Front Load Washing Machines....

[hammersley]

OK - I've looked at these - and understand the supposed advantages - now I want to know if any of you guysa have one and what are your thoughts..... after owning them.....

 

[Paychk]

1 cleaner clothes

2 uses less water ie energy

3 gentler on cloths ie they last longer



I will buy one when the current one dies, btw used one for a year living in Spain.

 

[Carlsummers]

Ditto everything Paychk said, plus clothes are easier to get in and get out. Had front loader washer and dryer for 2 years now.

 

[hammersley]

Thanks for the info.....

Look at what Consumer Reports said about the Neptune.....



January 2005

Maytag to compensate owners of Neptune washers





Maytag’s Neptune front-loading washer, introduced in 1997, has proven to be trouble-prone in recent years, with a repair rate significantly higher than that of any other front-loader brand we’ve rated in our annual reliability survey.



A group of Neptune owners sued Maytag, charging that their washers were plagued by a host of problems resulting in mold and mildew buildup, odors, and poor performance. On Sept. 10, 2004, the company announced that it is settling the class-action suit.



Maytag agreed to reimburse owners of faulty machines for repair costs, compensate for up to $500 people who replaced a Neptune with another washer, or issue a voucher for $200 to $1,000 toward the purchase of a new Neptune Top Loader. The settlement covers any Neptune front-loaders bought from April 1, 1997, to Aug. 9, 2004. As this report went to press, the settlement was awaiting approval by the Circuit Court for the 20th Judicial Circuit in St. Clair County, Ill.



Aside from obvious trouble signs--mold, mildew, or odors--the settlement covers machines that experience “motor control and circuit board related failure. ” It also covers problems concerning the door latch and a related part known as the wax motor.

 

[CMNS PWR]

Bosch, hands down.

 

[SGibson]

I picked up a milnor front loader a few years ago, best washer Iv'e ever had.

 

[rubberneck]

Miele by far. Dang germans can make some sweet working equipment. Spendy, but worth the money.

 

[BarryG]

Our washer crapped out a couple months ago. We went ahead and got the Kenmore HE3 or 4 now I cant remember. I had done some research after reading about the maytags I stayed away from those. They vary in price quite a bit. I saw various brands and models from 699. 00 up 1900. 00 My wife liked the kenmore he3 or he4 whichever one it was it was the top rated one by a couple diff organizations. Some differences between the models we looked at are spin speed (the higher the speed the dryer the clothes get in the washer thereby needing less dry time), auto water level control, number of different cycles it has, tub size the bigger the tub the more clothes they will hold meaning less loads to do the same amount of clothes.

They do seem to clean better. And are said to use something like 60-70% less water and 60% less electricity.

Drawbacks are they are expensive even the cheaper ones are much more expensive than a conventional top load. While they are easier to get clothes in and out they are very low so you have to bend way over unless you use one of the pedastals which are extra. The high capacity ones that hold 3. 8cf is more than a conventional dryer can hold so to utilize that extra load capacity you need one of those matching type dryers. Which are also more expensive than the regualr ones. Due to the better agitation the clothes tend to get wound together more (somewhat tangled).



Overall my wife really likes ours. She wont allow me to do laundry so I cant say for sure myself. Apparantly I cant put clothes in, add detergent and turn it on. And to be honest I dont dispute this particular thought. Even though who the heck does she think does laundry when she is out of town.

 

[Todd G]

I used to have a Maytag Neptune. I was in the appliance industry and got it direct from the factory cheap. That washer cleaned better than anything I've ever seen. Clothes lasted 3 times longer too. Unfortunately, it died due to poor design. I've heard the new ones are better. I really wanted an ASKO set prior to buying the Maytag but couldn't afford them. Bosch is a nice brand also.

 

[wcaldwell]

"Maytag’s Neptune front-loading washer, introduced in 1997, has proven to be trouble-prone in recent years, with a repair rate significantly higher than that of any other front-loader brand we’ve rated in our annual reliability survey. "



Absolutely true - Maytag HAD a problem with the door seal on their "55" series washers retaining water (which caused a mildew problem) and issued a recall. They redesigned these seals and replace the defectiver ones under warranty and have had no further problems. Additionally, this has had no effect on their 8700 or 9700 series washers.



"The high capacity ones that hold 3. 8cf is more than a conventional dryer can hold so to utilize that extra load capacity you need one of those matching type dryers. "



The Maytag Neptune, GE and LG front load dryers (those that are part of the front load pair) are in the 7. 1 to 7. 3 cf range. If you check out the GE and Maytag regular dryers (those that match with the top-load washers), you'll find most them to be in the 7. 0 to 7. 1 cf range. GE has a lower priced one that is 5. 8 cf. The . 1 to . 3 cf size difference is usually a towel or something like that.



No, I'm not a manufacturer's representative - I sell these things at the neighborhood Home Depot.



Wayne

 

[The patriot]

I got the wife a front loader about 3 years ago.

She dont like it.

That's all I know about washers..... oh yea. . it was a LOT more money than a regular old washer and she INSISTED she needed it.

Eric

 

[BarryG]

Sounds like I am mistaken about the dryer. I do know that when we purchased the washer we did not buy a new dryer. The old one still worked fine. However once loaded with a full load from the new high capacity washer it took significantly longer to dry. The clothes physically fit in the dryer just took much longer to dry. Even though the clothes come out of the washer much dryer than before. Our old washer was a high cap top loader however it was still smaller than the new one. I just assummed it was because there was more clothing in the dryer and not enough (for lack of a better term) free air space for the clothes to tumble around in. Sounds like that would be the case with one of the new matching type as well if the sizes are that comparable.

 

[TowPro]

WE got the bosch set and love them. Only suguestion I have is put them on a concrete floor, or put down 3/4" plywood and screw it to the floor joist under the washer. On high spin cycle it can really shake pretty good. I would not let this get in the way of buying one, it would just cause less vibration if mounted on a stronger floor. Cloths feel dryer coming out of the washer when you use the high speed spin cycle.

 

[DLausche]

We bought the Maytag Neptune washer and dryer early in '99 and have been very pleased with them. They have worked flawlessly with never a sign of trouble. They wash very well and can handle large loads (comforters, etc) with ease. We would not consider going back to a top loader. I would feel very comfortable buying a European front loader because they have had this technology by necessity (water savings) for many years now.



One thing we liked about them both being front loaders is that you can set them up on a 8" or 9" pedistal and it is a lot easier to load and unload them. Built a pedistal/platform out of scrap 2x6. I got the idea from the display stands they have all of the front loader machines on at the store.



-Deon

 

[Jaysyl]

One down side with the front load is once you start it's cycle there is no opening the door to add any clothes you forgot. Other than that my mom loves hers. We just got an LG 7. 3 dryer, wish I could get the washer,but I am sure the folks at EDGE in Utah can put that money to good use. . At least that is what I told the Wife.

 

[DGFoster]

We have had both the Maytag and Kenmore brands,the Maytag is total garbage,we had 3 sets of the Neptune series and all three times we had problems,they took them back no questions asked,now we have the Kenmore and for 2 years now they have been great. Use less water,cloths are cleaner and quiet as a church mouse.

Consumer Reports rate the Kenmore washer/Dryer front loaders# 1 for what that is worth.

 

[nps]

I got the Kenmore matching front loader washer and dryer about 3 yrs ago. Have worked great ever since.



Best thing about it - I took off the tops and slid them in under a counter top I custom-built for the laundry room. About a 1/4" clearance so I can slide them in and out for maintenance. Only pulled them once for routine dryer vent hose cleaning. Not only makes them look sharp, but gives the wife a big surface on which to fold and work - and no clothes falling behind the machines. You know - happy wife = happy life.



About opening the door after a cycle starts - all you have to do is push the button off and the door opens. The water never fills past the door opening.



Here's a picture. The back wall is mirrored in beveled mirror tile. The box on the counter top is to hide the water and sewer connections.

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[4xquadrod]

1 cleaner clothes
2 uses less water ie energy
3 gentler on cloths ie they last longer
QUOTE]

Yep, What he said

 

[E7mack96]

My mom loves hers. THe clothes come out cleaner than ever before. She says that greasy clothes even come cleaner.



One mistake that she made was that the dryer vent on hers (kenmore he4 set) was like 20 ft long. The dryer burned out the first day. Sears says that they cannot be more than 4 ft - 8 ft run.

 

[tugboatphil]

The Federal Government wants to force us to have front loading machines!!



They can have my top loader when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.