Me and the wife went looking for a new washer. My old one is a Kenmore Series 80. I did buy an LG one. It's an high efficiency one. I didn't like the way it washes. It agitates too slow, stops every little while, doesn't fill up like my old one. So, is this a Cal thing? I don't mind driving to Nevada to buy a good one that agitates like my old one. Thanks
Are "High Efficiency" washers, only in Cal?
- Thread starter daves66nova
- Start date
Yes,and it's also with the central agitator,like the LG that I bought.
I don't think HE is just a Cali thing. My in-laws had a washer labeled "high efficiency" since around 2005ish. They hated it, clothes never got clean. They got rid of it recently and replaced it with a Speed Queen unit like my wife and I have, and they love it.
A lot of top loaders have an option for adding more water - dunno if yours is one of them.
If you’re set on a new machine, go for a front loader. Lots of pluses, only negative is leaving the washer door ajar between loads to allow the drum to dry.
If you’re set on a new machine, go for a front loader. Lots of pluses, only negative is leaving the washer door ajar between loads to allow the drum to dry.
The low water usage is everywhere, but I noticed some brands offer an "extra fill" function. About to replace ours - the parts to fix the separated lid and rusty bleach spout are more than a new washer.
No. It's just a different way of washing clothes. Allegedly front load washers clean just as well and are easier on your clothing.
Look at the Speed Queen TC5, it is probably the best machine on the market. We have one and it really fills up and has great agitation.
Depending on the FL you might not even have to bother.
If you buy one of the few FL's with a heater you can leave the door closed if you want.
I have the TR7 and it is THE BEST!!!
mmmm...really good yes.
The best, I wouldn't go that far. Between it and the FL7, the FL7 wins.
Between the Miele W1 and the FL7 the Miele wins.
There are only two new top-loading washers that will agitate aggressively and fill up with water like your old Kenmore Series 80 unit. They will also cost you an arm and a leg while consuming 3 times as much water per full capacity load. They also hold ~30% less laundry capacity than the new High-efficiency units.
Speed Queen TC5
Maytag Commercial Washer
YouTube Video Comparison Maytag vs. Speed Queen
Many traditionalists prefer to buy a used old washer in good condition to get comparable cleaning; however, I love my 14 year old LG HE front-loader, albeit with a learning curve.
Speed Queen TC5
Maytag Commercial Washer
YouTube Video Comparison Maytag vs. Speed Queen
Many traditionalists prefer to buy a used old washer in good condition to get comparable cleaning; however, I love my 14 year old LG HE front-loader, albeit with a learning curve.
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We have a Samsung HE front loader. I think the front loaders are easier on clothes. The top loaders are harder on clothes but clean better. If you have dirty, heavy-duty clothes, go for the top loader. If you have business attire and sportswear and don't get dirty, the front loader makes sense.
In controlled swatch tests Fl 's out perform TL's.
While not a huge fan of consumer reports it is interesting that over 30 front loaders received an "excellent" rating while only one top loader did.
Part of the reason for this is the action of the heavy wet clothes pressing down on each other, combined with a high concentration of soap in the wash due to needing less water in the wash cycle.
They use plenty of water in the rinse cycles, and because of the higher spin speeds do a better job in the rinses, and reducing drying time substantially.
There is a reason commercial laundry is almost all FL.
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High-efficiency clothes washers have been a thing for 10-15 years and definitely not California only. We got one at least 10 years ago and then they didn't have agitators. The combination of no agitator and a miniscule amount of water was a turn-off to my wife. When it failed, she "required" a replacement that had an agitator. It is still high-efficiency too.
Posting here before buying a new one would have been the smart move.
There are alternatives.
Basically the normal cycle is EPA cycle but if you use alternative cycle such as heavy duty they can use more water... EPA regulations
Some washers do this more than others.
I'm in the market still not sure what direction I'm going but if you want low water use toploader is terrible have to go front loader.
For a top loader to work it needs water.. unless you never get your clothes dirty.
From memory
EVEN THE SPEED QUEEN on normal cycle only fills less. There is a chart somewhere
because with EPA regs .. the normal "default" cycle has to use a certain maximum amount of water
basically you make heavy duty (or whatever its called ) the normal wash.. and turn on deep fill for full load.
Its even silly-er when you consider the HE washers some are huge.. at 5 cu-ft but still use a tiny amount of water.
speed queens are around 3.2 cu-ft
Because the water use isnt about how many clothes you are washing but "per load"
There are alternatives.
Basically the normal cycle is EPA cycle but if you use alternative cycle such as heavy duty they can use more water... EPA regulations
Some washers do this more than others.
I'm in the market still not sure what direction I'm going but if you want low water use toploader is terrible have to go front loader.
For a top loader to work it needs water.. unless you never get your clothes dirty.
From memory
EVEN THE SPEED QUEEN on normal cycle only fills less. There is a chart somewhere
because with EPA regs .. the normal "default" cycle has to use a certain maximum amount of water
basically you make heavy duty (or whatever its called ) the normal wash.. and turn on deep fill for full load.
Its even silly-er when you consider the HE washers some are huge.. at 5 cu-ft but still use a tiny amount of water.
speed queens are around 3.2 cu-ft
Because the water use isnt about how many clothes you are washing but "per load"
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By design the TL needs a ton of water to at least semi float the clothes enough to turn over and not be ripped apart.
The FL just needs to get them throughly wet and slippery for the wash cycle.
In a well designed front loader you wont see any water in the drum while its washing or very little, nor do you need it for superior cleaning.
The upside of this is that you can use much less soap to achieve the same or superior concentration.
I get 230 loads out of a 150OZ bottle with plenty of concentration.
Both need lots of water in the rinse.
The FL just needs to get them throughly wet and slippery for the wash cycle.
In a well designed front loader you wont see any water in the drum while its washing or very little, nor do you need it for superior cleaning.
The upside of this is that you can use much less soap to achieve the same or superior concentration.
I get 230 loads out of a 150OZ bottle with plenty of concentration.
Both need lots of water in the rinse.
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Why not just get another kenmore series 80? I'm sure lots of perfectly good one are sent to the dump or given away.
I found a local guy who repairs and then sells white box simple dryers and wash machines, usually he gets it for free and puts a couple $20-30 parts and sells it off for $150-200. Water is free for us and a new dryer that still uses resistance heat is only a few % more efficient.
A heat pump dryer seems overly complicated and no manufacturer builds them to last well enough to warranty them for their pay off time so, I'll stay with KISS, and cheap.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/la/search?query=series 80 kenmore
I found a local guy who repairs and then sells white box simple dryers and wash machines, usually he gets it for free and puts a couple $20-30 parts and sells it off for $150-200. Water is free for us and a new dryer that still uses resistance heat is only a few % more efficient.
A heat pump dryer seems overly complicated and no manufacturer builds them to last well enough to warranty them for their pay off time so, I'll stay with KISS, and cheap.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/la/search?query=series 80 kenmore
GE top loader with the dual action agitator.
BrendanC
$100 site donor 2024
HE washers are a joke. never enough water to fully rinse clothing. i very often have to rewash things due to detergent “stains” on clothes where the washer simply didn’t rinse it all out.
