addendum - that should read "which has run like a champ for almost 6 years now" - about the Frigidaire FL.

addendum - that should read "which has run like a champ for almost 6 years now" - about the Frigidaire FL.

update - repairman over the phone believes the problem is failing valves which are supposed to prevent fresh hot/cold water from entering washer. He is ordering these partsw from Teaxs & will call me next week to install. In the meantime, we will use machine but turn off intake water (have a nice shutoff valve to do this with) & watch to see if water reaccumulates in the drum.

Interestingly, the repairman noted this is an uncommon problem to see in a new machine but not uncommon to see in a 5 to 7 yo machine (hmm, how long is that extended warranty?). Will definately ask him to give estimate on cost for this when not under warranty. Here's to hoping a couple of things: 1. this is, in fact, the problem; 2. the machine will be a reliable nonmildewing nonwatercollecting workhorse (still fretting about not getting another low-end Frigidaire...)

Valves are a 'consumable' in any plumbed-in device. Feed valve life can be extended if you shut the water tap off between uses (as Bosch says to do in the manual!), though unless your water pressure is unusually high that should not normally be necessary. (If your water pressure *is* high, you can buy a flow limiter to put on the cold water tap for around $30.) Valve failure in 3 months is ridiculous.

I doubt water will pool if you have it shut off at the feed, but that won't really tell you if the valves are the only problem.

If the repair does not solve your problem, keep after Bosch, and if customer service gives you the run around ask how you can elevate the service request ("elevate" is often a trigger word in the service world, means you move up to a customer service person with actual authority). I think the reason all the appliance companies make service calls so difficult is that 95% of all problems are user error (not in your case!), and if a repairman was dispatched for every one then machines would cost twice as much to cover the cost of the unnecessary service visits.

BTW, FIATs are actually very well-constructed cars, even the model (128 ) which gave them such a bad reputation in the US; it was service that killed them here. Appliance companies can learn a lesson from this! - DR

thank you for your response Dross. It is just so frustrating to fork out for a major appliance (after performing exhaustive due diligence research) & have weirdo malfunctions. If you can hypothesize any other etiologies of pooling water in the drum I would love to hear them. We do use the shutoff valve when gone for longer periods of time but have not used it when gone for a week or less (guess we will start now!).

The high water pressure issue is somewhat more concerning for us as we do not have the hot water heater to indicate the water pressure coming in from the water main is too high (on-demand gas tankless now). This could cause a whole nother panoply of problems that just makes my head ache to even think of....

It's pretty easy to check your water pressure. Buy a water pressure gauge from home depot for $10, locate the hose bib where the water enters your house from outside (i.e. where your house shutoff valve is), screw the gauge on, and turn on the water all the way. I believe typical pressure for residential should not exceed 60psi or so. Pressure may vary throughout the day. You could also use the gauge on the bibs for the laundry water supply, but it could be a bit messy as water might spray a bit (and you'd get a pressure reading for the laundry room, not at the point of supply for the whole house).

Yes, this sounds like a malfunction. I bet the service call will take care of the problem.

A Bosch washer is less like a FIAT and more like an Audi. Still a machine that can have failures from time to time.

Good luck!

Water has pooled twice in ours. I heard it the first time. It hasn't for about a month. However, the repairman is coming in a couple days to fix a plastic piece that broke off the dryer door-closing area, so I'll mention it to him. We now shut the water supply off religiously.