Buying a washer/dryer set from Costco

[FZ1]

They went out and bought a combo to avoid all the hassle.

Good call.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

I have strong opinions when it comes to budget new washer and dryers...
Sure not made like it once was...

I suggest if you have a old school washer and dryer fix them and keep them running as its the stuff inside you don't see, motors, gears a tub that will actually fill to the top are something one may miss if tossing the old for new.

Lots to be said for calling the man and keeping the old well made units running IMO.

I say this from experience, we purchased new big box W&D and sold them less than a year later as we hated them, I would have given my right arm had I kept my old late 90's units and paid the man to fix them.

However, we did fix our problem after buying new budget Whirlpool ( junk sold them for $150 ) and a set of Samsung, junk, with-in 2 years hauled them to the City dump! ...

We purchased new Speed Queen units designed to last 25 years, simple design, knobs like 1970's, not fancy, the tub fills to the top and I can use budget bottom shelf powder ( NO fancy no suds liquid required ) and the clothing comes out clean! Very expensive but worth every dime!

 

[PandaBear]

To me, if the manufacturer don't trust the quality enough to be sold with a coin box, I don't trust them either.

 

[repairman54]

The dryer is one that I fixed a few times when the thermal fuse blew. But at the very least I know how to take it apart. They want to replace it because the heating element seems to have died, although I suppose it could be the thermostat.

Operating thermostat sticking is why the thermal fuse keeps blowing if your vent is in good condition. Change it next time the T fuse blows. Cheap enough.
Back in the day when they first mandated thermal fuses we struggled with getting every few weeks service calls on the same units. Prior to that we only changed them for shrinkage complaints with badly sticking ones.
They are all marked with their temp. limits BTW. Most operating T's max at 160f and the fuses are at 190f.
I buy my major appliances at Lowe's now, I got a $1200 fridge from them, on sale of course, they dented the back corner on delivery but cabinets hid the dent. I accepted the delivery as my 30 yr. old fridge's compressor failed and needed a working fridge. They knocked off $400 with zero hassle over the phone.
SQ, PITA to work on, they break and not at my house.

 

[tmorris1]

Rent a pickup for a day.

If you have a menards they have a truck you can rent for $20 for a few hours

 

[kenny91]

My parents asked me to look up what they could get cheap and i remembered that Costco had two Maytag units for $399 ($50 instant rebate) each in store. So we had a look and it seemed OK but they said in store they didn't handle any kind of delivery, installation, or install parts. Definitely not haul-away.

So they were wondering about ordering online and I checked. The exact same models wer $599, but that includes delivery, installation, basic install parts, and hauling away the old appliance.

They have a washer that works, but is a little clunky sometimes. The pawl in the dial control is worn and needs to be squeezed at the arrow pointer that's raised. But I'm thinking they're not necessarily made like that any more and other than the controls it works pretty well. The dryer is one that I fixed a few times when the thermal fuse blew. But at the very least I know how to take it apart. They want to replace it because the heating element seems to have died, although I suppose it could be the thermostat.

I was thinking it might be possible to buy it at Costco, get it into the back of a compact SUV, and transport it. Instead of a haul-away, I figure I could take it apart and take the steel parts to a city recycling center and then toss everything else. They say no major appliances, but they take water heaters. I'm thinking that's not going to be an issue if it's just the sheet metal even if painted.

How workable would my plan be? I think the one thing that might be an issue is that it might need a new cord.

That plan sounds like a lot of work just to save a few bucks. Fitting a washer and dryer into a compact SUV is going to be incredibly tight, if it even fits at all. Honestly, by the time you factor in the rental of a truck or the gas, your time, the hassle of taking the old ones apart to sneak them into a recycling center, and buying new power cords/hoses, paying the extra online fee for delivery, installation, and stress-free haul-away is completely worth it.

 

[y_p_w]

So the LG set was delivered. Not sure how well my mom is going to learn how to use it. She started asking about the water level setting and all the modes. I get the feeling she’ll never fully understand it. But we set it on “normal” and cold water and it seemed a bit odd. It’s a top loading HE machine with a glass, slow close lid. But it seems like it does a little spin first to try and determine the load size and fills the water to a level to cover it. But then once it was filled it seemed like the water level wasn’t high enough. As in we could see that some of the load wasn’t even getting wet. I understand that HE machines don’t use a lot of water, but it wasn’t agitating enough. It wasn’t a huge load per se, but it was a decent 15 inches high.

We gave up, stopped the cycle, and set it to deep cycle which uses more water. But it would only do it with warm water.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

So the LG set was delivered. Not sure how well my mom is going to learn how to use it. She started asking about the water level setting and all the modes. I get the feeling she’ll never fully understand it. But we set it on “normal” and cold water and it seemed a bit odd. It’s a top loading HE machine with a glass, slow close lid. But it seems like it does a little spin first to try and determine the load size and fills the water to a level to cover it. But then once it was filled it seemed like the water level wasn’t high enough. As in we could see that some of the load wasn’t even getting wet. I understand that HE machines don’t use a lot of water, but it wasn’t agitating enough. It wasn’t a huge load per se, but it was a decent 15 inches high.

We gave up, stopped the cycle, and set it to deep cycle which uses more water. But it would only do it with warm water.

She will will hate it... EPA friendly washers are hard for old people ( me ) to live with ...
I'm like give me some dang water PLEASE so I can wash my cloths...

And let me open the top so I can add some Bleach after the wash starts!

My answer was buy old and used or new Speed Queen ...

 

[PandaBear]

If you have a menards they have a truck you can rent for $20 for a few hours

The point is they don't stock them in the store these days, all directly from the manufacturers' warehouse since Sears went out of business.

 

[PandaBear]

She will will hate it... EPA friendly washers are hard for old people ( me ) to live with ...
I'm like give me some dang water PLEASE so I can wash my cloths...

And let me open the top so I can add some Bleach after the wash starts!

My answer was buy old and used or new Speed Queen ...

Old habits. My dad refuse to believe that dish washer would use less water despite he is a landlord of a building with water included in rent. Or even if he is convinced he would think they won't wash clean.

I am borderline a believer that less water can wash just as good if the clothes are smashed around in less water, but I would also be concerned that they don't rinse well enough as well. It is hard to visualize when you can see it vs not just like water saving showerhead or faucet spray less water with more pulses and air mixed in.

 

[SOUNDMAN5000]

Old habits. My dad refuse to believe that dish washer would use less water despite he is a landlord of a building with water included in rent. Or even if he is convinced he would think they won't wash clean.

I am borderline a believer that less water can wash just as good if the clothes are smashed around in less water, but I would also be concerned that they don't rinse well enough as well. It is hard to visualize when you can see it vs not just like water saving showerhead or faucet spray less water with more pulses and air mixed in.

IF one has a desk job and does not sweat low water may be okay, IMO NOT... I think even someone with a desk job can benefit from clothing thats actually rinsed proper... IMO.

My family works in the Food Industry and I do mechanic / detail work, IF our clothings is not cleaned proper and rinsed well with our Speed Queen as it was NOT with our previous Samsung and Whirlpool Big Box store grade, EPA friendly low water level junk, my wives so called clean shirt would still smells like last nights restaurants Seafood plater for two.... Ain't nobody got time for that...

Just yesterday I load up my Speed Queen with all my used "detail rags" from the garage, all coated with car waxes, ceramics, polishes even dried nasty chrome polish, I dump the huge lot into my Speed Queen Commercial washer and I set the water level on HIGH, FULL to the top with water and I press the Pre-Soak and Extra rinse ( FULL tub Rinse Twice and YOU got NOTHING but CLEAN, ZERO Residue ). I add a scoop of EL CHEAPO bottom shelf Walmart "STRONG" Old school washing powder ( NONE of that "He" Low Suds rated stuff ) as this soap is made to clean NOT please the EPA and the new "little water, can't allow it to suds washer"...

I set the temp on HOT and I know after I press start my old school designed but newer washer will allow me to simply open the lid ( no unlock required ) and I can dump in all the Clorox I want... as I look at a sudsy FULL tub of HOT water doing is job without BIG BROTHER telling me I can't use water... I walk away knowing my non EPA "NOT GREEN" friendly washer will simply do the job, a big job and do the job well with no cleaning compromise and my rags are clean and ready for more car / motorcycle detailing.

My water and power bills are not high, I don't need or want the EPA telling me what I can and can't buy...

And I don't use low flow toilets or shower heads and I drive a diesel truck and hate EV's and still have some 60 and 100 watt incandescent bulbs stashed! And I got VERY clean and great smelling clothing and my whites are whiter than moms was in the 70's...

 

[Jango]

So the LG set was delivered. Not sure how well my mom is going to learn how to use it. She started asking about the water level setting and all the modes. I get the feeling she’ll never fully understand it. But we set it on “normal” and cold water and it seemed a bit odd. It’s a top loading HE machine with a glass, slow close lid. But it seems like it does a little spin first to try and determine the load size and fills the water to a level to cover it. But then once it was filled it seemed like the water level wasn’t high enough. As in we could see that some of the load wasn’t even getting wet. I understand that HE machines don’t use a lot of water, but it wasn’t agitating enough. It wasn’t a huge load per se, but it was a decent 15 inches high.

We gave up, stopped the cycle, and set it to deep cycle which uses more water. But it would only do it with warm water.

If your LG is a compatible set, then you can pair the two together using the LG ThinQ app. When you do this, the dryer will automatically be set to the correct dryer setting based on what you set the wash cycle to. You will also be able to monitor and receive updates on when a cycle is done. This is helpful if the set is in a remote area like an outdoor shed or far reach of a home.

 

[PandaBear]

IF one has a desk job and does not sweat low water may be okay, IMO NOT... I think even someone with a desk job can benefit from clothing thats actually rinsed proper... IMO.

My family works in the Food Industry and I do mechanic / detail work, IF our clothings is not cleaned proper and rinsed well with our Speed Queen as it was NOT with our previous Samsung and Whirlpool Big Box store grade, EPA friendly low water level junk, my wives so called clean shirt would still smells like last nights restaurants Seafood plater for two.... Ain't nobody got time for that...

Just yesterday I load up my Speed Queen with all my used "detail rags" from the garage, all coated with car waxes, ceramics, polishes even dried nasty chrome polish, I dump the huge lot into my Speed Queen Commercial washer and I set the water level on HIGH, FULL to the top with water and I press the Pre-Soak and Extra rinse ( FULL tub Rinse Twice and YOU got NOTHING but CLEAN, ZERO Residue ). I add a scoop of EL CHEAPO bottom shelf Walmart "STRONG" Old school washing powder ( NONE of that "He" Low Suds rated stuff ) as this soap is made to clean NOT please the EPA and the new "little water, can't allow it to suds washer"...

I set the temp on HOT and I know after I press start my old school designed but newer washer will allow me to simply open the lid ( no unlock required ) and I can dump in all the Clorox I want... as I look at a sudsy FULL tub of HOT water doing is job without BIG BROTHER telling me I can't use water... I walk away knowing my non EPA "NOT GREEN" friendly washer will simply do the job, a big job and do the job well with no cleaning compromise and my rags are clean and ready for more car / motorcycle detailing.

My water and power bills are not high, I don't need or want the EPA telling me what I can and can't buy...

And I don't use low flow toilets or shower heads and I drive a diesel truck and hate EV's and still have some 60 and 100 watt incandescent bulbs stashed! And I got VERY clean and great smelling clothing and my whites are whiter than moms was in the 70's...

I think it depends on where you are. I am all for free choices but I personally use low flow toilet and shower head because water is about $8/CCF here. I typically pay about $80 every 2 months on water (not including sewage which is a fixed price).

 

[y_p_w]

I went over to take a look. Brought over my laundry as a test and set it to normal mode. I went over the owners manual and some online tips. They said to lay bigger items on the bottom and larger on the top. And also figured out there was a detergent and softener dispenser. The detergent part has an insert that's supposed to be removed for powdered detergent but strips or gelpacks go straight into the basket.

This time it filled up a lot higher with more clothes. And it added water in steps. So there must have been something odd about the first time we tried it out. I think the the installer just tried loading water when it was empty, but i thought i did a whole spin cycle to remove the water and start over. But at least it seems to be working better and I'll chalk the initial issue as a one off.

 

[Nukeman7]

I went over to take a look. Brought over my laundry as a test and set it to normal mode. I went over the owners manual and some online tips. They said to lay bigger items on the bottom and larger smaller on the top.

FIFY

And also figured out there was a detergent and softener dispenser. The detergent part has an insert that's supposed to be removed for powdered detergent but strips or gelpacks go straight into the basket.

I think you will find it is better to put powdered detergent in the bottom of the wash tub before loading any laundry. It will dissolve quicker and not clump up in the dispenser.

This time it filled up a lot higher with more clothes. And it added water in steps. So there must have been something odd about the first time we tried it out. I think the the installer just tried loading water when it was empty, but i thought i did a whole spin cycle to remove the water and start over. But at least it seems to be working better and I'll chalk the initial issue as a one off.

This description seems to be more aligned with my experience with LG high efficiency washers. It repeatedly sprays water on top of the laundry bundle to ensure complete coverage and saturation with less overall water consumption. My LG washer has an automatic sensing circuit to detect the weight/volume of laundry to establish the necessary water level.