Need help with Washing machine purchase

[zsir]

I just bouth this Kenmore washer


Kenmore White-on-White 3.1 cu. ft. IEC High Efficiency Front Load Washer with 15 Cycles and Options
$649.99
Regular: $799.99
You Save: $150.00
Sale Ends 04/13/02


Sears Item #02642042000 (incase the link did not work)

Before I bought this I checked at epionions and it got generally favorable reviews, but I better trust my fellow AT'ers.....

I would not have chosen this but it has a enregy star rating of 197........

It's on sale........and I got $225.00 in rebates......


My wife says it's too small (3.1cuft) I think she just says that because the opening is small........

The door seal will be a problem .....she doesn't trust the front load system......

I have 30 days in which time I can still return it.......

It anyone has any expierience with these washers LMK..........

Thanks

 

[amdskip]

I haven't had any experience with these washers but I have with the Kenmore brand. I highly recommend them as I have had extremely good luck with their products.

 

[Polgara]

A front load washer is much superior. Your clothes will be cleaner and show less wear. The agitator in a top load washer is really bad on clothing, and does not clean as well.

Sarah <== real clean girl

 

[Hammer]

I bought a front loading maytag neptune washer. The city of austin even gave me money cause they said it conserved water. Go with a front loader.

 

[Thegonagle]

hammer09,

You make the money back from the city utility sound like icing on the cake.

So, how do you like the Machine? How's the noise level? Does the spin cycle rattle the house, or is it well dampened?

Does it clean well, and can you use regular detergent, like liquid Tide? If so, do you use less per load?

How long does a cycle take? If it's less than about 50 minutes, the approximate time I find acceptable for a dryer to do its job, it sounds great.

I know they?re popular everywhere but here in the USA.

 

[Hammer]

It wasn't a small amount either, it was like 150 bucks. I love the machine, its quiet and fast. You don't use regular detergent for front loaders, looks for the tide or wisk labeled HE (for high effeciency). Takes about 30 minutes.



<< hammer09,

You make the money back from the city utility sound like icing on the cake.

So, how do you like the Machine? How's the noise level? Does the spin cycle rattle the house, or is it well dampened?

Does it clean well, and can you use regular detergent, like liquid Tide? If so, do you use less per load?

How long does a cycle take? If it's less than about 50 minutes, the approximate time I find acceptable for a dryer to do its job, it sounds great.

I know they?re popular everywhere but here in the USA. >>

 

[Parrotheader]

I've heard good things about the front load washers as well. When we bought our house though, the sellers didn't want to move the washer and dryer so they just left them for us. They're about 8 years old, but they're also for oversized loads which is VERY nice since I like to do as few loads as possible.

I wouldn't worry too much about front seal leaks. You're just as likely (if not more so) to have a leak from your dishwasher.

 

[cressida]

<< I bought a front loading maytag neptune washer. The city of austin even gave me money cause they said it conserved water. Go with a front loader. >>



austin too?

 

[Amused]

Though I have mostly Kitchen Aid and Maytag stuff now, I've had Kenmore in the past and have never been disappointed.

Stay away from Fridgedaire though.

 

[Nitemare]

I've got a Fisher Paykel because of epinions and adore it. It's basically a frontloader in a toploader form. Does like 1100 rpm's as well. It sounds like a jet engine taking off

 

[RossMAN]

I'm hoping front loading washers will fall to the $500 price range within the next few years.

 

[Pepsei]

gotta go with the front loading...

they cost more for a reason..you save more in the long run.... better than top loading....

 

[fastz28]

<< I've got a Fisher Paykel because of epinions and adore it. It's basically a frontloader in a toploader form. Does like 1100 rpm's as well. It sounds like a jet engine taking off >>



Fisher Paykel is the bomb. The high rpm spinning dries the cloth so much that you only have to put in the dryer for like 10 minutes. :Q

 

[Thegonagle]

The Epinions people love these things like a gift from the heavens!

How the hell did development of these things take a 40 year break in the U$A? (Oh yeah, because top loaders are cheaper to engineer and build.)

Maybe the next several years will see the market for top loaders fall significantly now that reliable, (almost) affordable front loaders are here.

 

[Ornery]

Yep, Fisher & Paykel is awesome and priced like a hot deal. Model: GWL10 $699.00

• America's most energy efficient washer
  • 
    Combine the performance and convenience of a front load with the capacity of a top load. Ecosmart's unique direct drive agitator provides the same kind of clothes care as the world's leading front load washers while saving just as much energy. And because it's a top load washer, you'll appreciate the convenience and extra large capacity. Its 3-cubic-foot basket can handle the equivalent of 18 king sized bath towels
    
    Ecosmart uses the advanced SmartDrive system, connecting a programmable motor directly to the agitator by a single stainless steel shaft. There are no belts, pulleys or gears to break down. Computer electronics are combined with a simple mechanical design to produce a superior wash. The Ecosmart senses each load, sets the water level, and adjusts the wash action.
    
    Make your investment last. One of the most important deciding factors concerning the purchase of a washing machine is dependability. That's why we've specially designed the Ecosmart to last load after load, year after year.

The matching dryer is really quiet too. Hard for me to believe I could love a washer and dryer so much, but I do!

 

[zsir]

<< I've got a Fisher Paykel because of epinions and adore it. It's basically a frontloader in a toploader form. Does like 1100 rpm's as well. It sounds like a jet engine taking off >>



The Fisher Paykel is my second choice.........My wife is not to happy about the fact that the machine has a plastic top...she doesn't think it will wear well.......but it gets nothing but raves from owners........The one we saw seemed like the tub was real easy to move back and forth (maybe because it was a display unit) so she thought it might get loads unbalanced easily or shake a lot.....

It was reassuring to see a lot of positive feedback here on front loaders ....... we will be trying it out tonite....... Thanks






<< I'm hoping front loading washers will fall to the $500 price range within the next few years >>


look for rebates from your local water and utility companies......This one cost me $430.00 after rebates with free devilvery/setup.....

 

[Ornery]

Bah! Who cares what your wife thinks! It's COOL! It sounds cool, it looks cool, it has cool computer programmed cycles and cool buttons. It makes really cool noises as it washes! :Q

"...the tub was real easy to move back and forth..."

That's because it's on a REALLY COOL suspension! If a load is off balance, it even tries to balance the load on it's own (major coolness). Then it spins it all at about 1,000 RPM, so it HAS to be in balance... and it always is! IT'S SO COOL!

 

[JC]

<< Stay away from Fridgedaire though. >>



Guess who makes the washer you just bought? That's right! Actually, they're OK...wouldn't be my first choice, one reason is the small opening. I wouldn't worry about having bought it.

But personally, and I install appliances for a living, I would have bought a Maytag Neptune (if the $$ wasn't a problem) for a front-loader, the Fisher-Paykel top-loader is pretty cool too. But
the F-P dryers are just a GE dryer in disguise...

The Whirlpool Duet front-loaders are nice too....bigger opening....Kenmore has their version of these too. Sometimes the door hinge is kinda cheap on these tho...:|

JC

 

[Anubis]

may i ask wht a front load washer is better then a top load???? and why is it better on your clothes?

 

[Ornery]

Front loaders use less water and alternately, dip the clothes into the suds, then lift them back out for a great cleaning action. Commercial washers are generally front loaders for this reason. However, I've heard that in order to make a consumer grade front loader, with palatable consumer price, corners have to be cut, which leaves them not as rugged as their commercial cousins, and more expensive to repair than a run of the mill top loader.

My first choice was the front loading Neptune, because of the huge access door opening. I changed my mind when I stumbled on to the Fisher & Paykel. If it and the Neptune were the same price, I'd probably still opt for the Fisher & Paykel, because of it's unique design and fewer parts. I may get bit in the ass later, if the repair parts are extremely expensive, but I love the design, so I plunked the doe on that one. The fact that it's only 2/3 the price of a Neptune is just icing on the cake!

 

[Sophia]

Take a gander at Staber washing machines as well.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Ripped from Consumer Reports:

All the machines we tested should wash a large load capably. Most are also reasonably quiet and frugal with water. For washing ability, capacity, noise, energy and water efficiency, front-loaders generally trump top loaders. But they can cost more, and most require special detergent that can cost more per load than top-loader detergent.

The new Kenmore (Sears) Elite HE 3t 4292[2] front-loader, $1,300, sets the highest performance standards yet--in water and energy efficiency, and capacity. It's also the quietest we've tested. (The new standards effectively lower Ratings for other, older models.) For almost half the price of the Elite HE 3t, the Kenmore (Sears) 4104[2], $700, is a very good front-loader, though still costly next to many top-loaders. Among top-loaders, the Kenmore (Sears) Elite Calypso 2206[2] and similar Whirlpool Calypso GVW9959K

<< --each $1,250--offer very good performance and efficiency. But the Maytag PAV2300A[WW], $370--A CR BEST BUY--washes clothes just as well, is reasonably efficient, and costs far less.

 

[Nocturnal]

How about dryers guys? Do you any of you own dryers that actually dry your clothes within the first whole 30 minutes or so? I know a lot of my friends say they have dryers but it doesn't dry their clothes good the first time around. Is it like this for you too?

 

[Ornery]

Oh please Pliablemoose, post what they said about the Fisher & Paykel! I don't have a subscription to CR

Nocturnal, when your washing machine spins the clothes at 1,000 RPM, any dryer can take it from there easily. They're virtually dry when they leave the washer!

 

[zsir]

We've done 6-7 loads so far and my wife seems to like it...........You can set a timer on it so that it will automaticaly start within an 8 hour period.....


The dryer has a sensor that turns off the gas when the clothes reach a dryness level you select and then just spins the clothes until you take them out....

We'll probably keep it........