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rose_pekelnicky

Speed queen front load washer

5 years ago

My 20 yr old Maytag Neptune washer is sounding awful. I think I'm going to have to replace it soon. Anyone have any experience with the Speed Queen front load washer.

Comments (4)

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    While waiting for owners of the current SQ FL models to respond, you might note that the current FF7 models are very similar to the previous iterations (AFNE9) and there are long threads here about owners' experiences with them. The three threads here that I've found most informative are:

    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5193795/my-three-weeks-and-counting-with-a-speed-queen-fl-afne9bsp113tw01#n=37

    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/3066820/speed-queen-2015-front-load-washer-review#n=9

    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2440900/speed-queen-front-load-afn50-washer-review-long-post 

    Besides looking at theads here, have you looked at AutomaticWasher.org? (It is a site for washaholics and laundryphiles.) Numbers of threads there about the current and older versions of the SQ front-load models with good, bad and indifferent experiences as well as contributions from members who sell and service washers. If you haven't seen it before, the search engine for that site is pretty good at turning up threads. Also, if wdccruise were here, he might point out that Consumer Reports said of the FL model that “Cleaning was impressive and gentle on fabrics,” that CR’s 2020 testing placed the FF7 in the top tier of cleaning ability with an “excellent” rating, and also that CR forecast (from owner survey data) that Speed Queens would have excellent reliability.

    If you like YouTube videos, Kirk Rivas (Appliance Associates) and Eugene Pallas (LorainFurniture) both have YouTube video reviews of the machines running various cycles.

    Also, I gather that the price has just dropped by about $300 in the last couple of weeks. The white version is now on offer for $1599, down from $1899.

    Rose Pekelnicky thanked jwvideo
  • 5 years ago

    Biggest downside is Speed Queen has no onboard heater. If you desire warm/hot/sanitize washes you will be left with either running your hot water heater into the potentially unsafe/scalding temps above 120F or rigging up an external water heater near the washer. The 2nd will also cost you more money.


    the only other way to sanitize clothing is chemically. Just be sure if you go with a speed queen (top or front load) you are ok with the above limitations.

    Rose Pekelnicky thanked luna123456
  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    It is often remarked here and at Automatic Washer that one would think that as expensive a washer as the SQ front loaders are, they would still have on-board water heaters. About a decade ago, it was an option. Not lately.

    FWIW, SQs do not have programmed electronic Automatic Temperature Controls (ATC) and there are work-arounds for controlling water temperature. The SQ FL models use a simple valve system for water temperatures. Except on the Normal/Eco cycle, "hot" is whatever arrives from the water heater, "warm" is 50/50 mix of the hot and cold water feeds, and "cold" is tap temperature from the cold water line. The "Normal/Eco program seems to be designed to be used only for Energy Star ratings and not for regular wash cycles where warm or hot temperatures might be desired. (IIRC, SQ has published that the normal/eco cycle is designed to use 88% to 100% cold water.)

    The work-around for getting warmer warms and hotter hots is adding a manual-overrride for temperature settings and/or the ATC "autopilot." for washers that have the progammable elecronic kind. This is done either by adding a manual mixing valve to the cold water line (so some or a lot of hot water can be metered in that way) or by inserting a cheap, small, 120v in-line, on-demand water heater between the tap and the washer's cold water input. You set the heater to whatever hot or warm temperature you want for the wash, wait 15 minutes for it to heat up, start your wash and turn the heater off after the first fill.

    FWIW, as indicated, this also works as a "manual temperature autopilot override" with most heaterless FL washers' electronic ATCs. as well. Many ATCs only control the temperature only by metering the feed through the hot water input line while hot water flowing through the cold input is not controlled at all. That is why, when you see posts here complaining about a new washer running very hot water when set for a cold wash, the first suggested solution is always to check to be sure that the installer hooked the hoses up correctly and did not mistakenly reverse the connection.

    Now, whether you like such workarounds after paying $1600 for a washer, that's a different question.

    Rose Pekelnicky thanked jwvideo
  • 5 years ago

    Many washer inlet valves went to a restricted flow rate on the hot side when energy concerns became a thing that gives a 40/60 mix of hot/cold for warm instead of 50/50. I wouldn't be surprised if some are restricted further now to 30/70. I don't know what ratio Speed Queen has engineered on their various topload and frontload models.

    Rose Pekelnicky thanked dadoes