help me buy a washing machine

[username]

long story short: washing machine broke. wife wants to use this as a reason to buy a new one. i'm cool with that. she wants a front loader.

she likes the whirlpool duet models. i like the bosch nexxt models.

anyone who has made a similar comparison, or who has experience with either brand/model, can you tell me what you like and dont like?

[Burnszilla]

Does the Bosch have a final drive?

[GeoffMiller]

I am looking at the Duet also. I feel that Whirlpool parts and service will be more readily available. Plus, they are sold at a lot of big box discounters. Our laundry is on the main floor of the house so noise is an issue. In the Whirlpool lineup, the most heavily insulated units are top loaders. The front loaders like the Duet supposedly pay for their extra cost in less than five years through much less electrical and water usage. Front loaders use a different kind of soap. I haven't checked to see if it is readily available locally. In the mean time, I picked up a five buck plastic pan to hold the leaks from the old washer until we get around to getting the new one.

[adamceckhardt]

I have 3 sets of Duets (one in each unit that I rent out)

They have been PERFECT, even with tenants abusing them. They are about 3 years old, and never missed a beat. I looked at the Bosch Nexxt as well, and on the salesperson's reccomendation (he's not just a stranger, but someone I can trust) went with the Whirlpool. If I remember correctly, he said they're both great machines, but the Bosch is more expensive to work on when something breaks, and that he sees far less trouble with the Whirlpools.

Hope that helps... good luck!

[username]

Does the Bosch have a final drive?

they say it is "maintenance free." then in little tiny letters under that it says "unless you are in the iron butt rally and you try to wash all your gear in one load. "

:ha

[rkasal]

long story short: washing machine broke. wife wants to use this as a reason to buy a new one. i'm cool with that. she wants a front loader.

she likes the whirlpool duet models. i like the bosch nexxt models.

anyone who has made a similar comparison, or who has experience with either brand/model, can you tell me what you like and dont like?

Front loader is the way to go. I trust the Bosch brand more than any other in the world. I have heard that LG is a good front loader but it's hard to go wrong with Bosch anything. :blah

Regards,


Randy Kasal

[rkasal]

I am looking at the Duet also. I feel that Whirlpool parts and service will be more readily available. Plus, they are sold at a lot of big box discounters. Our laundry is on the main floor of the house so noise is an issue. In the Whirlpool lineup, the most heavily insulated units are top loaders. The front loaders like the Duet supposedly pay for their extra cost in less than five years through much less electrical and water usage. Front loaders use a different kind of soap. I haven't checked to see if it is readily available locally. In the mean time, I picked up a five buck plastic pan to hold the leaks from the old washer until we get around to getting the new one.


Just in case you haven't checked this, check your hoses first. Hoses are supposed to be replaced every three to five years but some people let it go ten or fifteen. It's luck when they go that long. It's always unlucky when they waited and flooded the house. But check your hoses if you haven't thought of that - may save you a lot of money.

Regards,



Randy Kasal

[ltljohn]

I have the Frigidaire Gallery front loader and the matching dryer (gas) they have been going strong for 9 years with not the least bit of trouble.
No matter which you buy look at the drawer base for them, less bending!

[Hodag]

they have appliance forums for questions like these


I actually researched a blow temp sensor on my stove yesterday

[GeoffMiller]

Just in case you haven't checked this, check your hoses first. Hoses are supposed to be replaced every three to five years but some people let it go ten or fifteen. It's luck when they go that long. It's always unlucky when they waited and flooded the house. But check your hoses if you haven't thought of that - may save you a lot of money.

Regards,



Randy Kasal

Actually, it is a pretty new washer (the last one was killed by a screwdriver left in my pocket) The hoses all seemed fine. I inspected the tub and there seems to be a small leak around the transmission. I have found that tubs are expensive enough and a big enough pain to install that it is easier just to start over. Plus, this one was a cheapie with minimal insulation and the noise drives me crazy.

[john1691]

Front loaders use a different kind of soap. I haven't checked to see if it is readily available locally.

Most grocerie stores/club stores(Costco,BJ's) have the HT soap for front loaders. We have a frigidaire and have had a couple issues with it in 5 years of heavy use. Would definately stay with front load, maybe try a diffeant brand next time.

BTW, keep the drier vent as short as possible, and use 4" rigid metal pipe, not the flex crap, other than 2' at the unit for hook up. If you are having to vent over 12', get a booster fan designed for dryers to assist in airflow. The dry time will be greatly reduced and the appliance will last longer. (my 2 cents)

[clowry]

+1 on the Frigidaire. I have 2 sets - one on my 'primary' residence, and one in our 'retirement' home (they happen to overlap, ok?) Really like them. They do a great job, and use less soap than a top loader.

[tonkandy]

Many years ago I worked in a country where you had to use bribes to help things along. The price to get an entry visa for my wife (now ex) was 10,000 chips (about 3 grand) and an Admiral washing machine.

[kbasa]

long story short: washing machine broke. wife wants to use this as a reason to buy a new one. i'm cool with that. she wants a front loader.

she likes the whirlpool duet models. i like the bosch nexxt models.

anyone who has made a similar comparison, or who has experience with either brand/model, can you tell me what you like and dont like?

MrsK is going to buy one of the LG sets. Ours are nearly 20 years old, so I figure it's time to replace the dryer, too.

Our neighbor bought the LG (Tromm or something) and they apparently wash more clothes while using less water and still manage to get the clothes cleaner. The neighbor tells me that she used to do 8 or 9 loads a week, but can do the same amount in 3 loads in the LGs. Additionally, instead of using 300 gallons of water, she uses 10. For those of us that live where water can be expensive, this is important.

She also says the new stuff dries their clothes in about half the time of their old ones.

We're probably going to buy them at Home Depot and float them on our HD credit card until tax return time with zero interest, no payments for six months. Our water board and PG&E are also going to kick in with rebates for more energy and water efficient equipment.

I think she's going to buy red ones. :ha

[bubbagazoo]

I think she's going to buy red ones. :ha

Me too!!! Not getting a new laundry set any time soon but I like the red washer and dryer. My wife thinks that's silly because she and I are probably the only people who will see it.

[kbasa]

Me too!!! Not getting a new laundry set any time soon but I like the red washer and dryer. My wife thinks that's silly because she and I are probably the only people who will see it.

I know. Some folks will see them, but I like things that look nice or at least don't look ordinary.

So red it is.







Unless she buys the blue ones. :ha

[The_Veg]

Those fancy-schmancy front-loaders are way above my league, but three years ago I bought a basic top-loading Whirlpool and it has been simply perfect. No operational issues, no repairs of any kind, no complaints whatsoever. Ditto the dryer.

And yes, they get the bugs and sweat and crud out of the riding-gear quite well. :thumb

[Pat Carol]

I have the Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer at home. These are far superior machines compared to top loaders.
Both machines are shaft drive. There are less moving parts. Both machines handle huge loads. So far they are holding up superbly.

PC

[username]

they have appliance forums for questions like these

dude, why are you trying to restrict my first amendment rights? :D

the major benefits of the whirlpool that i see cited again and again are the stackability, the reliability, and the ease of repair. my wife thinks stacked appliances are goofy so that's not a selling point for her. also, we're the kind of people that don't think washers and dryers have to be "matched" so we might not ever buy the mating dryer.

salespeople keep telling me that the whirlpool is more reliable AND it's easier to get parts for them. i asked one how they knew it was so easy to get parts for a reliable piece of equipment and they didnt have a good answer. (my wife drives a toyota. for all i know, toyota doesnt even HAVE spare parts, or repairmen. THATS reliability. the biggest problem we have with that car is we have to put gas in it every 400 miles.)

the low noise level of the bosch is luring me like an ironic siren. 54 dBA.

[AZ Greg]

Front loader LG. Quiet, efficient, minimal water use, and clean clothes come out after a wash cycle.

[wuli959]

The down side of front loaders that have cause with a pending class action suit against WP and Maytag products (only them at this time because of their market presence in HA laundry.)

When your clothes are being washed and then have the high speed spin in the washer, there are bits of biological matter (dirt, skin, etc) that are sent out of the inner tub and then stuck to the stationary outer tub around the 360 degree axis.

The positioning of the horizontal tub does not allow the volume of water during a wash to reach the upper reaches of the outer tub.

Then you get a slow decay of this built up biological matter in the outer tub that begins to STINK.

Appliance companies are beginning to try to address the issue with "special" cycles that are designed to clean the outer tub but they are a long shot for success.

This is not a brand specific issue but a design flaw specific to HA washers.

If you're looking for reliability data, don't take a salesperson's word for it . . . check out a third party like Consumer Reports for a little less biased detail.

There are top load washers that have similar wash and spin speed charecteristics (energy savings) to HA laundry that avoid the issue that you might consider.

[tghsmith]

the stacked duets are great, have had them for three years, quiet, efficiant and space saving, just think of all the bike stuff you could put in the spot taken up by a dryer,

[snoone]

dude, why are you trying to restrict my first amendment rights? :D

the major benefits of the whirlpool that i see cited again and again are the stackability, the reliability, and the ease of repair. my wife thinks stacked appliances are goofy so that's not a selling point for her. also, we're the kind of people that don't think washers and dryers have to be "matched" so we might not ever buy the mating dryer.

salespeople keep telling me that the whirlpool is more reliable AND it's easier to get parts for them. i asked one how they knew it was so easy to get parts for a reliable piece of equipment and they didnt have a good answer. (my wife drives a toyota. for all i know, toyota doesnt even HAVE spare parts, or repairmen. THATS reliability. the biggest problem we have with that car is we have to put gas in it every 400 miles.)

the low noise level of the bosch is luring me like an ironic siren. 54 dBA.

Tessler is an appliance expert. He now knows everything about car vacs.. I bet he's good with washers as well:lol

[tessler]

Tessler is an appliance expert. He now knows everything about car vacs.. I bet he's good with washers as well:lolWe have a Fridgidaire vertical combo in our country home. Fits in the closet. Works well. I like.

I know more about Car Vacs than ANYONE on this forum.

Apparently. :whistle

[clowry]

The reason the clothes dry faster is that the high speed spin on the washer is much more efficient at getting the water out of them. They're usually just damp, not wet when they come out.

[Braddog]

I have the Whirlpool front loader. We've had it now for 4 years. We love it. It saves water, it takes big loads, it's fairly quiet, we can get parts anywhere.

We did have an issue this fall where the small drain pump went out, we think because we found a couple of toothpicks and a nickel in there. Very easy to replace, we did the work ourselves, parts available, etc.

We love it.

We have a Bosch dishwasher that we REALLY like. It's very quiet, so I could see getting a Bosch washing machine.

[flymymbz]

Go with the Bosch. We've had our Axxis + w/d for about 4 years now. (Its the smaller, apt sized combo). Quiet, pretty much maintenance free, the washer uses less water & 1/4 of the soap of a top loader, and best of all, with the built in water heater, you don't need bleach to get the whites clean.

Stackable, if that's what you need, easy to take apart the dryer if you need to get do some serious lint removal (or feather removal......stupid pillow). Washer has an easily accessible drain hose if you need to drain the washer for any reason. Parts do have to be ordered. We thought the dryer needed a new motor (it was making an awful racket). So, we ordered the motor, and a week later the repair dude came out and took the dryer apart. Didn't need the motor, it was a lint/hair build up on the shaft. (I've got long hair and shed a lot.....) So, now I take the back off the dryer and clean it out once a year.