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Technical Question for you Mech Engineers and Handy Types
6.19.12 | Chickensoup

Posted on 06/19/2012 6:05:50 PM PDT by Chickensoup

Let's talk washers and dryers.

The washers and dryers today have sensors to meet EPA Standards.

I want to put a big frontloader washer and dryer in my garage which hardly ever gets too cold. When the plumber looked at the set up he said, you are right, there is no danger of the pipes freezing, however, there is water in all the sensors of the washers (and probably dryers) and that minute amount of water will freeze and ruin the sensor and render the equipment inoperable.

I have been thinking about this. Is there a way to find a good workhorse big frontloader washer and dryer, bypass the electronics and just have them have mechanical dials that do wash spin rinse repeat, or time the dry of x minutes? Without sensors. so the only water I need to concern my self with would be the pipe in and the drain?

Your input appreciated.


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KEYWORDS: retrofit
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To: Chickensoup

Salve

Gutte, what is your highest tempature in Summer?

Merci


61 posted on 06/19/2012 7:01:07 PM PDT by MCSP2008 (Romanian native > ESL)
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To: JCBreckenridge

Ma’am I’m from a similar area. Please, take my advice. Don’t stick your washer in the garage.

___________________

You are worried about the pipes?


62 posted on 06/19/2012 7:01:07 PM PDT by Chickensoup (STOP The Great O-ppression)
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To: Chickensoup

I’m married to a Mechanical Engineer, and he doesn’t allow machines to die — ever. However, I have to say that we’ve had only ONE repair on each unit in the 27 years. The dryer needed a new belt a while back and the washer needed a new gear box. He did the repairs himself. Both machines are over sized so I do only 3 loads per week. One light, one dark, one sheets and towels. But the machines (installed by the previous owners just before we bought the house) have provided very good service. The previous owners installed all new Whirlpool appliances before they put the house on the market. The dishwasher lasted 4 years. The refrigerator lasted 21 years. The stoves (2) and the washer and dryer are still going strong.


63 posted on 06/19/2012 7:01:17 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Yo-Yo

Thank you


64 posted on 06/19/2012 7:02:20 PM PDT by Chickensoup (STOP The Great O-ppression)
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To: Chickensoup
Don't get a frontloader.They are all designed with a stainless steel drum (which will last forever) that is attached to what is called a spider arm mount.This arm is made from aluminum casting and will last about 5 years before dissolving and failing during a high speed spin.

The design is really clever,aluminum and stainless steel are on opposite ends of the galvanic reactivity scale,which means that once immersed in water the spider becomes the anode,and the drum becomes the cathode which means that one is consumed by the other.It is in effect a battery.

Where the manufacturers really cash in is that the spider and drum are only sold as an assembly and not separately,and at a cost of about $500.

So there you have it..you have been warned.Don't believe?then do a google look-up "washer drum galvanic corrosion".I wouldn't touch one of these things with a ten foot pole.

65 posted on 06/19/2012 7:03:25 PM PDT by pricilla (one should always try to be smarter than the equipment one is operating - Amajato)
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To: gorush

I have a big capacity but it eats up comforters and pillows.


66 posted on 06/19/2012 7:03:34 PM PDT by Chickensoup (STOP The Great O-ppression)
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To: MCSP2008

100 degrees or so

Winter sometimes hits 20 below.


67 posted on 06/19/2012 7:05:20 PM PDT by Chickensoup (STOP The Great O-ppression)
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To: Chickensoup

Speed Queen. Made in Ripon, Wisconsin. No electronics and you can defeat the EPA parts like wash and rinse temperature and tub water levels.

All steel or stainless. Buy locally and they’ll probably “set them up” for you.

They will probably last decades. All but immune to lighting and power outages as well.


68 posted on 06/19/2012 7:05:20 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (You've been screwed by your government.)
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To: pricilla

mmersed in water the spider becomes the anode,and the drum becomes the cathode which means that one is consumed by the other.It is in effect a battery.

____________

Fascinating. I will check this out


69 posted on 06/19/2012 7:07:33 PM PDT by Chickensoup (STOP The Great O-ppression)
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To: Chickensoup

My mother’s new washer (made by Whirlpool under the Kenmore label) is huge. The new top loaders don’t have a central spindle, so they hold a lot more. In fact, her washer is way too big for her because she likes to do really small loads. But, her washer would easily hold a large bedspread, or a blanket, or a full set of sheets. Maybe more. Whirlpool has a similar one under their own name.


70 posted on 06/19/2012 7:11:44 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Chickensoup

A 100 watt lightbulb down by the solenoids will keep them warm. I’d get some kind of waterproof cover, though. Heat tape on the hoses to the washer. No sensor has water in it from the factory. They couldn’t ship in winter.


71 posted on 06/19/2012 7:12:42 PM PDT by ebshumidors ( Marksmanship and YOUR heritage http://www.appleseedinfo.org)
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To: yarddog

Best to fix the old ones. I had to replace a pump on a whirlpool that was stored outside in NE, and found http://stores.ebay.com/patriotsupply to be good (a Christian businessman)


72 posted on 06/19/2012 7:13:07 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a damned+morally destitute sinner,+trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: Chickensoup

Salve

Cool
C = (F - 32) × 5/9

38 C

Humidity point ?

Merci.


73 posted on 06/19/2012 7:14:24 PM PDT by MCSP2008 (Romanian native > ESL)
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To: Chickensoup

Personally, I would forget about the front loader and just get a reliable old-school washer/dryer.

http://www.speedqueen.com/home/en-us/products.aspx

The Speedqueen is built like a tank.


74 posted on 06/19/2012 7:17:12 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: smokingfrog

the center agitator ruins the comforters.


75 posted on 06/19/2012 7:19:55 PM PDT by Chickensoup (STOP The Great O-ppression)
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To: Chickensoup

Try to get a look at the manufacturers specifications that are usually in the operators booklet.

They usually give you the environmental conditions the equipment is engineered for - high temp, low temp, humidity, etc.


76 posted on 06/19/2012 7:20:06 PM PDT by Iron Munro (John Adams: 'Two ways to enslave a country. One is by the sword, the other is by debt')
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To: Chickensoup
No but my son who is taking courses in heavy equipment operations would love me forever.

I grew up around heavy equipment. There were days my Mom told me to leave my clothes in the garage before I came in for dinner.

77 posted on 06/19/2012 7:20:28 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: Chickensoup
"The washers and dryers today have sensors to meet EPA Standards. "

There are no EPA amndated sensors. The sensors are to monitor things like balance, water level, ect... As long as a thin layer of water in a glass doesn't freeze, the sensors are fine. Water freezes at 32oF and that's independent of size of the "puddle" when the puddle is greater than nanosized. The size of the puddle just effects the amount of heat that must be removed for hte puddle to freeze. The sensors are also robust.

78 posted on 06/19/2012 7:25:24 PM PDT by spunkets
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To: Chickensoup
Without sensors. so the only water I need to concern my self with would be the pipe in and the drain?

No. The pump in the washer will be holding water. Better to just build a closet for them... a nice, close, insulated closet, with a bi-fold front... easy to heat. Build in a little heater, and away you go.

Note: Get el cheapo bi-fold doors, peel the back off of them, stuff them full of rigid styrofoam, and put the back on again... Instant insulated bifold doors.

79 posted on 06/19/2012 7:38:59 PM PDT by roamer_1 (Globalism is just socialism in a business suit.)
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To: Chickensoup

Samsung and Whirlpool make top loaders without a center post agitator. I’m guessing you are going to need a 4 or 5 cu ft capacity to wash a large comforter.

Do you wash your comforters at the laudromat now? If so, what kind of washers do they have?


80 posted on 06/19/2012 7:48:11 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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