Random help
- Thread starter ddrueding
- Start date
CougTek
Hairy Aussie
The only comparable model I've found was at Sears and it was the WF218ANW. The specification sheet says it has VRT and it only consumes 151Kwh/year, so that would be ok. However, Sears wants 1099$CAN for it, which blows my modest budget.
I've found a Maytag MAH2400AW for 850$, but there's no comment about its energy consumption. Usually, if it's good, they gloat about it, so if there's no mention, it means it must not be one of its strong points.
CougTek
Hairy Aussie
Best washer I've seen so far is a Kenmore 263 649 107. Direct gear drive versus belt for the GE. 138KWh/year for the Kenmore versus 142KWh/year for the GE. The Kenmore is 50$ more and only available in gay blue or silver. My dryer is white but I'm no girl so I don't care about the color, as long as it's not a pastel tone (like gay blue) or pink. It isn't.
Now I only need to find 850$. :scratch:
Now I only need to find 850$. :scratch:
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
Have you considered purchasing a used washing machine for cheap, then when you have ample cash you can get a new one?
There seem to be quite a few available.
There seem to be quite a few available.
Mercutio
Fatwah on Western Digital
Speaking of "gay blue", I deliberately buy pink things because my students are less likely to walk off with them.
time
Storage? I am Storage!
I wouldn't worry too much about energy usage differences; the main way a washer saves energy is by having less water to heat. Front-loaders already use far less water than top-loaders, so saving those last few liters isn't particularly useful unless you're reliant on tank water.
The thing is, unless your washer is exceptionally well designed (eg Asko) and correspondingly expensive, too little water translates into insufficient rinsing.
I am not making this up.
What does matter with front-loaders is the length of their cycle and how well they cope with out-of-balance loads. Many take well over two hours to complete a cycle (it's how they wash so well) - more as your inlet water gets colder. That's hugely inconvenient if you need to quickly wash a single garment. I strongly recommend downloading the user manual to get these details and find out how you would actually use it, eg. is there an optional 30-minute cycle?
The ability to deal with unbalanced loads is hard to determine before purchase, but more expensive brands tend to be better, and they may make explicit claims about it. Otherwise, keep a couple of towels handy to balance problematic loads ...
The thing is, unless your washer is exceptionally well designed (eg Asko) and correspondingly expensive, too little water translates into insufficient rinsing.
I am not making this up.
What does matter with front-loaders is the length of their cycle and how well they cope with out-of-balance loads. Many take well over two hours to complete a cycle (it's how they wash so well) - more as your inlet water gets colder. That's hugely inconvenient if you need to quickly wash a single garment. I strongly recommend downloading the user manual to get these details and find out how you would actually use it, eg. is there an optional 30-minute cycle?
The ability to deal with unbalanced loads is hard to determine before purchase, but more expensive brands tend to be better, and they may make explicit claims about it. Otherwise, keep a couple of towels handy to balance problematic loads ...
Stereodude
Not really a
My wife and I bought a GE high efficiency top loader two years ago when we bought out house. I don't have any complaints.
CougTek
Hairy Aussie
Re : Timwhit
I would rather not buy used, but I may not have the choice if I'm not "creative" enough to find enough money to buy a new one.
Re : time
I thought they would have figured out a way to make a decent rincing cycle. I wasn't aware that some didn't do this well enough as it is one of the basic task a washer has to do. Regarding efficiency, I'm paying attention not because I really want to save money on the electric bill, but more by respect for the environment. I've found a top-load Kenmore that only takes 205KWh/year, but 3 times as much water as a front-load washer. It costs 600$CAN. If I can't raise 850$, I may end up buying this one as a lesser evil (versus a +400KWh/year used washer).
Oh and I've found the advertised electric consumption of the Maytag I linked above : 170KWh/year. Better than I anticipated. Not enough to beat either the GE or the Kenmore.
I would rather not buy used, but I may not have the choice if I'm not "creative" enough to find enough money to buy a new one.
Re : time
I thought they would have figured out a way to make a decent rincing cycle. I wasn't aware that some didn't do this well enough as it is one of the basic task a washer has to do. Regarding efficiency, I'm paying attention not because I really want to save money on the electric bill, but more by respect for the environment. I've found a top-load Kenmore that only takes 205KWh/year, but 3 times as much water as a front-load washer. It costs 600$CAN. If I can't raise 850$, I may end up buying this one as a lesser evil (versus a +400KWh/year used washer).
Oh and I've found the advertised electric consumption of the Maytag I linked above : 170KWh/year. Better than I anticipated. Not enough to beat either the GE or the Kenmore.
Man I am still using some 1987 maytags that I "inherited" when relatives moved. These things have been trouble free all their life but the dryer is getting a little noisy like the rollers for the drum could be replaced. Can also hear the belt slip sometimes on the washer if it is really full. No idea about anything newer though. Guess I can endorse the maytag brand for you.
For stuff like this I really don't think I would go new, tons of them on craigs list but I totally understand the time limitation and the pain in the ass of moving it yourself. A couple guys I know never buy major appliances like this, just hunt craigs or other similar and that does them. One has never bought a lawnmower, just cherry picks them from the dump and does a little tuneup. People throw away the most amazing stuff.
For stuff like this I really don't think I would go new, tons of them on craigs list but I totally understand the time limitation and the pain in the ass of moving it yourself. A couple guys I know never buy major appliances like this, just hunt craigs or other similar and that does them. One has never bought a lawnmower, just cherry picks them from the dump and does a little tuneup. People throw away the most amazing stuff.
ddrueding
Fixture
There are many complaints out there about front-loader washing machines not rinsing sufficiently. I know mine has tons of sensors and does the rinse in phases, adding and draining water at staggered intervals until it knows the water is clean.
Fushigi
Storage Is My Life
That's like our new dishwasher. It keeps looking at the water and doesn't stop washing until the water is clear.
CougTek
Hairy Aussie
Coup de théâtre!
After mesuring my laundry spot, I realised that most 78cm-depth models were too deep to fit in. So screw the GE, scrap the Kenmore and forget anything I was looking for so far. F-word, F-word, F-word! I'm disappointed and since I cannot get something worthy, I decided to buy the cheapest crap I could find (that still has a frontal door). So I'll end up with a Samsung WF-J1254. The only thing it has for it, except its small size, is the fact that it is rated at only 156KWh/year, which is below average, even for front-load washer.
It will probably break within five years, wake neighboors up two blocks away when it will spin and leave my clothes all soappy, but hey, when you have no space and no money, here's what happen.
Thanks all for the help.
After mesuring my laundry spot, I realised that most 78cm-depth models were too deep to fit in. So screw the GE, scrap the Kenmore and forget anything I was looking for so far. F-word, F-word, F-word! I'm disappointed and since I cannot get something worthy, I decided to buy the cheapest crap I could find (that still has a frontal door). So I'll end up with a Samsung WF-J1254. The only thing it has for it, except its small size, is the fact that it is rated at only 156KWh/year, which is below average, even for front-load washer.
It will probably break within five years, wake neighboors up two blocks away when it will spin and leave my clothes all soappy, but hey, when you have no space and no money, here's what happen.
Thanks all for the help.
ddrueding
Fixture
That actually looks pretty good, and has a number of the features I like in mine.
time
Storage? I am Storage!
CougTek
Hairy Aussie
Thanks. I already never fully open the taps on the water supply. Without knowing it, I would probably have saved myself a lot of trouble.