Wash Machine Replacement

[runwoolf]

I have a 20 year old GE electric dryer that will power up but that is all, none of the control options work. Time to replace..probably!
Suggestions on a new replacement would be appreciated (brand/model/etc). Has to be left side outlet. Thanks!

 

[tomturkey]

Whatever is the best bargain at home depot or lowes or your local appliance store. We have had good luck with Maytag(originals) Speed Queen, and Amana. For us simple is best as we only use a couple of wash cycle selections. gobble

 

[wh]

As to washing machine —speed queen Get the basic model. As to a dryer just whatever brand is on sale at a reputable appliance dealer. If you need warranty work most dealers provide that. Unlike the big box stores.

 

[JOCCO]

I too went with that speed queen the motels and laundromat uses. Very good local dealer and service. Now it doesn't have any bells or whistles like front loader ones. But the dealer said they last forever and can be rebuilt 10 times. Best part its price was better that the front loaders (which I am not a fan of) Also they have the coin operated gadget available for that model.

 

[Rkh]

I just bought a speed queen washer & love & would recommend.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Australia lost its appliance manufacturers to Asia some years ago . Major European brands also had factories producing their products here , these too have moved to Asia . The offerings are many , the quality is , across the board questionable if not poor or dangerous . Haier an Asian brand that retails under many previously well regarded brand names has had washers , driers and refrigerators recalled due to fire dangers . One of their brands was implicated in the disastrous apartment block fire in the UK some years ago . Frankly they are just not worth the financial or safety risk .

Our choice , and one that has given me no reason to regret is a Speed Queen top loader , almost three times the cost of Asian machines but worth every extra dollar . Fast , stable , powerful and reliable .
I travelled extensively in Europe a few years ago , rarely staying in the same place for more than a night or two over several months . I learned to hate front loaders with a vengeance , overly complicated beasts that are fraught with problems , Heaven help you if for some reason you need to open them in a hurry as well . If that important paper or device is left in a pocket it stays there until it's well and truly soaked , washed and spun !

 

[JD Dave]

Speed Queen model with no gidgets, gadgets, bells, whistles or electronics. They run everyday, all day in laudromats.

 

[Fred Werring]

I have a 20 year old GE electric dryer that will power up but that is all, none of the control options work. Time to replace..probably!
Suggestions on a new replacement would be appreciated (brand/model/etc). Has to be left side outlet. Thanks!

Bought a "long vent" GE dryer a few years ago. Long vent means it'll handle up to 125 ft of vent.
It moves a lot more air than our old dryer did (even when the old dryer was new), drys clothes fast.
Wasn't looking for a long vent, didn't even know they were a thing. It was a special at the scratch n dent appliance store.
But we like it enough we'll get another long vent when the time comes.

 

[runwoolf]

Bought a "long vent" GE dryer a few years ago. Long vent means it'll handle up to 125 ft of vent.
It moves a lot more air than our old dryer did (even when the old dryer was new), drys clothes fast.
Wasn't looking for a long vent, didn't even know they were a thing. It was a special at the scratch n dent store.
But we like it enough we'll get another long vent when the time comes.

interesting!

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I have a 20 year old GE electric dryer that will power up but that is all, none of the control options work. Time to replace..probably!
Suggestions on a new replacement would be appreciated (brand/model/etc). Has to be left side outlet. Thanks!

I think the safest dryer ever built is a Whirlpool. The heating element is in a metal tube away from the clothes. They have been making them the same way for at least 50 years. If I recall it has a center discharge. Whirlpool gets

 

[TerryfromSWIowa]

I think all dryers have the heating elements away from the clothes.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I'm curious, what do you mean by "left side outlet?"

 

[runwoolf]

I'm curious, what do you mean by "left side outlet?"

Most (a lot) exhaust heat from the rear and come as factory standard. In some installations the exhaust vent has to go either left or right. Not a big deal, usually need a factory kit to adapt as needed.

 

[DanielW]

I agree with all others who said buy as simple as possible. Not only for simplicity and longevity, but also for ease of fixing and part replacing if something ever does go wrong.

My washer and dryer are 15+ years old, basic, bare-bones, manual-dial units. Both are functioning just fine. They did start to develop some problems last year, but very easily and cheaply fixed. Last year the idlers in the dryer started squeaking, so I bought an aftermarket combo idler, belt, and bearing kit for $20 on Amazon and it's as good as new. My washing machine timer stopped advancing a few months ago, so once again I bought an aftermarket timer on Amazon for $50 and it's also as good as new. The good thing about the bare-bones units is that all brands have pretty much the same internals, and you can buy aftermarket parts for peanuts.

To compare: My wife's house came with a brand new Maytag washer and Whirlpool dryer when she bought the house two years ago. Both exceptionally fancy with digital display, touch-screen controls, bazillions of options. Both have had non-stop problems. The washing machine control board fried and half the buttons stopped functioning. The dryer keeps going though thermal fuses and element control modules - it's apparently a know problem with that model (I bypassed the thermal fuse and I'm getting pretty good at replacing the control modules in under 2 minutes). The dryer auto-sense function quit working ages ago - also a known problem with the control boards on that model. The washing machine has always been exceptionally slow (again, a known problem - apparently due to its very time-consuming 'load-sensing' feature). And there are no cheap nor aftermarket parts available for them - you have to buy the OEM parts for crazy prices.

What really got me is that the dryer started leaking shortly after she bought the house. No, that's not a typo. the dryer started leaking. The dryer had a water hook up because it has a 'steam' function, and the solenoid valve inside started leaking. When I saw it I thought I could just disconnect and cap off the supply line to it (we'd never use the 'steam' function anyway). But it had an in-built pressure switch that wouldn't let it function at all unless it sensed water pressure at the inlet. I was able to bypass the pressure switch, but I should have known right then it was more trouble than it was worth.

When our society's come to the point where we're connecting water lines to our dryers, I'd say we've gone a little too nutty.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I agree with all others who said buy as simple as possible. Not only for simplicity and longevity, but also for ease of fixing and part replacing if something ever does go wrong.

My washer and dryer are 15+ years old, basic, bare-bones, manual-dial units. Both are functioning just fine. They did start to develop some problems last year, but very easily and cheaply fixed. Last year the idlers in the dryer started squeaking, so I bought an aftermarket combo idler, belt, and bearing kit for $20 on Amazon and it's as good as new. My washing machine timer stopped advancing a few months ago, so once again I bought an aftermarket timer on Amazon for $50 and it's also as good as new. The good thing about the bare-bones units is that all brands have pretty much the same internals, and you can buy aftermarket parts for peanuts.

To compare: My wife's house came with a brand new Maytag washer and Whirlpool dryer when she bought the house two years ago. Both exceptionally fancy with digital display, touch-screen controls, bazillions of options. Both have had non-stop problems. The washing machine control board fried and half the buttons stopped functioning. The dryer keeps going though thermal fuses and element control modules - it's apparently a know problem with that model (I bypassed the thermal fuse and I'm getting pretty good at replacing the control modules in under 2 minutes). The dryer auto-sense function quit working ages ago - also a known problem with the control boards on that model. The washing machine has always been exceptionally slow (again, a known problem - apparently due to its very time-consuming 'load-sensing' feature). And there are no cheap nor aftermarket parts available for them - you have to buy the OEM parts for crazy prices.

What really got me is that the dryer started leaking shortly after she bought the house. No, that's not a typo. the dryer started leaking. The dryer had a water hook up because it has a 'steam' function, and the solenoid valve inside started leaking. When I saw it I thought I could just disconnect and cap off the supply line to it (we'd never use the 'steam' function anyway). But it had an in-built pressure switch that wouldn't let it function at all unless it sensed water pressure at the inlet. I was able to bypass the pressure switch, but I should have known right then it was more trouble than it was worth.

When our society's come to the point where we're connecting water lines to our dryers, I'd say we've gone a little too nutty.

GE may have been the last to make a simple washer. No locking lid. You set the water level and temp. All manual controls
I don't think they make them anymore. I bought a like new used GE washer from a tenant that moved along with a like new whirlpool dryer
Now I have a GE washer at each house and a whirlpool dryer.
I would buy another used GE washer if one came along.
We recently bought a GE range and refrigerator from Lowes because they still have FREE delivery and set up. So far so good. Nothing wrong with the old range and refrig except the BOSS wanted an upgrade. Lowes delivery guys put the old stove and Refrig in my truck and I hauled them you my new pole barn for storage.
Last year I repaired a whirlpool dryer for a tenant. The idler pulley needed replaced. Got parts from Amazon. easy fix.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Most (a lot) exhaust heat from the rear and come as factory standard. In some installations the exhaust vent has to go either left or right. Not a big deal, usually need a factory kit to adapt as needed.

Thanks, I'd never heard of such a thing.

For the record I buy the basic front-load dryer. Years ago when there were several choices at the appliance store, they were all identical for all intents and purposes. The buttons might be a different color, or the dial a different style, but open up the door and they were exactly the same inside.

 

[Willow Lane]

Another vote for Speed Queen, our 4 year old Maytag started tripping the breaker and the wife hated the lid lock. I think you need to be careful on the SQ because some of them now have the lid lock. Yes they cost more than other brands, but well worth the difference. The one word of caution from the appliance store, don't use to much soap.

 

[farmersamm]

Our stuff is so old I remember bringing it home from Sears. Still running. The Kenmore stuff was Whirlpool at the time.

Only thing, knock on wood, has been one discharge hose coming off the pump on the washer. About maybe $40.

 

[560Dennis]

Local shop here has Crosley , I like local mom and pa shops myself over big stores .
link , https://www.crosley.com/washers.html
2010 we got one for mom , still going strong

 

[504]

Get on YouTube and find some repair sites. You might be able to fix the old one for 20.00 and an hour time