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Re: Clothes Washers / Top Load or Front Load? Posted by Snowmobile [Email]  (#686)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Snowmobile) on Mon, 9 Feb 2015 06:58:02
In Reply to: Clothes Washers / Top Load or Front Load?, EGD  [Profile/Gallery]
, Sun, 8 Feb 2015 20:27:46
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We ran a Bosch front load pair for about 12 years. We liked them, they were certainly very energy efficient. Around 10 years, I replaced the carbon brushes on the motor ($30 parts, easy repair). Recently, the front rubber seal got torn so the machine would leak. Parts are available and I could fix it (fairly big job - need to remove drum), but I found an amazing deal on a new pair (also Bosch, same style) so that is what we did, partly because the dryer was also aging and I had replaced a module on it (bad relays). Dust also would collect in some of the cavities, so after 10 years, that was causing it to get noisy etc so I cleaned it out which improved things somewhat.
Other minor annoyances - if you left clothes wet clothes in the washer over night or really stuffed the machine, they'd be quite wrinkly. If you left the door closed all the time, the seal could develop a bit of a smell, but as long as we left it open some of the time, it was not such a big deal. We never ran a bleach load (they say no bleach actually). There are cleaning tablets you can buy also (we never did that either). These were used very heavily over this time, with kids in cloth diapers etc (I'd actually recommend a top loader for that: less handling and more water). Some would find these things to be more of a big deal than I did. Overall we really liked the pair and the new pair is the current exact replacement (compact size, about 24" wide, stackable). I would kind of avoid stacking because the dryer will be subjected to any vibration from the washing machine, but on a lever arm (ie more)... If I were to stack, I'd build a dryer shelf and use sound isolation. I have a 3/4" rubber horse stall mat under them now (side by side) and if the washer shakes the dryer is unaffected.
All that said, Samsung is trying to kill the market and drive out competitors. I spoke with a knowledgeable and frank sales person (who sold Samsung, and Bosch, all brands really). Samsung is apparently selling it's lower line machines at a loss to kill the competitors, and they are succeeding. I believe Bosch is pulling out of the North American market for these machines. Also note that many front loaders are HUGE now, kinda the opposite of what they used to be. The compact ones will wash a large load of clothes. The mega sized washers are ridiculous imho. Of the compacts, there is a company making them in Turkey, and there is still Miele. Miele is a very well run company, so if you can afford them, and want something that will last 20 years and be worth servicing in 20 years, well, imho, that is the option. They are not targeting DIY repair - Miele techs are about the only way to get parts and service but it is very well run high end operation. Bosch is also not that DIY friendly - repairs are easy and parts are available online but manuals are secretive/unavailable. I was able to procure a service manual for our washer (but not dryer) for free off the web. No idea on Samsung, LG, or other brands, but my impression was that they can be hit or miss for reliability, and not necessarily any easier to service. Not sure about the American brands, but they are mostly all just different names for Whirlpool.
We never liked top loaders - they use waaay more water, remove waaay less water prior to drying, and are generally harder on clothes... all in all, they cost a lot more to run and because they are now primarily targeting budget conscious consumers, build quality is probably not what it used to be. Our Bosch setup payed for itself in about a year. That said, there is a class of "hybrid" machines, that are top load but spin faster like a front load and normally have a clear lid. If you look, you'll see what I mean. No idea how good they are.
hope that helps!
, Sun, 8 Feb 2015 20:27:46, Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:58:14, Thu, 12 Feb 2015 08:15:51, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 13:15:17
, Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:31:47, Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:00:17
, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 12:20:16, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 13:12:38, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 16:39:34, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 12:17:55, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 13:06:03, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 07:58:54, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 07:38:52, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 07:06:22
, Tue, 10 Feb 2015 13:22:53, Tue, 10 Feb 2015 16:30:24, Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:29:32, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 09:36:55, Tue, 10 Feb 2015 07:19:44, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 07:05:38, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 06:58:02 <-- Viewing This Message, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 16:41:22, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 09:11:53, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 03:19:19
, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 05:24:44
, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 10:55:57, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 11:00:19, Mon, 9 Feb 2015 22:15:31, Tue, 10 Feb 2015 06:51:14, Tue, 10 Feb 2015 20:04:01, Wed, 11 Feb 2015 05:09:01, Wed, 11 Feb 2015 07:37:33, Wed, 11 Feb 2015 08:57:08
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