Washer & dryer shopping, no clue what to get...

Overboost

Overboost

Forum Member
Just like the title says, I need to pick up a washer and dryer for a condo I'm moving into here shortly, and I'm trying to make sense of things. Front load vs. top load, gas vs. electric dryer, etc. I picked up the CR Buyer's Guide and have been searching for reviews and recommendations online for a day or so, but I'm still on the fence. A few things:

1. Regarding front loaders, the longer cycle times and rumors I've heard of moldy door seals (which can be resolved by leaving the door open, and newer models have drain holes in them), and small holes forming in clothes after use. Anyone experienced this?

2. Gas vs. electric dryers? I have hook ups for both, which is better? Gas is going to cost more up front, but is it going to pay itself back down the road? I've heard mixed reviews on both.

After looking tonight, I'm giving the HE top loaders some consideration, specifically the Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum set, but still not very confident in what I've seen/heard and am getting a ton of mixed signals. Any help would be appreciated. It's just me and the g/f, normal load sizes and nothing fancy like dry cleaning or sanitary stuff.
 
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We got some Electrolux ones, they work great, no complaints at all. They're very quiet also. We do have to leave the washer open sometimes to dry the seal out.
 
Overboost said:
Just like the title says, I need to pick up a washer and dryer for a condo I'm moving into here shortly, and I'm trying to make sense of things. Front load vs. top load, gas vs. electric dryer, etc. I picked up the CR Buyer's Guide and have been searching for reviews and recommendations online for a day or so, but I'm still on the fence. A few things:

1. Regarding front loaders, the longer cycle times and rumors I've heard of moldy door seals (which can be resolved by leaving the door open, and newer models have drain holes in them), and small holes forming in clothes after use. Anyone experienced this?

2. Gas vs. electric dryers? I have hook ups for both, which is better? Gas is going to cost more up front, but is it going to pay itself back down the road? I've heard mixed reviews on both.

After looking tonight, I'm giving the HE top loaders some consideration, specifically the Whirpool Cabrio Platinum set, but still not very confident in what I've seen/heard and am getting a ton of mixed signals. Any help would be appreciated. It's just me and the g/f, normal load sizes and nothing fancy like dry cleaning or sanitary stuff.
Click to expand...

Front load versus top load is typically just a space issue. Both had be found in a similar size (cubic foot capacity) so just pick which works better for the room you plan to put them in.

Gas does cost more up front but will be cheaper over the life of the unit (energy use) as it dries clothes quicker. Gas is also easier on your clothes than electric as the heat is more consistent and the clothes are dried quicker.

--Joe
 
Bought an LG not too long ago, Went with the front load, the cycle time does take a bit longer, but honestly the dryer works less since you're using so much less water. Also much much quieter than my previous top load. I went with LG for the 10 year warranty on the motor, and direct drive means no belts to wear out or break. We do leave the door open and there is a little filter they say to clean out but every time I look its clean.

I'm actually amazed how much less water it uses, I'm used to my laundry tub filling up and this the drain keeps up fine. Actually I want to find a plumber to just hook it inline rather than over the side of the tub now.
 
Also, we went to Sargent appliance, They sold us the top of the line LG there for what Best Buy was selling the low end ones. My in laws went and bought top of the line front load GE's for the same price ~1400 out the door for the set for what Best Buy was selling for ~2100
 
WayFastWhitey said:
Also, we went to Sargent appliance, They sold us the top of the line LG there for what Best Buy was selling the low end ones. My in laws went and bought top of the line front load GE's for the same price ~1400 out the door for the set for what Best Buy was selling for ~2100
Click to expand...

Top of the line GE's front loads are no where near $1400 for the set.......more like $1400 each.

--Joe
 
We bought front load washer a year or two ago and the only downfall is the cycle times. If you have quite a bit to do it's going to take a while. The normal wash cycle is 55 mins and the delicates is about 36 mins. That being said, yes it is probably saving water, but using more electricity. It's kinda of a pain though to have to spend a whole afternoon waiting for wash.

If I had to do it again, I would have bought a top load washer.
 
Overboost said:
Any idea which models? Features? Just trying to compare them all.
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No idea, I'll ask. I know it has some cool stuff on it, but the best thing about them is that they're quiet. We moved our laundry to the master bedroom closet, so that was important. I want to say they were $3200, but I'm not 100% sure.
 
I will tell you this once you decide on a model or what features you want go to Sears.com and go to the clearance section. I bought a new washer and dryer last year and got a discontinued model that had all the same features of the one they were selling in the store for half of what the original price was.
 
Overboost said:
Maytag are now owned/manufactured by Whirlpool.

Budget is $2000 for the set.
Click to expand...

Hit the ABC warehouse on Eureeka. See Matt Rickman, tell him Roger, the guy who used to work at Ramchargers, sent you in there. I just seen him a couple weeks ago. He will hook you up, and give honest information. He's been working there for 15+ years.
 
We've had a LG TROMM for awhile now and we hate it. I don't know if all LG's have this issue or if they fixed it but the front seal gets moldy and makes your clothes stink. Because it uses less water it doesn't always wash out all the detergent and the seal doesn't get a chance to dry out. We give it a wipe everynow and then and clean it. If you do look into an LG make sure you do some research first.
 
Happy with my 20 year old Maytags. They replaced my other Maytags that were 25 years old. Of course, that could reflect on my frugality as much as their reliability.
 
Billydroveit said:
Hit the ABC warehouse on Eureeka. See Matt Rickman, tell him Roger, the guy who used to work at Ramchargers, sent you in there. I just seen him a couple weeks ago. He will hook you up, and give honest information. He's been working there for 15+ years.
Click to expand...

My girlfriend's parents have a hook up there as well. We'll most likely be getting them there. I also get Whirlpool's supplier discount, which is pretty decent when you look at it.

DBK said:
I bought Whirlpool after trying to find any units made in the U.S.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that's the way to go. Besides, a friend is a controls engineer there, so I don't mind keeping him employed.

Here's the set we're leaning towards:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_365235-46-W...t_price|1&facetInfo=Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum

http://www.lowes.com/pd_365237-46-W...ty_sold|1&facetInfo=Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum
 
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gas dryer (dries clothes quicker ) gas is cheaper
front load washer uses less water and wrings clothes out better (less drying time)
go to sears warehouse in livonia buy the scratch and dent stuff
throw it in the laundry room and forget about it for 20 years
 
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