Washers - Impeller vs Agitator

[disneychrista]

I really need to get a new washer. I have been babying the one I have for nearly a year now. I know I want a top loader but now they seem to come with a choice of an impeller or an agitator. I've read and think I understand the differences. Now I'd like to hear real world experiences of the differences.


(I'm also open to opinions on brands/models, etc. Looking for something mid-range, with no extra unneeded tech that will ultimate be outdated or fail. )

 

[NannyBeBe]

I have a GE impeller washer and love it. I would never go back to an agitator washer. It uses only the amount of water necessary to wash the clothes, but has a "deep fill" option also. I have never had any of my clothes torn apart like I did with an agitator washer. I highly recommend.

 

[barb969]

I really need to get a new washer. I have been babying the one I have for nearly a year now. I know I want a top loader but now they seem to come with a choice of an impeller or an agitator. I've read and think I understand the differences. Now I'd like to hear real world experiences of the differences.


(I'm also open to opinions on brands/models, etc. Looking for something mid-range, with no extra unneeded tech that will ultimate be outdated or fail. )

I have an impeller washer, which I like.
This is a warning that I wish someone had given me. The new washers are deeper than the old ones. I can barely reach the bottom to remove clothes. Of course it’s the perfect excuse to get DH to help.

 

[AussieFan8]

We had a front load washer and I hated it. The electronics needed multiple repairs in eight years. Replaced it with a Speed Queen agitator that I love. Going on seven years now without any problems (knock on wood).

 

[leahgoogle]

I have an impeller washer and love it. It also has a deep wash option.

 

[randumb0]

Impeller because you can fit more clothes

 

[LuvOrlando]

I have a giant impeller because I couldn't find an agitator a few years back and I don't like it at all. New ones don't have enough water and just don't clean as well as the old style, I keep old detergent jugs full of water to the side to add when I think it needs it but the blades in the middle really make a difference in how clean things get. If I had a chance to do it again I'd keep fixing my old one, giving up my old one for a pretty new one is a regret.

 

[disneychrista]

Any particular brand or model you like or don't like ?

 

[ronandannette]

I have a giant impeller because I couldn't find an agitator a few years back and I don't like it at all. New ones don't have enough water and just don't clean as well as the old style, I keep old detergent jugs full of water to the side to add when I think it needs it but the blades in the middle really make a difference in how clean things get. If I had a chance to do it again I'd keep fixing my old one, giving up my old one for a pretty new one is a regret.

I'm two front-load HE's in since "upgrading" and I totally agree. I toy with the idea of buying a sturdy used set because new ones of the old type are not easy to come by.

 

[mom2rb]

I have an impeller. I love how big it is, I can easily wash a king comforter. The only thing that I dislike is that it gets off balance if I mix clothes and towels.

 

[tvguy]

We had a Maytag impeller washer for about 5 days. My wife told Lowes to come pick it up. It was twisting up clothing so tightly is actually split the seams on a pair of jeans. Lowes didn't give us any issues, the salesman said impeller washers get brought back more than any other type.
We bought an LG front loader, our first experience with a front loader. 9 years later, no issues. Just clean clothing and low water and soap use.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I like the impeller because it has more room and you can fit more stuff in it. In my opinion top-load is the way to go. I do NOT like front loaders. We have a Maytag, not sure of the particular model # but have had no problems with it. We had some kind of LG that came with the house. I actually liked it more than the one we have now. Unfortunately the lid broke and we just ended up replacing the washer rather than fixing it. I have no idea why the lid broke, we were just sitting here one night and heard a weird noise. Next day the lid was just shattered. Very weird, but I heard it can happen.

 

[disneychrista]

We have a Maytag, not sure of the particular model # but have had no problems with it. We had some kind of LG that came with the house. I actually liked it more than the one we have now.

These are the two brands I am looking at. I was all set on a particular LG model but then decided to try to find a more "basic" model. The LG had bluetooth wireless controls or something, I didn't need or want it, just happened to be part of the model I liked. But I decided I didn't need or want something that I wasn't going to use and that would just get outdated and also might stop working and cause issues.

And I agree. I liked my front loader but the don't like the mold that eventually grew on the seal and can't be cleaned.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I liked my front loader but the don't like the mold that eventually grew on the seal and can't be cleaned.

We've had an electrolux front loader for almost 7 years and we don't have mold on the seal but we leave the door open after each and every load. That would be the con for them that leaving the door open is essentially a must

 

[disneychrista]

We've had an electrolux front loader for almost 7 years and we don't have mold on the seal but we leave the door open after each and every load. That would be the con for them that leaving the door open is essentially a must

We always leave it open also. Our detergent tray also gets mold, so we even started leaving that open after each load. I think it is partly because we have "bad water." We are so in the habit of leaving the washer door open that we often leave the dryer door open too.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

After dealing with my parents front loader I knew I wanted a top loader when we bought our house. The washing machine they had prior to the front loader had an agitator and I remember always having to untwist clothing from it when I was younger so I wanted an impeller.

We got a whirlpool cabrio impeller washer and love it so far. It washes large loads without using a ton of water.

 

[Skippy918]

We've had an electrolux front loader for almost 7 years and we don't have mold on the seal but we leave the door open after each and every load. That would be the con for them that leaving the door open is essentially a must

We have the whirlpool duets. I have to keep the door open as well. My machines are almost 18yo.

 

[Cadiewampus]

We had a Maytag Bravos XL with impeller for not quite two years. Worst purchase we have ever made. Would always leave soap residue on clothes even on deep water setting and only using a teaspoon of detergent . After 5 different service calls they kept telling me it was working properly and I kept asking them to admit it was simply a bad designed machine. Maytag came to the final conclusion that we didn't know how to wash clothes (after 45 years of doing so). On another note I guess I got the last laugh cause I saw them advertising a impeller machine that came with an agitator to use when you wanted. Guess thats kind of admitting impellers are not a good design

 

[neverlandsky]

Agitator lasts longer than the Impellar. Agitator also cleans better too. With our washer saving top load Impellar the ball bearings went out less than 5 years old. Went back to agitator top load water saving washer ever since.

 

[Skippy918]

We were at an Airbnb where the house had a machine with the impellar. It seemed to take awhile before all the clothes got submerged in the water. I could fit a lot of stuff in there though.