Buying a new washer and dryer ... can you help?

[KerriMc]

Hello ... I need some help!

I have 12 year old washer and dryer. The washer leaks occasionally and the dryer is taking longer to dry. We haven't had many issues over the years - they are regular old Kenmore super capacity machines. We are moving though and figure this is as good a time as any to buy ourselves a new set. We are also going to be buying a fridge and stove though, so I am trying not to go all out (maybe just a little out!! lol).

So ... I've looked at our local Sears outlet (small place, but good selection) and liked the Kenmore Oasis which is top loading with no agitator. It holds a lot which is nice for King size stuff and big loads (think it is 4.7 cubic feet) and the dryer is 7.0 cub. ft. It is 1699 for the pair. Not too bad.

I have to admit I LOVED the LOOK of the front loading Kenmore Elite in royal blue, but I had to stop myself and not go just on colour! lol They were 2100 plus I had to buy the pedestals (an extra 400).

Went to Leons ... saw so many ... Maytag, Whirlpool, Samsung, LG (all front loaders) and a nice Whirlpool Cabio top loader similar to the above Kenmore Oasis, but about 400 more. Also saw a beautiful dark brown/gray Maytag on floor clearance for 2400 for the pair and they are higher so you don't need the pedestals (expensive!).

Anyways ... what do you have? Do you love it or like it or hate it??? Those damn pedestals are expensive aren't they??? But without them I'll be sitting on the floor doing laundry!

We are moving to a house where the laundry room is on the second floor so does that make a difference to the type of machine I should get? I saw Samsung has the vibration something or other feature ... is that good???

Any good websites for reviews of machines???

Sorry so many questions ... I didnt' think it would be hard to buy new machines but it is!!! Ahhhh ... and dh says 'whatever ones you pick - it doesn't matter' ... but ohhhhhhhhhhh it DOES matter!

Thank you!
Kerri

 

[swkmom]

All I can say is don't buy a Whirlpool! We bought one of those high efficiency washer and dryer sets about 3 years ago and the washer died a few months ago. It was the electrical panel and it was going to cost close to $400 to replace so we just bought a new washer.

 

[taylor3297]

Several years ago I bought the Kenmore elite in the champagne color, with pedestals and love it! You just have to remember not to overfill the washing machine (clothes will get all twisted if you do) and after doing a load leave the washer door open so it doesn't start to smell. I would not trade mine for anything else. The pedestals also have given me more room to store things, which is an added bonus.

 

[debster812]

Fisher-Paykel!!!!!!!!

We got our Fisher-Paykel 4 or 5 years ago, after our starter, original 'scratch and dent' cheapo washer died. The F-P is a top loader, but HE, water saver, and energy-star. It spins so fast on the higher level, that our 15 year old dryer is still going strong, the clothes are barely damp when they get in the dryer.

We've been so happy with it, and I've been willing the dryer to die, so we can get the matcher F-P dryer.

As far as I know, Lowe's is the only Big Box retailer to sell them, but there are regional Mom and Pop stores that also carry them.

 

[Buckalew11]

I bought a Kenmore set Labor Day weekend (top loader) and am loving them both. I got the pair of them for something like 459. or 549.00. Crazy price, I know. I was using my grandmother's old dryer which was a 1970! It is at my old house and still going strong!

 

[shelly3girls]

We have owned a Maytag and a Kenmore front loader. We have had issues with both. The Kenmore is horrible and I cannot wait to get rid of it. We keep the door open all of the time and the clothes still come out smelling like mold. We also have a 2nd floor laundry. We have had Sears out twice trying to balance the washer. When the washer goes through the spin cycle it sounds like a train is going through the house. The wash cycles take forever. Even the quick wash which is supposed to take 20 minutes took 40 when I timed it. I cannot wait to get rid of it. I plan to replace it with a HE top loader.

 

[KerriMc]

Our local Lowe's has the Samsung front loaders on sale for $1900 (Canadian) and this includes the pedestals. I am going to go and have a look at them. I posted this on the Canadian boards too and the general consensus seems to be to avoid the Whirlpool front loaders, so that is what I am going to do! It will either be Kenmore top loader (Oasis) or the Samsung / Kenmore front loaders ... will have to watch the sales and see what else comes up!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

DON'T buy and LG front loader. If you look on LG web sit is says that their washer should be installed on a floor that has been reenforced because it vibrates badly. The reviews I read said that the machine moves 4 - 6 inches because it vibrates so badly and it is not a quiet machine.

Our washer was slowly dieing which gave us a chance to research and decided on the Samsung 4.5 ccf washer. I read a lot of great reviews and several months ago and to the plunge and got it. I love it! I recommended it to a few other people on DIS who were looking for a washer and they too purchased it.

Here is what I have noticed: Water bill went down.... it took me 3 months to use up a 100oz bottle of Tide - only need to use a little soap and it cleaned the muddy/grass stained pants with no problem...the sticker on the machine claims it only uses $9.00 of electric a year! It spins the clothes at 1300 rpm and jeans come out very dry and only require 30 minutes in the dryer and it use to take 60 minutes to dry with the old washer. So now that the dryer time is cut in half I am saving on my gas bill too. Even at 1300 rpm it is still quiet & no vibration.
The only con with it is it is so quiet I can tell when it done.
Got mine at the Sears outlet store for $900.00

 

[justjudy]

We have an LG front loader washer (and dryer). It does not have any vibration problems and hasn't moved since it was installed several months ago. As far as noise goes, our washer and dryer are on the main living floor of our home and it is so quiet that I have gone to check to see if it's stopped and I missed the signal. The clothes get much cleaner than they did in our old Maytag and so much water is spun out that I have been able to dry a full load of sheets and towels in 20 minutes. We LOVE our LGs.

 

[ameraumi]

All I can say is don't buy a Whirlpool! We bought one of those high efficiency washer and dryer sets about 3 years ago and the washer died a few months ago. It was the electrical panel and it was going to cost close to $400 to replace so we just bought a new washer.

This!!! I have the Duet Sport and 6 mos after buying it the CPU on the washer went out. It took 3 visits from the repair guy before it worked properly. Thank goodness for warrenties and extended warrenties.

 

[Disne]

If you are still in need of a washer and dryer, head off to a Kmart store that offers large appliances. Most displays are now 40% in order to clear the way for the new spring models. Great deals can be had.