Yes, the repairman specifically said that it was strange that since Maytag is made by Whirlpool that it was not as good. He said something about Maytag having problems with the main control board (??) which I think was the same thing that he said was wrong with my current washer.

You might want to check Consumer Reports washer reviews for ratings and predicted reliability (http://www.consumerreports.org/join - $10/month digital).

Wiscokid, Miele still makes larger models in their professional series. It all depends on how much you want to spend.

No problem with my Maytag so far. We have a Maytag 5.2 Cu ft model, top load with agitator. We have had it for a tad over two years with no issues thus far. Based on everything I have read if I get five years before it dies, I will be happy. Anything more than that I will consider a bonus. The specifications boast "commercial technology" supposed twice the life direct drive and commercial springs. We shall see. Great washer, plenty of room for large items and a setting that will down right be very aggressive with your clothes. Other than that setting, it cleans very well without shredding your clothes, it does have long cycles though.

Speed Queen was made in Wisconsin when I bought my set about 10 years ago. No problems, no service calls. The finish has held up well (they are in the garage now). I did buy a top load with agitator but I have never had any problems with it damaging my clothes. It is a set without electronics; just plain dials and buttons.

I'd buy another Speed Queen or a top load w/agitator without all those bells and whistles. Plenty used non-agitator machines for sale. I am guessing they don't clean well.

We need a front loader with door that opens to the right. Not many do so I'd get what we currently have which is Electrolux.

LG makes among the most reliable front load washers so not sure what your repair person was talking about. There are plenty of after market pumps available for your washer too. You should check out appliancepartspros.com or repairclinic.com or even amazon for a pump. It should be a fairly inexpensive and straightforward repair you can do yourself. There are many repair videos on youtube.

i repaired my LG myself - YouTube it-... ordered the part and fixed it... it was the ring around the door...

had the set for about 16 years and had just that issue.

@akrogirl32 - I’ll have to look into it some more. Thankfully we’re not currently in the market for them (knock on wood)...

Bosch.

I just noticed that F&P is running a promo until December with a free 5 year warranty, maybe that's something to look into? Personally I love the brand and never had an issue with any of their products.

I'd say reliability wise SQ and Miele would be the best, just expensive. Miele is smaller but is an outstanding machine with a build in heater. SQ is large but depends on the temp of your hot water, so you'd never be able to do a properly hot wash. Honestly I can't find a reason to buy a FL SQ.

@wiscokid, the W48xx were discontinued but for a good reason, the machine was large but with very specific load limits, essentially reducing actual capacity to 75% of the drum. They also suffered numerous problems.

@akrogirl32, Miele Professional will only sell the Little Giants to regular customers, which are amazing but still on the small side. The larger capacity machines start at the Octoplus range, and are only available to businesses.

The Miele is the best IMHO but it is too small. @Art Cholera said “Miele Professional will only sell the Little Giants to regular customers”. Who told you that? That is false. Miele will sell the Little Giants to anyone who will pay for them. And guess what, they are still small. I have it and I love it and it is too small. I don’t think I’d spend the money again.

Bosch are a similar style to Miele with German engineering and are German-made (or used to be, not sure if they still are), less costly than Miele, and are also too small. I like Miele’s honeycomb drum better.

My sister and several of my friends have LG. They all like them a lot. Try not to get a model with a bunch of extra gadgetry; it’s just more to break. The thing I hear commonly complained about with the LGs is that the writing rubs off the dials which is a big PITA. Maybe LG has fixed that problem with more recent models. Other than that, I haven’t heard anything bad if you get a model not overloaded with features. Though you must make sure to get one with an onboard heater. You can tell if it has one because it will offer a “sanitize” or “sanitary” function and/or an “anti-allergen function”.

I have a couple issues with Speed Queen. One is that the new models are not made at all as well as the previous models that SQ built its reputation on. Another issue is as @Art Cholera mentioned, they are not made with an onboard heater. I would never buy a washer that does not have an onboard heater. If your washer is not super close to your hot water heater, then by the time the hot water goes through pipes to the washer, it has cooled, and even more of a problem in winter. And cold water doesn’t get clothes as clean as hot. An onboard heater is a necessity IMO, and I would therefore not get a SQ washer because they don’t have them.

I would buy an LG again without any hesitation. I had an LG front loader for 6.5 trouble-free years and loved it (I sold the house with it). 4 of my friends also have LG front loaders and have had positive experiences as well (3 for 6-11 years and 1 for <1 year). My new home came with a Whirlpool already installed and while it does the job, it does not compare to the LG. My clothes were cleaner in the LG, the machine was quieter, and the build quality was better (especially noticeable in the spin cycle).

I would recommend an LG with steam (so it has an internal water heater) and Turbo Wash is a must as it will both cut down on wash time and provide a better clean.

FWIW, two years ago, I bought an Electrolux washer/dryer and an Asko washer/dryer. I've needed service on the Electrolux washer three times and no service issues with the Asko. The Asko is pretty plain looking, but it has been doing a great job.

@Shannon_WI that's what I meant. The Little Giants and W1s are the same capacity. @akrogirl32 suggested Miele Pro sells larger machines, only depending on one's budget - which is incorrect since those aren't available to the general public.

While you're absolutely right the sanitize option is a good indicator of the machine's heating ability, it's important to watch out for the "Sanitize with Oxi" cycle, which is just a gimmick and such washers may not have a heater at all. Honestly that's one of the reasons I'd stay away from TL HE machines, there's just no real way of having a properly high temperature; even with a water heater set high, machines will dumb it down to keep it lukewarm.

I like Miele and F&P because they will maintain the temp precisely regardless of settings. My Electrolux only engaged the heater on Sanitize cycles, so 'hot' was lukewarm and 'warm' was cool.some items may need a nice 105-120F wash, but not necessarily 2h tumbling in 160F.

Could anyone confirm that LG would actually keep the temps right, without the need of using options like Sani or Steam?

Another Speed Queen top loader.

Speed Queen

Art Cholera, we have been talking to them about buying the PW6080. So far, no one has told us no. Plus, the new Little Giants come in two sizes, with a new, larger version.

SQ

Happy Speed Queen top loader household here. Gosh, we do a LOT of laundry. 4 1/2 years (knocking wood) and still good. Hope I didn't jinx myself.

I'd buy an LG again.......the only reason I didn't buy an LG set recently was the need to reduce to a 24" set that had a vented dryer.

I see so many LG supporters. I must have had a bum machine. If I did a load of towels in mine 9 times out of 10 it would take 10 to 15 minutes for it to balance the load before it would go into a final spin, even if I selected a lower spin speed. I made sure the machine was level and could never figure out why. That was one of the main reasons I decided to go back to a traditional TL.

I have two sets of top load Speed Queens. One set in basement. One set on first floor. Love them. I’ll never go back to front load.

@debbie1000

We have a Miele set of W1 and T1 (The top models) and do laundry for 14 people. They are not too small. We have over 5000 hours on the washer in the first two years. No problems. Less hours on the dryer and no problems. There is no venting to the outside on the heat pump dryer so we don't lose conditioned air to the outside anymore. The heat pump dryer also dropped our electric bill by about $30/month vs the previous Miele T9800 electric dryer.

I figure over the life of the T1 dryer the electric savings will pay for the purchase cost of the dryer.

Wirecutter says the newest SQs arent what they used to be.

Speed Queen.

Speed Queen either TL or FL.

Old thread, but one with an onboard heater that can be used at least in some cycles to get to 155.

Speed Queen front loader

Butter pecan ice cream.

@Pat Z5or6 SEMich that sounds good, you just flung a craving on me!

Well, since Speed Queen won't offer a model with an onboard heater, I"d look into LG first. Whirpool or Maytag next. Avoid Samsung.

I agree with the posts that say that an onboard heater is a necessity. The comments here that just say the words "Speed Queen" with no other explanation are uninformative. Also, the Laundry Forum has had posts for several years now that Speed Queen had a significant redesign in 2018 that resulted in a downgrade in quality. Regardless, a lack of onboard heater is a nonstarter for me.

Many of us couldn't care less about an onboard heater. Therefore Speed Queen is a good choice. A machine that uses pure hot water from the water heater is good enough for me. I do have a hot water pump which ensures that the pipes are primed however.

Regarding the reduction in quality? The only thing I've heard is that the TR toploaders were a flop versus the old TL machines, but as far as the front loaders are concerned what has changed between my 2015 model FL and the current FL ? Nothing regarding "quality" as far as I know?

Do you have actual data or just internet heresay?

Speed Queen. I might have already posted this, I just realized this is an old thread.

Regarding the reduction in quality? The only thing I've heard is that the TR toploaders were a flop versus the old TL machines, but as far as the front loaders are concerned what has changed between my 2015 model FL and the current FL ? Nothing regarding "quality" as far as I know?

Do you have actual data or just internet heresay?

@ken c - no need to get so triggered about your Speed Queen. When you want to get another, you love it so much, it's great that you are firm in your convictions. I am posting for people who are looking for more information. That is what this forum is about. I could link a dozen articles, and you would respond that it is just internet hearsay. But the irony is that this forum that you are posting on is intrinsically internet hearsay.

As to an onboard heater, while you don't care about it, it is important to others. Particularly if you live in a cold climate. Where I live, in winter the incoming water temps are about 38 degrees. The pipes are very cold. Hot water from the water heater travels thru ice cold pipes to the washing machine and is cold by the time it gets there. I am a big believer in hot water as a necessity to get clothes cleaner. You don't feel that way, so for you and people who feel like you do, Speed Queen may be the right choice. But people looking for advice about washers should be made aware that some washers come with an onboard heater and others do not, and then they can decide if that is an important feature to them. They can also look online for the many reviews of Speed Queen after their 2018 redesign. My comment in my previous post was to make people aware of that redesign that they might not have known about otherwise.

It was the Speed Queen TR7000 top-load, agitator washer that performed poorly as described here:

• Why Speed Queen's TR7 Isn't Laundry Royalty
• Speed Queen TR7 (2018 model) review: Speed Queen's washing machine disappoints at every turn

However, this model is no longer sold, having been replaced by the TR7003WN. In CR's tests, the TR7003WN washed well but was downgraded -- enough so it was not recommended -- because of its low energy and water efficiency.

The PERFORMANCE of the TR series of top loaders is/was poor, that's fairly well substantiated.

But QUALITY and PERFORMANCE are two very different metrics.

How is the 2022 SQ front loader QUALITY worse, because the 2017 SQ toploader design had poor PERFORMANCE?

Indeed, how is the 2022 SQ front loader PERFORMANCE degraded because of the TR series of top loaders?

Answer: Not at all. But M Millers post casts an aspersion on the entire SQ line of products.

Speed Queen residential frontloaders are a sibling of their coin-op and on-premise/commercial frontloader line.

If I had to buy a washer that would mean mine was broken. Since I don't like going to laundromat for weeks or months waiting for a washer, I would buy whatever was in stock.

As a Speed Queen top loader owner and someone who posted upthread a couple years ago, I would like to clarify my statements above for 2022.

The SQ TL we own is the discontinued AWN432. Very pleased with it and still glad we bought it--albiet, it is rough on fabrics. Bought in 2016, so 6 years old now. No problems. Knock wood. If you find one used, I'd recommend buying it if you are looking for a simple and effective top load washing machine.

If I had to replace this machine, I would not purchase another SQ TL washing machine as the redisigned present day models do not seem be what I would want long term. The price is pretty high and the flexibility I enjoy with my AWN432 is not there on the new models as far as I understand. I would consider a SQ FL or a Miele, and even a Bosch if we had the correct the electical sockets, but not the current Speed Queen top loaders. (we are limited to what fits through our doorway and these fit, but not so certain the SQ FL would actually get through the doorways)

I just wanted to clarify this as people find threads like this on google searches. I remember when I didn't know what to look for in a new washing machine, a thread like this would of had me confused because I didn't know the minutia of all things laundry machines yet. It was all so overwhelming at the time. Hope that helps.

I have what some may think a stoopid question, but I'm just not sure of the terminology: Regarding onboard heaters (which is very important to me) -- if it has a sanitize cycle, does that mean it is an onboard heater?

"<i>... if it has a sanitize cycle, does that mean it is an onboard heater? "</i>

Mostly YES, but not necessarily. My Speed Queen FL has "Sanitize with Oxi". The hot water is whatever temp comes out of the water heater (it is not 'dumbed down') and the sanitizing means add oxygen bleach, and the washer uses a more aggressive tumble action that lasts 90 minutes or STTE. In the meantime, the hot water is cooling down over time due to no onboard water heater.

I would have replied "yes, a sanitize cycle does mean it has an onboard heater", but now have learned something new with @Cavimum's comment just above. We have an LG front loader. It has an onboard heater. That makes the wash cycle longer, but we are quite happy with this LG and don't care about the longer cycle if the water is hotter. An onboard heater was a must have for us. I would without hesitation buy an LG FL again if we move.

So I definitely need to ask and read the spec sheet to ensure it does, in fact, have an onboard heater. I'm specifially considering a Miele or Asko and matching ventless dryer. "Hot" on my current machine translates to barely lukewarm..... If I want truly hot water, I have to boil it on the stove and pour it into the washer then let the items soak, because the washer in its {insert sarcasm} infinite wisdom will add cold water to cool it down if I shut the top and let the cycle continue. Aaargh!!!

@porkchop_z5b_MI: "if it has a sanitize cycle, does that mean it is an onboard heater?"

As shown here, LG washers with "Sanitary" cycle jack up the wash water temperature to "Extra Hot" (158 degrees). The LG WM4000HWA (for example) has a "Sanitary" cycle while the WM3600HWA does not.

Sanitize cycles in the past were required to reach a specific temperature but that has been changed, re: the "Sanitize with Oxi" cycles nowadays.

Allergy/Allergen cycles also are supposed to reach a specific temperature, which that requirement may still be in effect .. so presence of such cycle may be a better indication of water heating.

A sure way to confirm a given model has a water heater is search for parts diagrams.

I responded a couple of years back SQ, and that still stands. Our set will be 5 years old in a few days, and we have not had one issue with either unit. I figure at this rate we will get at least 5 more years or more without a major repair. I would consider the SQ FL when the time comes to replace our current SQ TL washer. We have a WH dedicated to the Laundry room and kitchen, so I keep the temp set high enough to give me a very hot wash when I want it, and that has worked well for my needs at this time.