kenmore at my old house and it lasted for over 10 years, and still serving the new owners. I can say my Samsung front loaders are doing well. They are stacked, very efficient in terms of energy, use less soap, and are much quieter than the washers and dryers from the "old days". As for price, watch for sales. I bought mine on black Friday for less than half their normal price. While everyone was fighting over laptops and flat panels, I was getting great customer service from the appliance sales person, as wifey and me were her only customers.

[Swerd]

I'm hoping I can avoid paying $25 to Consumer Reports. I probably shouldn't paint with such a broad brush, bu I lost confidence in them a long time ago.

The only thing useful I could find online for free about washing machines was on Wikipedia. It said that in the US, the front loading washers are being marketed as the desirable high priced washers. In Europe and Asia, the top loaders are marketed as the premium high priced models, and the front loaders are the bargain models. So which is it?

We spent some time in a local appliance store yesterday. It looks like $600 or more for a new one. In my local Lowe's and Home Depot, the prices are the same, unless you ask for delivery and hauling away the old machine, then it's more.

[TLS Guy]

This a huge problem these days.

Appliances have higher failure rates than ever. One of our high end ovens purchased in 2006 recently gave trouble. I contacted the big outfit I have used for service before and bought parts from. I know the office girl well. She said these modern appliances are failing at such a rate they can't keep up. All the repair outfits in Bemidji are having to share resources and work. I asked the local vendor in Walker, if there were seeing abnormally warranty work. The owner Jeff said : - "Truthfully, yes."

We had to replace our stove at Eagan a few months ago. I asked the repair man who looked at the old one which products to avoid. He immediately said anything made in the Far East, especially if it says Samsung or LG. He said they go wrong often, are hard to fix and it takes an eternity to get parts.

He directed me to a small father, mother and daughter shop, in Inver Grove Heights. He gets all his parts from them. They sell and have a recycling business. They try and only stock what gives least trouble.

They sold us an appliance for a price well below Best Buy and the lowest Internet price. The charged a very modest installation fee. They were out in an hour, took the old stove and installed the new. The installer did not like our gas hookup and asked if he could change the entire connecting hose. They would not take any extra payment in case we thought they were padding the bill.

They say that on the whole Whirlpool and GE appliances cause the least trouble. That would include Maytag which is owned by Whirlpool. All Maytag washers are US made now, they no longer make any in the Far East because of quality problems.

They are really nice people and I'm sure they won't mind if you give them a call. They are a really nice family. They can tell which units breakdown excessively and why.

[BoredSysAdmin]

Swerd, I can run few searches for you on consumer reports. What's your top budget?
According to CR among front loaders reliability as follows:
Front loaders winners: LG and Samsung
and in Top loaders winners (about tie)
Roper, Kenmore and Maytag

[Swerd]

This a huge problem these days.

… I asked the repair man who looked at the old one which products to avoid. He immediately said anything made in the Far East, especially if it says Samsung or LG. He said they go wrong often, are hard to fix and it takes an eternity to get parts.

… They say that on the whole Whirlpool and GE appliances cause the least trouble. That would include Maytag which is owned by Whirlpool. All Maytag washers are US made now, they no longer make any in the Far East because of quality problems.

They are really nice people and I'm sure they won't mind if you give them a call. They are a really nice family. They can tell which units breakdown excessively and why.

Thanks for the info. It confirms what little I've been able to learn. Although Whirlpool may be like the General Motors of washers & driers (they own Maytag and Amana and apparently make Kenmore under contract) at least they abandoned Asian manufacture. They may be no worse than GE, but prior(now distant past) experience I've had with large GE appliances has led me to make them last on the list.

The Korean Samsung and LG are said to make good front loading washers, but my wife insists she won't have one. I'll gladly follow her preference on this. Her prior somewhat limited experience with them is that they don't clean clothes as well as top loading machines. When she found out about the problems with their door seals (they leak or retain moisture allowing mold growth), she said "over my dead body".

Thanks for the tip about that local dealer. I wish they delivered to Maryland.

Swerd, I can run few searches for you on consumer reports. What's your top budget?

Thanks for the offer: Front loading washers in the $600 to $800 price range. Lower than $600 is fine.

A local dealer has a Whirlpool WTW5700XW on sale for $600. With delivery, installation & new hoses, haul old washer away, and sales tax it would come to $762. The salesman claims rebates of $150 are available, so the total would be $612.

Is there anything that CR might say to eliminate that model?

[mtrycrafts]

...

The Korean Samsung and LG are said to make good front loading washers, but my wife insists she won't have one. I'll gladly follow her preference on this. Her prior somewhat limited experience with them is that they don't clean clothes as well as top loading machines. When she found out about the problems with their door seals (they leak or retain moisture allowing mold growth), she said "over my dead body".

Yep, at time this is also like audio, an issue of preference.
Front loaders are very efficient, much more so that top loaders and, contrary to your better half's limited experience, washing ability is better than many if not all top loaders.
Yes, the seal needs attention, needs to be dried inside and outside after final use and the door window wiped dry as it can accumulate small particles otherwise that may cause dripping. We have an LG almost 6 years old with no issues. Saves a lot of water and it spins the heck out of clothes so the dryer uses less energy as well.
We'll see how long it lasts. Ask me in 10 years if it is still in use here.

[KEW]

Many of the front loaders have a design flaw in that they have the ability to harbor mold in inaccessable cavities.
Especially if you or family have sinus issues, avoid Front loaders unless you can establish for certain that it does not have this issue.
http://www.eppsteiner.com/california-lawsuits-investigations/front-load-washer-mold-investigation.html
Moldy washer suit against Sears certified as a class-action - Chicago Tribune

I have a Kenmore Whirlpool High Efficiency top-loading washer and I really like how it operates. I think the best feature is the high speed spin which really kicks it - clothes just feel too light coming out of the washing machine because so much water got centrifuged out!

Edit - I bought it from Sears, but it is not Kenmore. It is a Whirlpool Cabrio Model number WTW5640XW2.

[Adam]

A purchase like that for me warrants a $25 subscription to consumer reports. That's all I know.

I'm hoping I can avoid paying $25 to Consumer Reports. I probably shouldn't paint with such a broad brush, bu I lost confidence in them a long time ago.

So I reached this point in the thread and thought, "Why doesn't Alex just send him some info? After all, you had him over for speakers and dinner."

But then, I reached BSA - good man!

Swerd, I can run few searches for you on consumer reports.

Granted, that doesn't get rid of your lack of confidence in them...