OT : Washing Machines ! What's Up ?

Kajun · Oct 25, 2018

Gentlefolk:

Our washing machine seems to be dying . So shopping for a new one.

So sorry to be uninformed ; are simple top-loading-washers with a gear-driven agitator no longer available ?

Obliged for all guidance and input .

Kajun the Old

big jt · Oct 25, 2018

I got one maybe 8 years ago. Bought it from a appliance dealer not a big box store. The guy I talked to is also one of the service techs told me it had the same components that are used in Laundromat machines and if I wanted a true top loader that was pretty much my choice. Top loaders without a agitator are just front loaders tipped on their backs.

The end run go to a appliance dealer that sells appliances and in my case does plumbing and HVAC work. My dealer is in a town of 3500 people so it isn't a big city thing.

jt

IanC · Oct 25, 2018

If you're going to a big box store that is all you're going to see because the profit margin on them is immense. Find a locally owned store that sells Speed Queen, you'll get 20+ years out of one in home use, 10 + in commercial. A little more money up front, but way less divided by the number of years you get out of it. Speed Queen also still makes units with manual controls instead of circuit (I'm just waiting to fail) boards.

Mike M · Oct 25, 2018

Last I looked they still sold them ? They were the low priced ones in the ad meant to get you into the store.

37chief · Oct 25, 2018

I think the simple washers are still out there. Others mentioned speed queen. I had a sears Kenmore I kept going for years, with a few parts through the years. Simple rotary timer. It finally was beyond repair. Several washers later I have a GE that just flops the clothes as the drum turns. Already had to replace the control panel. The wife needs to keep the front door open, because it molds when closed If I had to get another I would be in the same boat you are in now. I would go for a very simple brand. Stan

Bruce(OR) · Oct 25, 2018

The word I have gotten from other consumers is the front load machines are mechanical junk, expensive seal failures for one and do not use enough water to wash your clothes but rather beat them to death.
Repairing the old top loader water guzzling machine seems to be the way to go.

rustyfarmall · Oct 25, 2018

Speed Queen. The only way to go. You won't find one at any of the big box stores.

grandpa Love · Oct 25, 2018

We bought a top load with an agitater from Home Depot a few weeks ago. $500 or so. Works great. Cleans clothes good. Has option to let machine set water amount.....no good ,we use the deep water wash all the time.

rfridy73 · Oct 25, 2018

I made a big mistake,had a whirlpool for abut 28 years,it had been a good one.Anyhow it quit I didn?t want to repairit Whitehead was first mistake.went and got a new GE top loader with agitator in which you can?t hardly find second mistake we used it about 3 months that was the nearest nothing ever everyone hated or,would not get the clothes clean.my neighbor give me his old whirlpool fixed it all iwas needed a new lid switch still using it 3 years later works great,I parked that GE in the back side of the basement and that?s where it will stay.In short that neighbor bought a GE similar to mine,and has hated it every day since. You couldn?t run fast enough to give me anything GE makes.I called customer service to no satisfaction of course everything was my fault. Good riddance.

DoubleO7 · Oct 25, 2018

Better hurry Speed Queen is going to digital this and digital that and only offer a couple of mechanical timer function controller type machines.
In the last two or three years.

jddrawbar · Oct 25, 2018

We've had a front load Whirlpool for 16 yrs. without a single problem. Does a awesome job cleaning and has huge capacity, with low water usage. If and when it goes, there will be another one in it's place.

JMS/.MN · Oct 25, 2018

Watch for "moving" sales by individuals. Machine still working, just can"t take it with them, but look for older top-loaders. We bought a Maytag in "73, had it rebuilt 22 years later, last year it needed a new pump, then a tub seal. Otherwise, still working fine, but the kids bought us a new top-load Maytag, but nothing fancy. It does minimize water use...meaning little water, but you can fool it by throwing wet clothes in. Water injected goes by sensing weight, so it thinks the load is heavier, and uses more water, a decent amount.

Steve@Advance · Oct 25, 2018

I'm keeping the old Sears Whirlpool going as long as I can.

If it doesn't outlast me I'll look into a commercial duty machine, like what would be in an apartment complex or coin op facility.

They are expensive, but not that much more than a deluxe home duty that will die or be parts obsolete in a few years.

showcrop · Oct 25, 2018

There was a long thread on this just last week. As a rule front loaders, simply because the cylinder is on its side instead of on end, uses 1/3 the water to get the same depth of water as a top loader. Because of the way the front loaders lift and then drop the fabric the agitation is 3x greater than that of top loaders. These design factors are the main reason why there is no such thing as a top loader industrial machine. They are ALL front or end loaders, because of the inherent inefficiency of top loaders.

notjustair · Oct 25, 2018

I went ahead and bought a speed queen drier with
digital controls a few years back. I still couldn?t be
happier with it. They still make a quality product.
One of the very few.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 25, 2018

I bought this top loader from Lowes about 3 years ago. It's like a 30 year old washer. You set water lever, water temp, time of cycle, you can stop washing cycle and let it soak over night. faster then new machines, and no LOCKING LID. It's as old school as you can get.

Angle Iron · Oct 25, 2018

(quoted from post at 15:40:35 10/25/18) I bought this top loader from Lowes about 3 years ago. It's like a 30 year old washer. You set water lever, water temp, time of cycle, you can stop washing cycle and let it soak over night. faster then new machines, and no LOCKING LID. It's as old school as you can get.

hat brand and model is it?

grizz02 · Oct 25, 2018

buy a top loader unless you like being on your knees

macec3(TX) · Oct 25, 2018

Stay away from Whirlpool Cabrio. Pure junk. We had one and nothing but problems. Bought a Speed Queen, problem solved.

ditchwitch · Oct 25, 2018

You would be better off just buying new cloths. Had this discussion a few days ago on here. Bought a new front Loader whirlpool duet and honestly it never got my cloths clean. Blamed the wife one time that was a mistake. Kept it for i dont know 3 or 5 years or less and give the washer and dryer away just about a month or better ago. Bought a top loader with the agitator whirlpool. And i be dog gone it dont get my cloths clean either. So with that said just buy new cloths.

Aaron Ford · Oct 25, 2018

I bought the new fangled top loader agitator free energy efficient model and have regretted it every day since. Dirty clothes are the norm. I paid the same as a Speed Queen for this thing. It is a direct drive with a VFD. When it runs, it sounds like Darth Vader taking a deuce.

Speed Queen next time.

Aaron

Bruce from Can. · Oct 25, 2018

Looks just like the one we got at Home Depot year or so ago. We like it.

ss55 · Oct 25, 2018

Is that a GE or HotPoint?

Geo-TH,In · Oct 25, 2018

jtwat · Oct 25, 2018

Have a set of Samsung front loaders. Have had them for 8 years. Problem has always been with the spin cycle. Always out of balance and takes a long time to spin the load. I also found a YouTube video that shows how to raise water level and it cleans much better now too.

gotmyfarm! · Oct 25, 2018

I like the very old ones. I bought my (Maytag?) top loading washer last year from the junk yard for $3. Color is harvest gold. Matches the dryer. I'd take this one over a new one any day.

C.Amick · Oct 25, 2018

I would look at Speed Queen.

BobReeves · Oct 26, 2018

Geo-TH, We bought the exact same GE washer and matching dryer a couple years ago. Hadn't heard very much good about front loaders plus the initial cost and expensive repairs. Doubt they will last as long as what they replaced but so far they are doing great.

OT : Washing Machines ! What's Up ?

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads