We often supply appliances as part of kitchen remodels, but not often laundry appliances. So I’m not really up to date.
Is there a consensus on the “new style” top-loading washers such as GE Harmony and Whirlpool Cabrio (also sold as the slightly different Kenmore Oasis)? These are huge-capacity top-load machines without a conventional agitator.
Would like some opinions of how well they work as compared to front-loaders.
Thanks,
DG/Builder
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Replies
Got the kenmore top loader, it was cheaper than the front loader and apparently has a little more capacity. We do laundry for 10 people, had it about 2 mths. no complaints yet. We were going thru the basic washers every 2 yrs. Wife likes it, and loves the capacity.
Danusan, thank you. But does it wash as well as a front loader? A top loader cannot tumble the clothes like a front loader.
DG/Builder
Can't really answer that question as we have never had a front loader, however my work clothes seem to come out pretty clean, so I would have to say we a fairly satisfied.
> We were going thru the basic washers every 2 yrs.Hmmm. Granted there were only 4 of us at peak, but our Maytag washer and dryer are 29.5 years old. Literally tons of diapers went through them.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
We were using Sears brand basic, high capacity top loaders not alot of frills. It was what the budget could allow, had a old service guy that basically told us with the size family we have, and the amount of laundry, to just figure them as disposable.
Finally had a little extra cash and moved up to higher quality machine, hopefully this one will stand the muster
Many years ago, when I was living temporarily in South Africa, we bought a National top loading non-agitator washing machine. At that time we were a family of 6, including 2 in diapers.
It worked great for 2, 3 years and we left it for my mother-in-law.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
I am also considering a new washer/dryer. So far the brand LG is at the top of my list. LG is a very high tech one. Around here it is only sold by Home Depot and Best Buy. Down side, searching the Internet, no one fixes them. This company is third in the world and gaining on Whirlpool and Maytag.
The Maytag Calypso has had a lot of problems and my buddy who fixes washing machines has not learn to fix Maytags front loading machines.
I will probably wait another year to see if Maytags improves or if LG gets a good reputation.
Bosch gets good ratings, usually.Maytag started going downhill about ten years back.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
Many people are happy with many washers. They have no reference for comparison. That's why I asked for an opinion from someone who has used both a good front loader and a new agitator-less top loader.
DG/Builder
I bought a new washer 2-3 years ago at Home Depot.I was told top loading washers do a good job if you buy the right washer.The key is to buy a washer that "spins" the dirty water out of the tub (as opposed to one that simply pumps the dirty water out).Makes sense to me. I bought a machine that works this way but the down side is it uses more electricity.^^^^^^
S N A F U (Situation Normal: All Fouled Up)
Since they got rid of wringers I have not heard of a washer that just "pumps out the water" and not spins.
The key is to buy a washer that "spins" the dirty water out of the tub (as opposed to one that simply pumps the dirty water out).
???????
As far as I know......every washer out there has a "spin cycle".
Just pumping out the water, and not spinning, would leave you with a wash load that weighed about 40-50 lbs, and took 15 to 20 hours in the dryer.
I assume it's the speed of the spin that's at issue here. Most front-loaders spin much faster than normal top-loaders and hence get the clothes "wrung out" better. No real reason why a top-loader couldn't spin faster, with appropriate design adjustments.
If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
I think you may have posted over here. If not there are a few threads going on the Kenmore Oasis. These people get into their laundry applicance over there. It'll make your head hurt.
Good Luck.
Yeah, that's one of my guys who posted. No useful replies yet, but we did get amused at some of the discussions there.
I will be talking to some experts to see about hacking the washer software to get more RPMs on the spin cycle...:)
DG/Builder
We bought a Fisher & Paykel top loader. My wife says she's never seen the clothes get this clean. The machine uses about half as much water and a third less detergent and spins the clothes so dry she needs to use the dryer far less than previous.
Is this a regular top loader or agitator-less?
Neither I suppose. The FP has an agitator of sorts, but different than most as I understand it. I'm no expert, I just know that we are saving $15-20 a month on water bills since we've got the machine. Its worked flawlessly and the clothes get really clean.http://usa.fisherpaykel.com/laundry/washers/what-is-smart-drive.cfm
Fisher/Paykel top loader is the way to go. We really push those in our showroom, and I have a pair at home.
My fiance talked me into the FP as opposed to the maytag neptune series and I have been very satisfied. Excellent results.
We have a top loader cause there are very few front-loaders that will fit in our laundry room (and they are $$$). The front-loaders are more energy and to some extent water efficient, but they are typically deeper. The other thing to keep in mind is that they all like the doors left open to dry out so you need even more space.
The Calypso was Whirlpool/Kenmore/Sears first attempt at an agitator-less top loader. Total POS. As the class action lawsuit was being settled Whirlpool got smart and punted. The Oasis is their Calypso replacement, and it's core technology is licensed from Fisher-Paykel.
Now, the F-P takes a bit of getting used to. My mother hates hers. She's old-school and doesn't think it's clean unless she does a hot wash/warm rinse; F-P prefers cold or at most warm (those tough New Zelanders!). The thing I like about the Calypso is that it combines the proven F-P wash technology with more temp and cycle choices.
FYI, the thing has a high speed spin, very similar to a front loader, so our drying time is now half or less of what it used to be.