Posted on 01/11/2010 11:58:02 AM PST by DCBryan1
New wife and I are looking to upgrade our old, worn out top loading washer and dryer. We are in a new house now, and I noticed a gas hookup in the laundry room.
Do any of you have experience, comments, and recommendations on the following issues:
1) Working with Sears for purchase and installation;
2) Front end loading washer and dryers;
3) Gas dryers.
Any suggestions, comments, etc. would be appreciated.
We have old whirlpool gear, that only lasted a couple of years, and would like something a little better built and more reliable.
Thanks again!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t all dryers front loading? I HATE front loading washers...ya can’t throw in the stray sock or towel after the washer has started. Well, maybe you can but you have to wait a few minutes before you can open the door.
If I had it to do over again, I'd buy a top-loader. They are better these days. The agitators are much more fabric-friendly.
I have a Neptune gas dryer, this will be year #5, no complaints yet, NG is cheaper compared to electricity. Though you may want to do a comparison in your market. There are online calculators that you enter your cost for a therm of NG and what you pay for a KW of electricity and will tell you if one if cheaper than the other.
Tow families we know that bought front end load washers HATE THEM! Said they don’t get the clothes as clean as the top loaders they previously owned .
I have the same mildew odor problem with my 2 year old GE washer. Pain in the a$$.
FWIW, I went to a Sears outlet, and bought their Kenmore 5the series machines, and have been very happy with their performance and durability. The ones I got had the steam option, and I do like the functionality of this option, and have used it on a number of occasions.
I love my front loading washer
Two suggestions
No matter what brand you choose, you want the pedestal. It is extra, but worth it. The storage is nice and it makes both easier to use and very attractive
Always, always, always keep the door open on the washer. If you don’t, mold will form in the rubber seals. Keep it open and no problems.
And my 2 year old GE is a top loader High Efficiency. No agitator in the middle. I think it mimics a front loader...mildew smell and all.
I like the Sears appliances I bought 17 years ago. No problems with anything Sears. My only comment would be to make sure you get a dryer that the door opens right or left and not down. I am short and I have to lean all the way over the door and to the back of the dryer every time to get those pesky socks out.
I’ve had a front-loading washer (Frigidaire) for over 10 years and wouldn’t go back to a top-loader. It spins so fast that the clothes are nearly dry. I have also had a gas dryer for the same amount of time and it works fine. It costs a lot less than the equivalent electric dryer to run, but usually costs $50-100 more to buy.
We bought a Whirlpool Duet frontloader 4 years ago. It has been a very good washer has needed no repairs. Can’t help on the dryer becaue I’m still using my old large gas one and will until it finally dies. Dryers usually last much longer than the washers will.My DSis bought an LG frontloader set and has had nothing but problems with it. The worst part being that only a few people can sevice thm so she’s had to wait 6-8 weeks on repairs.
Bump!!
It's amazing, we can make super-computers, put a man on the moon - but no one has figured out how to drain a front loading washer so it doesn't grow mold and mildew. You don't see this issue with top loaders; but this is an issue (that shouldn't be an issue) with front loaders.
Stay away!
Not mine it has a 7 minute time at the beginnng where you can pause the washer and add other things in. Most do now days.
The mildrew comes from people closing the doors when they are empty. You do not do that to a frontloader. Mine also has a cleaning cycle that you run once a month with bleach to clean the washer.
Just leave the door open after a wash to let it dry out. Problem solved.
Avoid “Asko” like the plague.
Electric front loading LG washer/dryer pair due here on the 18th. They replace a 35 year old Kenmore pair.
When the sock gets stuck in the drain pump you are unable to DRAIN the thing.
You have to unscrew that cap at the end of the drain pump to get the sock out. And guess what else comes out when you do that. The water!
I beg to differ.
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