New Front Loading Washing

Had the tub bearing go out on our top loader and after looking into it, we decided to get a front loader. Maaytag Neptune with a new tub and bearings freshly installed-- $200. I could have gotten the replacement bearing for $90 but I think this was the better way to go.

 

We have had a front end loader for years. Only, I fix them now. I have saved several hundreds doing it. Nice thing about the front end loader is they use less water, and wring out the cloths so well that they dry better. If you have a set, they are stackable so they use less space. We have ours up on a platform so we don't need to bend down. There are a couple good repair forums that will give solid advice. There are some new top loaders that have many of the same advantages of the front end models. Repair when possible. Some machines last way beyond their anticipated life.

 

Yeah, I could have replaced it Save, but this washer has had a hard life and I think it was about to be one thing after the next. The near complete disassemble to repair it and the low cost of the energy saving front loaded enticed me into replacing it. Plus now I get to remove the tub and use it as a burn ring. Going to scrap the corpse and get a little money back too.

 

Sounds like the washer and dryer aren't matched well in size if you have to do two dryer loads to a washer load.
I use bleach and I'm on septic.

Dexter I think you have enough soap for a decade or two! One of those jugs is good for about 6 months in my house.

 

Had a old washer and dryer for 20+ years. Wife wanted new front loaders. Bought a set of Kenmore from Sears. Since there are only the 2 of us, the machines generally only get used once a week. The FL washer lasted 19 months before the tub bearing expired. Cost to replace was going to be $472. + labor. Service guy told me it is a common problem with ALL makes of front loaders if you have hard well water, and could expect the same result in another year or two. Replaced it with a whirlpool top loader for $500. 3 years ago. Still running strong.

 

Same here, love the Samsung pair, mine are 4-5 years old now-IMO the best time and place to buy a new appliance is at Lowes in the month before Black Friday. You can almost always get what you want for half price. Also if you buy more than 2 pieces and want the 5 year warranty only buy a 2 piece warranty as they dont tag which ones. Best is to buy it after the purchase-you have 30 days to do this and it goes by if you need it as to which ones are covered-this came from an employee and of course management doent like this being known

 

Don't know if that is true on the bearing, but hard water is tough on everything that uses water.
I dealt with hard water for a few months when I first bought this house.
In the time period it destroyed alot of my clothes (faded the hell out of if), ruined dishes, clogged up sink spigots and shower heads and ruined both shower valve bodies and one bathroom sink one. The dishwasher wouldn't clean.
In other words, there was nothing good about it.
Put in a softener and all is well. Use 3-4 bags of salt a year, so costs about $20/yr.

 

That's been a known issue that I have avoided but I am hearing less about this problem as of late and it was why i got the 5 year warranty with replacement clause. Maybe the manufactures have improved this?

Another issue I have avoided was the smell a front load sometime gets-I still hear about this alot. It was suggested to me to add a little white vinegar to the liquid detergent. I have been doing this since I bought the unit and have yet to have it smell at all. Hope the acid isnt damaging anything else but at almost 5 years- so far so good.

True on the amount of detergent used, these units you need less than half of what they recommend on the fill line and many use too much.

 

I don't even use that much. Usually about 1/4"-3/8" in the cup, depending on what I'm washing. Only time I use a full cup is when I was the garage rags.

 

We've had our set for a few years and had the smell problem.......until we read the manual.
Turns out we were using way too much soap.
If you use HE soap, all you need for a load is a couple tablespoons.
The problem has pretty much disappeared, and the clothes still get clean.
Supposed to do a "clean" cycle occasionally too.
YMMV

 

Wow Dex, even your laundry area is spotless! With 2 young kids and a pup, I'm content with just clean underwear at this point. Do you guys sleep?

 

I was looking at your pics and I think they're the very same units we bought five years ago this July when we moved into our house. I think I paid around 1300-1400 for the pair if I recall. We haven't had a single issue with them in five year and for the past two years we've had two toddlers who dirty every piece of clothing two minutes after it gets put on them so these units have been getting a real workout.

 

We also use half the amount of detergent. We tried many brands, but in our Kenmore, Tide HE works best. We pre spot stains with the same product. I might add oxyclean to some loads. Frequently empty the clean out at the drain pump, usually full of change and pet hair. Cold water wash works as does the quick wash. If I have some badly stained things, I pre spot treat them with tide and soak in a pail for a while then wash.

 

Everyone I've talked to says to use powder. My washer stinks and has for several years. Door gets left open.

 

We make our own powdered laundry soap, its a low suds formula so it should work well in the new washer. I've heard about the door gasket mold problem, and that's usually what leads to the stink. Experienced it with the commercial machine at work, they bleached and then reconditioned the seals and now the door stays open when the washers aren't in use. They also get a cleaning cycle with some special formula once a week.

 

Rotti, you answered my question before I had to ask it.
We are getting close on both of our older W&D units that
I will have to research new ones soon. I have seen reviews
in my research saying the front load washers aren't doing so well
and the problems they do have is exactly what yours did.

Question?? Do the newer top loader washers still use a lot of water?
This is one of our concerns now, saving water.