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New front loader washer?

post #1 of 27
10/27/10 at 3:26am
Thread Starter 
So, I really want one of the front loading washers. I want to save on energy bills, save on the water bill, and dryer time. We have been saving for one and the prices have gone down a lot since we've started.

We really want to move, and there are so many things needed on our house it's not worth fixing them all. We don't have a set date at all or a plan to move. If we get a new washer and then we move--do we take it with us? We could leave the one that we bought about 7 years ago or sell it and just leave no washer at all. Then there's the chance that another house that we move to could already have a front loader. Oh, I dream of how much less water one of those would use!

What to do?
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post #2 of 27
10/27/10 at 8:06am
We bought a front loader and dryer set last year on black friday. Best money ive ever spent!

Since needing the new washer is a sure thing, and moving is not. I say get it.
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post #3 of 27
10/27/10 at 1:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbie64g View Post
We bought a front loader and dryer set last year on black friday. Best money ive ever spent!
It might be worth noting that front loaders aren't the best machines for diapers. If you're still washing diapers, you might want to hold off.

If not, I'd say to go for it! Black friday is right around the corner, too. It might be a good time of year to pounce on some killer deals...
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post #4 of 27
10/27/10 at 1:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Italiamom View Post
It might be worth noting that front loaders aren't the best machines for diapers. If you're still washing diapers, you might want to hold off.
We bought a FL last year and had 2 kiddos in dipes. We now are down to 1 in diapers and are doing just fine w/ our FL.

The key for us was to make sure we had an on board heater and were able to do loads w/ additional water. We have a "Heavy Duty" setting on our washer that enables more water to be used in the cycles.
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post #5 of 27
10/27/10 at 2:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Essie View Post
So, I really want one of the front loading washers. I want to save on energy bills, save on the water bill, and dryer time. We have been saving for one and the prices have gone down a lot since we've started.

We really want to move, and there are so many things needed on our house it's not worth fixing them all. We don't have a set date at all or a plan to move. If we get a new washer and then we move--do we take it with us? We could leave the one that we bought about 7 years ago or sell it and just leave no washer at all. Then there's the chance that another house that we move to could already have a front loader. Oh, I dream of how much less water one of those would use!

What to do?
Appliances, as long as they aren't built in, are personal property. There is no expectation that you would leave such items if you sell your house.

I've heard really mixed reviews on the front loaders.
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post #6 of 27
10/27/10 at 2:07pm
LOVE my front loader. We wear a lot of jeans in this house. In a reg top loader could only do them 2-3 pairs at a time...now I can do a FULL LOAD of jeans, just using heavy duty cycle.

I also like that I use WAY LESS detergent. That is something you have to be careful of. Use a concentrated detergent and about half the smallest recommended amount or it will be too much. You will know if you used too much trust me..
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post #7 of 27
10/27/10 at 2:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Italiamom View Post
It might be worth noting that front loaders aren't the best machines for diapers. If you're still washing diapers, you might want to hold off.

If not, I'd say to go for it! Black friday is right around the corner, too. It might be a good time of year to pounce on some killer deals...
No diapers! just 8 yo boy dirty as heck clothes and dh stinky running clothes LOL
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post #8 of 27
10/27/10 at 3:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arduinna View Post
Appliances, as long as they aren't built in, are personal property. There is no expectation that you would leave such items if you sell your house.

Ah, thanks. I've been wondering. Personally, it would be a selling point for me (if there were one in the prospective new home).

I've heard really mixed reviews on the front loaders.
I have too, but I can't believe how much water ours wastes and our water/sewer bills are so high here that it's worth it.
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post #9 of 27
10/27/10 at 3:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rani View Post
LOVE my front loader. We wear a lot of jeans in this house. In a reg top loader could only do them 2-3 pairs at a time...now I can do a FULL LOAD of jeans, just using heavy duty cycle.

I also like that I use WAY LESS detergent. That is something you have to be careful of. Use a concentrated detergent and about half the smallest recommended amount or it will be too much. You will know if you used too much trust me..
Wow! that sounds great. What about pillows, comforters and heavier stuff?
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post #10 of 27
10/27/10 at 3:02pm
I can take or leave my front loader-it's a washing machine. But I'm not one to get excited about laundry. We also don't do a lot.
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post #11 of 27
10/27/10 at 3:04pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, so part 2 of my question (now that you've convinced me) is: do you think it's nec. to have the matching dryer? Ours is a Sears brand that was here when we bought the house. Not energy efficient I'm sure, but still kicking.

*Also for those of you who have the dryer also; gas or electric? which is better? I've heard gas is, but gas is so expensive too and our furnace (old clunker) is gas and that really makes our bills go up in winter
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post #12 of 27
10/27/10 at 3:12pm
Well when we bought ours, it came as a set. We really didnt need a dryer either, or a washer for that matter, but MAN, the difference in bills was ASTRONOMICAL! We went with gas, but our utility closet was ready for gas or electric hook up. GAS HANDS DOWN. even shorter then half the time to dry. WE live in a cold climate, and Im sorry, but I am not hanging my clothes in our musty basement to dry. I would smell like a rat dungeon if I did. I swear our gas dryer gets a whole load of my husband winter work clothes in like 25 mins!
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post #13 of 27
10/27/10 at 3:14pm
Thread Starter 
Ok, can we talk about brands? LG, Samsung, Maytag?
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post #14 of 27
10/27/10 at 4:01pm
I have an LG front loader and I love it, it works well for diapers (it has a sanitary cycle, and you can add steam if you want), is much more gentle on clothes (which is huge for me), it does a good job on my comforter, and saves a lot of water and detergent. I do have a dryer as well, but it's not a requirement. I think you just have to adjust the drying times because the front loader gets a lot more water out, so drying won't take as long. Make sure to wipe the seal around the door frequently because it can get musty.
You can always look on craigslist for a deal - the front loaders show up there now. Have fun shopping!
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post #15 of 27
10/27/10 at 4:14pm
I've had my new front loader for 1 week now. So far I love it. It's a Whirlpool Duet, I got it at Lowes for about $500. I did not get the matching dryer even though I would have loved to because my dryer is about 20 years old. But unfortunately it still works just fine.

One complaint I hear about Fl's are that you can't open the door once it has started. Mine allows you to open it up to 7 minutes after it starts to add items that you forgot. It also will beep when it's done if you want it too, and it has a "tumblefresh" option that will tumble the clothes every minute so they stay "fresh" until you get them out.

I did buy the extended warranty for $100 and that is good for 5 years after the 1 year warranty ends. I've never bought an extended warranty before, but last month our $1400 plasma tv died and it cost $450 to fix it. And it was only 1 1/2 years old and we refused the extended warranty. So from now on I'm buying extended warranties on big ticket items.
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post #16 of 27
10/27/10 at 4:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmandasMom View Post
I've had my new front loader for 1 week now. So far I love it. It's a Whirlpool Duet, I got it at Lowes for about $500. I did not get the matching dryer even though I would have loved to because my dryer is about 20 years old. But unfortunately it still works just fine.

One complaint I hear about Fl's are that you can't open the door once it has started. Mine allows you to open it up to 7 minutes after it starts to add items that you forgot. It also will beep when it's done if you want it too, and it has a "tumblefresh" option that will tumble the clothes every minute so they stay "fresh" until you get them out.

I did buy the extended warranty for $100 and that is good for 5 years after the 1 year warranty ends. I've never bought an extended warranty before, but last month our $1400 plasma tv died and it cost $450 to fix it. And it was only 1 1/2 years old and we refused the extended warranty. So from now on I'm buying extended warranties on big ticket items.
is this it?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02639622000P
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post #17 of 27
10/27/10 at 4:37pm
Yes that it!

One more thing I like... You can "lock" the controls after you start it so when the kids run by and start pressing buttons they can't change anything.
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post #18 of 27
10/27/10 at 4:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AmandasMom View Post
Yes that it!
How did you decide on what brand to get?
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post #19 of 27
10/27/10 at 5:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Essie View Post
How did you decide on what brand to get?

I'd love to say we decided on it after weeks of research... but it was the only one that was under 30 inches in depth so it fit into our laundry closet. And it *just* fits. After you add the hoses it takes up 29 out of the 30 inches in there.
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post #20 of 27
10/27/10 at 5:44pm
Do you know anyone with a front loader who would let you do a load in their machine to see how you liked it? I wish I had tried before I bought, because the little things that annoy me are magnified x1million with daily use. My clothes are clean, last longer, and are spun much drier in the front loader. On the other hand, if you forget an item or drop a stray sock, you can't just open the door and drop it in. The clothes tend to wrap up in knots in my machine, and I drop things on the floor every single load as I am trying to untangle them. I also should have purchased the riser. Trying it out could have showed me that a front loader was not for me, or could have pointed me toward a model that didn't have these issues.

I have the Kenmore that was the newest model in 2008. The 3, maybe?
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