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Who has a great washer/dryer combo?

pmclaine

pmclaine

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Nov 6, 2011
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    Im thinking my Miele washer is giving up the ghost.

    Got twenty years out of it, made some repairs, think the springs, shocks or main bearing may be shot.

    Heard Speed Queen front loaders are pretty repairable if they break. Kind of spendy. Made in USA.

    Second floor install.

    Bigger capacity is better. Kids go through too many clothes each week and would be nice to throw queen size comforter in rather than going to laundromat.

    Whats out there?

    Miele has been great but they seem to be less friendly these days when helping the consumer do self repair.

    Really looked like Speed Queen had the right idea about having their front loaders be user serviceable but reviews on actual function are mixed.

    Im sure some of you guys wash your clothes and have some good washing machine/dryer recommendations.
     
    I have a Samsung front loader set. Works great so far. Washes are done in 45 minutes. Dry is done in 40 with a natural gas dryer. My old electric dryer would take about an 1-3 hours. It was made during the Eisenhower administration.
     
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    Well. I thought my old bosch was giving up (bearing noise) so I dumped that and the 20 year old fisher paykel for a close to top end Maytag front loader.

    I should have stuck to my guns and bought the Electrolux or LG. Big mistake. Dryer is ok but sometimes it flakes out and cuts off too soon.

    Then the washer is out of balance a lot and makes very annoying sounds the whole cycle. Almost like a clutch noise but the manual says it will do this. But it’s so annoying nobody could sleep in the room beside it. Very upset I gave into the sales pitch. Never again. I’m seriously thinking of just bending over and dumping it. Warranty is transferable.
     
    i would highly recommend a extended warranty if the place you buy your from offers them. I have bought 3 new appliances in the last year and have had to use the warranty on all 3 of them. I asked the repair man when he came out if one name brand was better than the next and he said most all of them have the same 3rd party electronic parts in them and that is what fails. He did have good things to say about speed queen for washer and dryers when I asked him. They are sposed to be more user friendly to work on and have a better quality components in them but your going to pay a fair amount more for them to start.
     
    We went the speed queen front loader route on washer about 5 years ago. So far no issues and no regrets other than sticker shock . If you go to laundry mat most of the commercial washers are speed queens and you know they're abused like a rented mule. I will also say today's Maytag is not your grandma's Maytag.... Our last one only lasted few years. .
     
    daylate said:
    We went the speed queen front loader route on washer about 5 years ago. So far no issues and no regrets other than sticker shock . If you go to laundry mat most of the commercial washers are speed queens and you know they're abused like a rented mule. I will also say today's Maytag is not your grandma's Maytag.... Our last one only lasted few years. .
    Click to expand...


    Speed Queen pretty quiet?

    They discontinued the front loader in 2018 but it appears its back.

    Looks super simple.....a cabinet, an electronics board, a .9 HP motor, a spider, a bearing and a drum supported by 4 coil over shocks.

    Not the biggest capacity but I think bigger than my W1918 Miele.
     
    pmclaine said:
    Speed Queen pretty quiet?

    They discontinued the front loader in 2018 but it appears its back.

    Looks super simple.....a cabinet, an electronics board, a .9 HP motor, a spider, a bearing and a drum supported by 4 coil over shocks.

    Not the biggest capacity but I think bigger than my W1918 Miele.
    Click to expand...
    Ours is real quiet but I've read some people didn't think so.. and it sits high enough we didn't have to get pedestal base which is extra. Seems to wash more than our Maytag did....
     
    After looking at a bunch of youtube videos for changing springs and shocks on my Miele Im giving that a thought. Might price up parts this AM.
     
    We have an LG system and it works great. It is 8 years old. The dryer broke once and we had no problem getting it repaired and we are not in a big metro area.

    We would buy LG again for certain....

    They make great refrigerators as well
     
    We had samsung (the washer that was recalled because it could blow up). Replaced it with another samsung a couple years ago. Replaced the dryer in Jan with another samsung. They cycle pretty quick. The washer is loud. I'm pretty sure everything sold at lowes is a POS...
     
    I have a Whirlpool setup that was purchased in the early '80's and they just keep on running.
    When the time finally comes, the replacements will be Speed Queen.

    Oops, sorry. They were purchased in '92, not '80's. I just found the paper work.
     
    Last edited:
    Im a glutton for punishment.

    Ordered 4 new springs and two shock/dampers.

    $180 with overnight shipping.

    Will see if I can keep it running.
     
    First,

    go to Best Buy. For over $599 they will do 100% financing at 0% for 18 months. why pay your money when they will let you use yours for free.

    Second,

    AVOID Lowes. There is a reason its called Low.

    Third,

    Ive had great service with my Samsung for going on 3 years, 0 problem, and very energy efficient.
     
    no more front loaders for me

    had a few over the years and nothing has the usuable capacity or cleans like a old school top loader

    the fronts just dont use enough water (which is the selling point i understand)

    top loaders are supposedly not as gentle on clothes but i want my stuff clean

    you can pack a top loader to the max and there is enough water and agitation to get everywhere, front loaders dont move the clothes around enough. the outside stays the outside and the inside stays the inside it you really fill it

    this is from personal experience with children who used to puke in the their beds with the stomach virus

    front loader would have stains on the same bed spread...top loader did not

    same machine size, house has a laundry room up stairs so they had to fit in the same spot

    front loader was $$ and only 2-3 years old, its now in the garage for pool towels and alike

    plus the front loader stink that comes from the door seal when i gets a pin hole, never had a top loader stink

    current set is a samsung, looks nice if it matters, tons of settings and works
     
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    DO NOT get a front loading washer. I don't care what make they have serious leak potential and mildew issues. Personally have a new set of LG top load washer and dual opening dryer that have been working great, but I also got them at a great discount because I buy a shit ton (couple million a year) of their VRF stuff.
     
    Had the Miele 20 years now....No stink.

    Wife is the one that gives it high acclaim for its cleaning ability.

    Online reviews of Speed Queen top load cleaning ability for one model appear to be very low.

    If I went Speed Queen Id either go front load or one of their analog controlled top loaders. Seems the digital version gets low marks for cleaning.

    I do want top load but I want the old school one which had the drum and agitator turning. Problem with newer top loads according to stuff read is that they dont fill with enough water and only one part of equipment "churns" the laundry.

    Seeking the stupid "Energy Star" lable results in equipment that doesnt work and in the end only costs more energy from using two times to get clean once or ending up in the landfill.

    Energy Star lable never seems to take into account the energy used to actually build the cabinet and equipment.

    If you can make the actual product go twenty years instead of 5 years of use and than a trip to the landfill that is where the savings is.
     
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    Reactions: Lapuapalooza
    brianf said:
    no more front loaders for me
    had a few over the years and nothing has the usuable capacity or cleans like a old school top loader
    the fronts just dont use enough water (which is the selling point i understand)
    top loaders are supposedly not as gentle on clothes but i want my stuff clean
    Click to expand...

    Blame the government and the EPA, it's the same with dishwashers.

    If you want your stuff really clean, just set it to the heavy duty cycle and select extra rinse, or add max extract / steam clean etc.
    Then your stuff will get actually really clean.

    Same with your dishwashers, set it to the heavy duty cycle.
     
    • Like
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    pmclaine said:
    Had the Miele 20 years now....No stink.

    Wife is the one that gives it high acclaim for its cleaning ability.

    Online reviews of Speed Queen top load cleaning ability for one model appear to be very low.

    If I went Speed Queen Id either go front load or one of their analog controlled top loaders. Seems the digital version gets low marks for cleaning.

    I do want top load but I want the old school one which had the drum and agitator turning. Problem with newer top loads according to stuff read is that they dont fill with enough water and only one part of equipment "churns" the laundry.

    Seeking the stupid "Energy Star" lable results in equipment that doesnt work and in the end only costs more energy from using two times to get clean once or ending up in the landfill.

    Energy Star lable never seems to take into account the energy used to actually build the cabinet and equipment.

    If you can make the actual product go twenty years instead of 5 years of use and than a trip to the landfill that is where the savings is.
    Click to expand...


    my samsung has a extra water setting or alike. actually fills the tub above the clothes

    i think there is 1-2 with agitator bars on the market but none of the "cool" ones
     
    Maytag topload I bought last year is already gone to crap. Top door is broken in the back and it won’t lock and unlock without pressing down on the front. When it doesn’t lock it tries repeatedly for about 3 seconds then aborts into the heinous chime and has a panic attack.

    my goal was to find a topload because I hate frontload and the least finger sensing nonsense possible and I still got shafted.
     
    Well sounds like its time for a brick vs washer spin cycle video ?
     
    pmclaine said:
    Im thinking my Miele washer is giving up the ghost.

    Got twenty years out of it, made some repairs, think the springs, shocks or main bearing may be shot.

    Heard Speed Queen front loaders are pretty repairable if they break. Kind of spendy. Made in USA.

    Second floor install.

    Bigger capacity is better. Kids go through too many clothes each week and would be nice to throw queen size comforter in rather than going to laundromat.

    Whats out there?

    Miele has been great but they seem to be less friendly these days when helping the consumer do self repair.

    Really looked like Speed Queen had the right idea about having their front loaders be user serviceable but reviews on actual function are mixed.

    Im sure some of you guys wash your clothes and have some good washing machine/dryer recommendations.
    Click to expand...

    Hope I can help.

    I just moved last Nov. Washer and dryer were old, they died before the divorce. Old Whirlpool and they got the job done back in the day. After divorce the shitty Amana ones she got from her job died too and she had to buy more. Again she bought the cheapest she could. The $300-400 special at HD. They wouldn't clean clothes for shit. The dryer had to be ran three times. They wasted power and they wore out fast.

    So I got my own house and I needed a washer and dryer. Knew I didn't want that junk, didn't wanna spend a lot either. Went to HD, they had a sale going. ***BEWARE: HD can change prices digitally, anyone can do it from any computer, so if you find a price you like but don't buy that day, TAKE A PICTURE, even if date says sale expires next month they can still change it!!!*** Wound up going with Samsung washer and dryer, the washer is a top loader w/ glass lid and dryer front loader. It's rather large, taller than others, lots of room --this thing holds a LOT. No spindle in the dryer either. Oh man does it clean, and apparently it does it without wearing out the clothes prematurely too. They match, both have settings but you can completely program the cycle however you want, if you want it to wash 6 times, spin 6 times, rinse 6 times, soak for two hours, whatever, you can do that. You can hit a preset and go with it or adjust that preset too. And it's all really simple to use. Just remember to put the detergent in the dispenser or it'll just get washed out in the pre-rinse. Uses all the different types of detergent including the high efficiency shit.

    They had it on sale for I forget, maybe $500 something? Went back two days later and they were $700 something --still on sale. Picture got the manager involved and due to the pictures, they had to give it to me for that price.

    Remember too that if you're a vet or military that HD sells shit 10% off. I think Lowes does too FWIW.

    There is no better for the price. For what I paid, there is NO WAY I could've gotten better. I love these damn things. My buddy, he loves 'em too. Never been really excited about washing clothes but this thing does such a great job it's hard not to. FWIW, Samsung is/was rated as one of the best mfg.'s of this kind of shit in 2019. I have a Samsung fridge that I got at the same time that's just dead spot on with temps and the oven/stove is too. Zero complaints with any of it, though for the life of me I can't figure out why they didn't install a light on the water dispenser... My only bitch.

    DEFINITELY look at the Samsung stuff.
     
    I'm a masochist. We have rental houses and we'll periodically put washers/dryers into them. I'll buy a pair of used Maytag Neptunes off of C/L for $150.00 or so because the washer is leaking. I'll buy a bearing and seal kit for the washer, replace them and they're good to go. Have done three sets over the past 6 years and they're all going strong.
     
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    Parts in route, fingers crossed.

    Ive either turned a $2K expenditure into a $180 expenditure (and a Saturday of free time) or I made my $2K expenditure a $2K plus $180 expense.

    I got a bunch of rifle parts at LRI.

    Id rather spend the money with them.
     
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    Ugh. I just read the manual on our speed queen. The document references federal energy saving requirements- that led me to a gov requirement for common sense water conservation.

    my washer fills 30% hot and 70% cold on the hot cycle.

    their are new valves for old models that will get you to at least 60% hot on this model.

    I would really look into repairing the old model.

    Speed queen is all I will buy for the apartment laundry rooms.

    If one breaks, I might look into an older used speedqueen as they are durable.
    It’s not the cost driving me to old ones- it’s the lack of computer, water savings, sensors and fragile electronics.
     
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    I bought a used LG set from Craigslist for $300 about 3.5 years ago when I moved from a house with all electric to a gas hookup dryer. The washer is a top loader with no auger in the middle, the dryer does the steam feature but I’ve never tried it. The set was probably 3 years old when I got it, the previous owner scratched the crap out of the top of the dryer which is why it was cheap, the set was still $1200 when I purchased.

    Based on my poor experiences with Samsung on a previous fridge and two sets of their front loading laundry stuff, I chose LG for my new fridge. It works fine except for the ice makers, both put all kinds of shit in the ice, looks like plastic bits. I bought the 5 year warranty, so I need to call and have them replace the ice makers or something. I get a plastic powder on the door tray below the door ice maker, so it’s not a water issue.

    My folks are running a ~25 year old set of Maytag front loaders for laundry. About every 3 years I need to pull the drain motor out and clean it, but otherwise they’ve been excellent. For dishwashers I’ve had excellent service from Bosch units in a couple of houses.
     
    New appliances suck. A few years ago our front loader (normal size) needed repairs that was well over half the cost of a shiny new washer. It was about 12 years old so just bought a new one - the "oversize" style that is common now. Consumer reports recommended etc. etc. It takes at least twice as long to run a load of clother - many cycles are over 2 hours. Even though its much larger it only has about 5% more capacity - not enough to matter. Has some "features" that we don't use and don't matter. If I could do it again I'd repair the old one even it it cost as much as a new one.

    Bought a new dishwasher a few months ago - not repairable or I would have. New one is OK but for over 1K its not impressive. The racking system is worse, cycle we most commonly use for dishes is 4 hours 13 minutes vs about 90 mins with the old one.
     
    It begins......Man, well me anyway, vs Machine.........

    image.jpg
     
    Miele is about the best brand you can buy..............yes, $$$$...........but they do what they are supposed to do.......I work in the pharmaceutical industry........we have Miele dish washers in our lab............8K-10K for a dishwasher?
     
    sodakhunter said:
    Speed Queen
    Click to expand...
    Agreed. great warranty, rated highly even by consumer reports. Traditional top load washer does a great job,and you can set your Own water level. The low water use washer, just dont clean very well..

    Two service guys were in for estimates on fixing the old Maytag, and said they won’t buy anything else themselves.
     
    Devildog said:
    Well does it purr like a kitten or sound like a cement mixer lol
    Click to expand...

    Sounds good but I think when it went unbalanced it caused another fault code.

    When it gets to the rinse cycle I get a blinking light which is a fault code of some sort.

    Quick search indicates it could be a drain filter but that's too easy a fix, I won't be that lucky.

    Im betting motor brushes are worn after twenty years.

    I used to be able to call Miele and the techs would do diagnostics right over the phone having me punch shit into the control panel, than tell me what parts to get but they started sucking about that ten years or so ago.

    Now Google/YouTube usually shows a fix.

    Going up to check it again in a moment, I'll flush the drain filter.

    The shocks were completely compressed and the new springs are noticeably shorter. Work that certainly had to be done but if fixing this fault costs me a repair man I'll be wishing I had just gone with the analog Speed Queen top loader.
     
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    Best of luck, I understand how frustrating it can be, appliances are a pain to work on. I be you get it wiped!
     
    My head tells me just go today and have new machines ordered by close of business but my cheap bastard ness and twenty years of satisfaction with the Miele says "One more try........."

    One of the pictures here seems to show the motor brushes accessible from the front of the machine.

    I might as well open it up one more time and if the carbon is gone than that would be a cheap fix.
     
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    Excuse the picture....need to remember how these connections go....

    image.jpg
     
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