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Originally Posted by Nords
I hear ya on the price, but I wonder what the payback works out to.
Did Staber give you any info on Energy Star ratings, KWHr per year, or gallons of water per load?
Anything that needs replacement or a service call over the years?
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Well, the payback numbers would be all over the place based on the ingoing parameters. Here's a chart from the Staber site.
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Agitator Washer Staber Washer
Initial Price $550 $1,199
Cost to Use
First 3 Years* $1,473 $543
Price After
3rd Year $2,023 >$1,742<
*Based on average of 8 loads per week with average utility rates, detergent costs, and average maintenance compared to a traditional top load agitator washer. Different numbers can be shown based on your rates and usage.
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I'm too lazy to crunch the numbers, but these costs seem high to me (I'd like to see the underlying costs they used. Maybe if you wash your clothes in Perrier water that you heat by burning $20 bills . . .) Still there's no doubt that the machine is very efficient. I'm lookign at the Energy Star tag: this model uses 180 kWh/year (there's apparently a model that uses 177 kWh/yr, but I don't know what kind of machine that is). The most energy hungry washer in this categry clocks in at 1298 kWh/yr. Based on 8 loads/wk and an electric rate of 8.03 cents per kWh (wow--anybody still only paying that much?), Uncle Sam says this machie would cost 13 dollars per year in energy if you heat water with electricity. So, compared to the most energy inefficient model, the machine woud save you about 70 bucks per year. Using real electric rates: probably a hundred bucks. A quick look at some web sites indicates indicates average top-loading washers use up to 40 gallons per load, and the Staber uses 16.5 gallons of water per load, which will save a bit for most of us if we're on city water or city sewer. Easier on septic systems, etc. It also uses only 2 oz of detergent per load, about 1/3rd the normal amount of a top loader.
Anyway, I suppose I'll be even in about 5 years compared to a top loader, after that it's money in the bank!!
No regular replacement items mentioned. In the past the machines had bearing to be lubed every year, but they've gone to sealed ones now. . .
MasterBaster,
The top loaders work as well as they ever did. But, the tumbling action of a front loader or Staber is a lot easier on clothes than an agitator (which twists 'em and tugs them under). Toploaders use a lot more water, energy, detergent.
CFB,
My Kenmore model that died was the one with the smalll-size door on the front, with all the controls just above the door (no top console at the back). They still sell them. Frigidaire and GE, too. I guess they'll probably make nice reefs.
samclem