HFWR
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Guess that's one way to make doing laundry exciting...
I have no experience with such machines. I'm sure it will be cheaper to install a 220V circuit and a duct than to buy and then fix such a complex machine the first time it breaks. Your place will have a higher resale value, too. Buyers probably won't be excited about needing to maintain a special high $$ machine just to do laundry, and may want the higher throughput of a separate dedicated washer and dryer.Not to highjack this thread but has anybody had any experience with combo washer/dryer units? Particularly those that run on 110v and have condenser type dryers?
We are moving into an apartment in a failed condo conversion project (renting). Our unit has washer plumbing, but apparently the development went broke before the 220v wiring or dryer vents were put in.
Not to highjack this thread but has anybody had any experience with combo washer/dryer units? Particularly those that run on 110v and have condenser type dryers?
We are moving into an apartment in a failed condo conversion project (renting). Our unit has washer plumbing, but apparently the development went broke before the 220v wiring or dryer vents were put in.
Not to highjack this thread but has anybody had any experience with combo washer/dryer units? Particularly those that run on 110v and have condenser type dryers?
We are moving into an apartment in a failed condo conversion project (renting). Our unit has washer plumbing, but apparently the development went broke before the 220v wiring or dryer vents were put in.
Interesting-- the flames are only considered to be a problem when they escape from the machine?I hope nobody here has this washer...
"The appliance maker said there have been seven incidents of minor smoke damage when flames escaped from the machines."
I've been in that situation, and the fix turned out to be a new $2 drain hose between the bottom of the drum and the inlet to the drain pump. (They can embrittle & crack with age.) And if you're really really lucky, yours may have just worked loose from the connectors.This is a very timely thread. Our 20 year old top loading Kenmore gave out a few days ago. The wash water now runs out onto the garage floor, so I'm guessing the drum seal is bad. It could probably be fixed, but I think we're interested in upgrading(?) to a front loader. Whatever we buy, we're hoping it's as reliable as the washer it's replacing has been.
Unfortunately, this is a tall order these days. Many of the machines are really not made as well as they were years ago. Plastic has replaced metal in many of the transmissions, electronic circuits/unitary switch panels have replaced single-function switches and mechanical timers (cheap, common and non-proprietary, easily replaced), and the motors are sometimes built "good enough" to last a few years. As the importance of low initial cost has grown, the manufacturers have responded in predictable ways.Whatever we buy, we're hoping it's as reliable as the washer it's replacing has been.
Installing the washer tray is smart. You might also consider this device--when it senses water (on the floor or in the tray) it turns off the flow of water to the washer. It costs about $140, takes only a few minutes to install. It's even more important for those who don't have a washer drain pan or at least a floor drain in the same room. For anybody with a washer--it's very possible that someday a supply hose is going to break or a hose/hose clamp inside the washer is going to fail. The result can be very inconvenient and expensive.It will also allow me to install a washing machine tray and drain and make some minor plumbing upgrades (our current setup has the washer connected to utility sink faucets and draining into the utility basin).
I avoid this issue by using $2 Wallyworld towels for everyday use. Keep the fluffy, oversized towels for "guests"...
There are towels other than $2 Wallyworld towels?
You wouldn't know it by examining my bathroom towels. The things I learn on this board.
Oh, and I don't bother with special towels for guests. Maybe this is why they don't stay long.
I love ours, we bought a Kenmore in 2001 and it's been great (knock on wood). I do leave the door open to avoid the moldy smell, but I don't particularly notice problems with wrinkles (then again, I probably wouldn't). I also don't overload it.
The other thing I really like is that it's not nearly as hard on our clothes as the old top-loaders. And it spins so much more water out of each load that the dryer time is cut dramatically.
I would definitely buy another one.
I've been in that situation, and the fix turned out to be a new $2 drain hose between the bottom of the drum and the inlet to the drain pump. (They can embrittle & crack with age.) And if you're really really lucky, yours may have just worked loose from the connectors.
Unfortunately, this is a tall order these days. Many of the machines are really not made as well as they were years ago. Plastic has replaced metal in many of the transmissions, electronic circuits/unitary switch panels have replaced single-function switches and mechanical timers (cheap, common and non-proprietary, easily replaced), and the motors are sometimes built "good enough" to last a few years. As the importance of low initial cost has grown, the manufacturers have responded in predictable ways.
Towels? I vaguely remember the last time we bought towels, circa 1995 I think.
Had our LG front loader for about 2 months. It was highly rated by Consumer Reports. (Online CR has a great video on how they test machines). It's everything they said it would be. Cost 620. I save on soap and it uses 1/3 the water, saving me about 40 gallons per load. I leave the door open and have no mildew smell yet. The machine tumbles the load after spinning and I've had no wrinkle problems. It dries so well during the spin, my dryer run time is far shorter. Best machine I've ever had. We'll see if it lasts.
do washing machines really use 60 gallons/load? good golly.
Well, you're doing the right thing for your spouse, as well as avoiding premature granting of a Darwin Award.Thanks for the tip. I did a bit of research and I actually think I could repair the thing myself. However, when I suggested that to my wife, I sensed a bit of disappointment. She's very frugal, rarely asks for anything, and seldom spends money on herself, so I'm not going to press the issue.
Well, you're doing the right thing for your spouse, as well as avoiding premature granting of a Darwin Award.
However the marriage code says that if, after buying the new washer, you fix up the old washer and sell it, then you get to keep all the money for yourself and buy all the [-]beer[/-] power tools you want.
FixItNow.com
Oh, and I don't bother with special towels for guests. Maybe this is why they don't stay long.
Not to highjack this thread but has anybody had any experience with combo washer/dryer units? Particularly those that run on 110v and have condenser type dryers?
We are moving into an apartment in a failed condo conversion project (renting). Our unit has washer plumbing, but apparently the development went broke before the 220v wiring or dryer vents were put in.
As luck would have it, I now have experience with a condensing dryer. I'm in Germany and the hotel has one for our use. It's a very nice-looking Miele unit--stainless steel cabinet and door, multifunction LED display, etc. Observations:Not to highjack this thread but has anybody had any experience with combo washer/dryer units? Particularly those that run on 110v and have condenser type dryers?