We tend to not buy new.... We did buy a new front loader washing machine. It has a computer in it, and it wakes up in the middle of the night, beeping and complaining. It is a White Westinghouse. I have turned off the breaker to it, just to shut it up.
Anyway, it has needed a number of repairs, and replaced the water pump twice.
Here is the advice of a local guy, that repairs them:
1.) NEVER get one with computers.
2.) Sizes are as follows, smallest to largest:
Large
X Large
Super Capacity
Super Capacity +
King Size. These can be 9 cubic feet and larger, on the dryer!
Most of the King size ones are very new, and have computers. Also, they have smaller motors, due to the cost of copper being so high.
So, he recommends Super Capacity +, Used, without computer. Complete sets are around 400.00. Like a Kenmore Brand. Well made, and will last 20 yrs.
My Clothes dryer is out again, and so I hope this is good info. I have to stay on top of this kind of info.
Any more advice I can get would be appreciated. As surveyors, we really depend on good washers and dryers. Especially when there are more kids than average!
Nate
I'm shocked to learn you have electricity out there in those hills. I thought you took your laundry down to the creek and beat them on rocks to get them clean. Assumed you just tossed everything on tree branches for natural drying (freeze drying in February only).
🙂
"My Clothes dryer is out again, and so I hope this is good info. I have to stay on top of this kind of info."
Keeping the vent and lint screen free of obstructions is important. not overloading the appliance may be helpful too.
Last dryer repair was a dead starling clogging the vent and tripping the thermal fuse.
New thermal fuse and cleaned up electrical connections solved this.
We bought a new Samsung set on a good sale a couple of years ago. I never realized I could like a washer/dryer this much.
There are some things I never buy USED, because there's usually a reason the people that have it want rid of it. 😀
> There are some things I never buy USED, because there's usually a reason the people that have it want rid of it.
:good: yea, verily brother.
I've replaced the water pump on our 20 year old Kenmore a few times. It's a $20 part and a 10 minute job.
I have always purchased the basic Kenmore extra capacity washer and dryer combo.
No bells and whistles, just a timer.
This last time out I went for the High Efficiency washer with a stainless basket.
Top loader washer only for me, heard about too many horror stories on the front loaders.
The extra protection package costs less than one repair bill per year.
It is common to find one in a local Sears catalog store for $200 that someone has sent back for some blemish or it did not match their dryer or other little reason.
You must have the Kenmore that the pump rides on the outside of the belt. I had to put down the old Kenmore sometime back, but it had the pump that was driven on the inside of the belt...no way was it a ten minute affair. You had to remove the belt to install the pump...basically take the whole drive train and tub apart. One big pain-in-the-ass.
The water inlet on my 1966 RCA Whirlpool cracked last month. I picked up a mid size Kenmore set and retired it. If this set lasts as long I'll never need another one
Very few things made today will last as long as something made in 1966 did, or be as repairable when they need it.
