My last full sized front loader set was an LG, and i never had a lick of trouble for the first 10-11 years......LG has a very good reputation for front load washers The only reason i don't have an LG now is they don't make a vented 24" dryer.

We bought a Whirlpool front loader about 3 years ago, it was replacing a 12 year old Whirlpool front loader. The 3 year old washer was junk, computer board sropped working correctly right after the warranty ended. We had to unplug the machine for about 5 minutes between every load to reset it. Also it just did not clean as well as the older Whirlpool. Very disapponting webdealty with it for number of months. Just replaced it with an LG, keeping our fingers crossed. We have only had our new machine a week.

All I have to say is find a washer that just washes clothes. You don't need one that gives pedicures, washes dishes, or walks the dog(sarcasm here) The more bells & whistles, the more stuff breaks.

@Toronto Veterinarian, that's good to know thank you for your input. If I may ask, what brand do you currently have? Also what are your thoughts about it?

@ elbits HAHAHA this gave me quite the chuckle. Thank you for that. Yeah I completely agree. I always like to try to keep my appliances as simple as possible...if possible that is.

@Jill302 so far after using the LG how does it compare with your 12 year old Whirlpool?

@ Ryan, thank you so much for the information. Your explanation was truly detailed and helpful. I'll definitely keep that in mind.

"@Toronto Veterinarian, that's good to know thank you for your input. If I may ask, what brand do you currently have? Also what are your thoughts about it?"

I currently have (on order) a Gorenje stacked pair of 24" machines (that's what I replaced my LG pair with, but have since moved and am currently replacing the combination unit here with a Gorenje pair for the same reasons). I don't think that Gorenje is available in the US at this time, though you do have Asko appliances (which was bought by Gorenje about 10 years ago).

I liked my last set (here's my Houzz thread about them: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5510059/my-first-6-weeks-with-gorenje#n=13 ), and I'm hoping their current machines are as good as those I bought in 2018.

@ Toronto Veterinarian, thank you. Again very informative!

Yes I wouldn't have ever heard of Gorenje without you mentioning it. Thank you for educating me.

Has anyone here purchased a new GE with the fan feature yet? I can't wait to hear about this machine from actual owners. It has a cleanout too I see. VERY NICE!

Mark, the GE is made in China.

I had LG front loaders in my previous home. When I moved I left behind a 1980s top load Maytag that was a tank. I was skeptical, but I loved them. Things came out clean and whites were white! The steam feature was awesome. Moved again, this place has new Maytag front loaders. Compared to the LGs these are the pits. Stains remain stains, it makes a racket, and it does not spin things as dry as the LG did. The cycle choices don't work as well for me, and the detergent drawer gets moldy. I keep the door open with suction cups and an elastic. When I replace them, it will be with LG or Miele.

We just left our Samsung front load washer (and the dryer) with the new owners of our last house. It was a good 9 years old and we’d had almost no problems with it. I think hubby had to replace a belt in the dryer once and something minor in the washer once. (Diy also). But up until the year we moved, we had a family of 7, so it was used to seeing an average of 14 loads a week of laundry, and it had no issues with a cross country move after it was about a year old. The only reason we didn’t bring the set with us this last cross country move was because the dryer was natural gas and that’s not available where we moved to, and we are in a temporary living situation where we have a washer dryer provided while we build our next home. It didn’t make sense to bring them, and the new owners of our last house were happy to have the set as they needed new ones anyways. Anyhow, we plan on getting Samsung for our next set as it did a great job. It was MUCH better than the Kenmore front loading set we had before that where we finally chucked them when looking at the 8th major repair in just 5 years.

I thought Whirlpool made Electrolux. If not, who does?

I have a pair of Electrolux washer/dryer for 10 yrs. I absolutely love them. I had one small repair on the washer a few months ago. Both washer and dryer have the steam feature which I use frequently. It is the best in the dryer for a quick steam to get out wrinkles.

The washer gets out any stain better than all the machines I've ever owned.

Last month, the dryer started shutting off after about 10 minutes. I call a repairman who said the heating element needed repair and it was expensive. He suggested I replace it.

For the past month, I've been drying our clothes outside on drying racks but need to replace the dryer. Frankly, Florida sun/heat dries the clothes in a half our! I'm amazed, but the clothes feel stiff.

I really want another Electrolux. The washer is a front loader and the biggest I've seen compared to other brands. I love the large tub.

I'm bothered about replacing appliances after only 10 yrs as I had a Maytag which was almost 20 yrs when we sold our house and it was still working. But, nothing I've ever owned washed clothes and heavy blankets, sheets like my Electrolux. I absolutely love them but wonder how they are rated now and who makes them?

Jane

Electrolux machines are made by Electrolux. Whirlpool does not make their machines.

How could a new heating coil cost more than a new machine? Bogus remark by repairman. Look for another reliable company that specializes in Electrolux. I have the previous series Electrolux dryer without steam. It has had quirks but they go away, never has quit drying my clothes though. Occasionally the display stays dim when it is running, then comes back to life again. I just ignore it as long as it dries properly.

We have an Electrolux dryer where the heating element went bad. We bought a new heating element from amazon for $35 and replaced it oursleves. We followed a video online. It wasnt hard at all. Just took some time.

Imo, Whirlpool is now the most disappointing American company supplying appliances. One year warranty is a joke. There is no chance I'd own a currently built Whirlpool or one of their owned company's product. I have recommended an older Whirlpool top loader from 15-20 years ago. Simple to maintain and reliable. Available for $125 off Facebook Marketplace or CL.

"Imo, Whirlpool is now the most disappointing American company supplying appliances."

I tend to agree; I have a limited space for a new fridge, and when I looked at my options when buying a new one, I avoided the ones made by Whirlpool and went with an LG (I don't know if LG makes good fridges or not). I hope that works out well for me.

Mark, I did get a Electrolux repairman. That is what he told me.

After fixing the washer, when the dryer went, I thought I would get a new dryer. I still haven't and continue to dry the clothes outside.

Maybe I should call a regular appliance person?

I'm 72 and just lost my husband. I would not be able to replace the heater myself.

Thank you,

Jane

Jane, the part can be looked up via online sources for your reference on the cost of it if you cite the model number of the dryer. Of course, that'd be for a DIY. The cost of calling-out a servicer and their mark-up on parts from their source also is a factor. You don't have a capable friend or family member who could DIY it?

"I thought Whirlpool made Electrolux. If not, who does?"

Electrolux.

@jane__ny

I wish I could help you Jane and put it in for you. Keep looking for someone reasonable on price.

Tideman has it right. You can't reliably purchase a machine brand based on historical performance, as it appears that continual cost cutting often affects quality. However, LG seems to be consistently well regarded. I moved to a home recently that has LGs from 2004. The illuminated readout is shot but they still work. It's the 2300 series. When they go, I'll probably stick with LG. I'm keeping an eye on GE, though. The appliance division was purchased by the Haier group, stating they want to revamp the GE brand - I think meaning quality and market position. From what I found on line, the washers are made in the Kentucky facility. Here is a Yale Appliance Blog article that might be informative.

I recently bought fl w/d and my choice came down to LG and the GE you've pictured. I went with the LG for two reasons. This GE is newer so not as tried and true and I liked that the LG was slightly smaller I purchased the WM3900 which I think has been replaced by the 4000. I really like this machine and it is my first front loader.

@ TBL from MA,

Very helpful information. I am really curious about the quality of GE since the Haier acquisition. Any more info regarding this? Thank you so much.

Rachel, thank you for your input. It seems to me that the general consensus is that LG and Miele are two of the better Front Loader brands and stay away from any of the Whirlpool brands?

Also what do you guys think of Speed Queen Front Loaders? Are they as reliable as their Top Loaders?

I also have the LG 3900. I have been very happy with it so far. It replaced an electrolux front loader which was working when I kicked it to the curb. I won't go into the whole story but if you search Smelly Laundry you will see a post titled smelly laundry out of solutions. You can see what I went through with that electrolux machine.

I've been leaving the the door open a few hours on the LG after taking a load out and I've had no problem with mustiness. For years I was concerned about this issue and delayed purchasing a front loader because of it. I was a bit seduced by the description of the new GE technology but ultimately decided LG was the way to go.

@ MWJ >>>"what do you guys think of Speed Queen Front Loaders? Are they as reliable as their Top Loaders?<<<

Supposedly more reliable than the TL machines and significantly longer lived according to everything I've read here and at AuomaticWasher.org and what I've seen locally. (On recommendations from friends, I took a hard look at the SQ FL models last year before finding an easy fix for my trusty 14 y.o front loader, a fix that enabled me to avoid avoid having to buy a new washer). The SQ FL models' prices were lowered at the beginning of this year, Even so, at $1600 for a FF7005 in white ($300 more for the stainless case), they are very expensive. That's so even considering they come with a 5 year factory warranty. (The value of that five-year full warranty depends on how good your local dealer is, though, as service is generally handled through the selling dealer. There have been reports of difficulties getting service for SQs purchased from non-local online dealers as well as of some local dealers providing bad service.)

One frequently cited objection to the SQ front loaders is that they do not have an on-board water heater. They also do not have electronic automatic temperature control which means you can get wash water as hot as arrives at the tap from your house water heater rather than the excessively "dumbed-down" water temperatures on some other machines. (It is a curiousity that some washer makers have come to regard 90°F as a "hot" wash temperature while for clothing makers' "Care tags," a "cold" wash instruction is considered 86°F and "warm" is 105°F.)

There also are a variety of workarounds for not having an on-board water heater which have been discussed in threads like these recent ones:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6088602/if-you-had-to-choose-fl-edition#n=26

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6073332/speed-queen-front-load-washer#n=4

As has been observed there and elsewhere, some people are comfortable with these work-arounds but others resolutely object to paying so much for a washer without an on-board water heater and having to resort to work-arounds.

That said, there also are some older threads where users found by actual testing that the SQ front loaders do well at holding relatively hot washing temperature when close to the house water heater as in Jeffrey Caban's thread about the very similar previous FL model, https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5193795/my-three-weeks-and-counting-with-a-speed-queen-fl-afne9bsp113tw01#n=37.

The drum capacity is rated at 3.5 cu. ft., but the machine is still able to handle very large bulky items like king-size comforters. (There are on-line videos of this.)

There was a spate of problems with some circuit boards sourced from a third party board maker of the motor control circuit boards for the SQ FL models built in 20017 and 2018. That skewed the reliability statistics reported by Consumer Reports and the Yale Appliance Blog. AFAIK, Speed Queen covered all the board problems under warranty and all the FL models made since 2018 have come with the upgraded board.

Running water if you have a faucet near your SQ front loader to ensure a hot wash is ridiculous. Even hot water at the tap into a cold stainless steel drum, I find it hard to believe anything over 110 degrees water temp is achieved by wash cycle end and that's generous. I bet some even increase their water heater temp just to accommodate a SQ front loader. Any energy savings is lost period.

Thank you, Mark! I wish you lived nearby!!

I'll call a local appliance place tomorrow to see if they can replace the heating unit at a reasonable cost. I originally contacted Electrolux for information and they sent someone who only worked on Electrolux machines.

I was in Home Depot today looking for a faucet and wandered over to the large appliance section. I did not see any Electrolux washers or dryers. I asked a worker there if they carried them. He said they did but they are not on display.

I looked at other brands they had displayed and the drums in those machines are so small compared to my Electrolux machines. I am so used to having a large drum which can hold just about anything I put in. I can wash everything in two loads including sheets, towels, etc.

I really love my machines and wonder whether they are made the same and still as good.

Oh, well, thanks again for the good information.

Jane

@ jwvideo, I can't thank you enough for this info! This is SUPER helpful. I will be sure to check out those threads you referenced. Thank you again.

Mark, an update on my Electrolux dryer. I called a man who does air-conditioning and appliance repair, recommended by a neighbor.

Nice man came, looked at the dryer. He ran it, (it runs for 5 minutes than shuts off), a series of beeps goes off on the screen and a code # and says, call for service. He Googled the code and said its the heating element is shorting. He thought he could get it. He was dismayed the front of the machine did not have a front kick-plate to get at it. He explained he'd have to take the machine apart from the top.

He came yesterday and took the top off, I could see the large drum and the 'brain.' Huge drum. He pointed out the sensors and steam vents.

I was amazed at the size of the drum and how everything looked. He had to remove the drum to get to the element. He was surprised how large the element was. A long tube with wires. He said it was a double element.

He replaced it put the machine back together and ran it. Perfect!

He charged me $231.00.

He was here for 1 1/2 hours. Nicest guy, I almost hugged him. Thought it would cost at least $500.00.

He said, he's only worked on two Electrolux machines in his 40 yrs in the business. He was very impressed with my machine. Said the drum was beautiful, stainless, the heating element was larger than any he's worked on before. He called it a 'double element.' He felt the machine was well made, impressed.

I could have hugged him. I was so afraid of the bill. We chatted and he said most of his calls are for Samsung, LE's, GE's.

Anyway, Mark, thank you very much for pushing me to call a good appliance man who fixed the dam machine at a cost so much less then what I was told by the Electrolux repair guy.

Jane

@jane__ny

This is wonderful news! It really sounds like he did a good job and for a excellent price. Yes the Electrolux dryers as your model are 8 cubic ft. I believe the biggest dryer there is other than commercial. I like mine a lot too. So glad you saved yourself some money most of all.

Jane I'm glad you were able to find someone to fix it. Why didn't he go through the back of the dryer? Was there no room to pull the dryer out to access the back? That is how we did ours and it didn't involve taking out the drum. Just take the back off and you can access the element.

My bet is he never took drum out completely to fix it. 1 1/2 hrs is pretty good I think.

Depends on the design of the dryer. Some dryers don't have a removable rear panel ... or a lower toe-kick panel, which requires the entire front be removed for access. Elux may have changed the design in the 10 years since Jane's purchase vs. what vinmarks has. She didn't provide the model number to check the details.

Thanks Mike and dadoes. The model # is EIMED60LTO.

The appliance guy came back today just to check it was working. I told him I washed a bunch of king-size sheets and they dried perfectly. I asked him some of Mike's questions about getting into the machine through the back. He said it wasn't possible. Because of the large drum he wouldn't be able to disconnect the 'element' and the recommendation was to go in from the top.

Mike, he did remove that big drum. I walked in while he was working and the drum was sitting on the floor of the laundry room. He commented that this machine was close to a commercial dryer because of the size of the element. He said it was double the size of the Electrolux machines he's worked on before. When he got the element from the supplier, he was worried it was wrong until he saw the element installed in the machine. He commented about the amount of rollers for the drum, said there were three (or four, don't remember). He seemed to be very impressed how this machine was built and how well it was constructed.

Anyway, hope this answers some of the questions.

Jane

Looks like the rear panel does come off but access to the element could be tricky if working room under the drum is cramped for reaching the anchor screws on it. The charge you paid is reasonable for a servicer. The source I use lists the element for $116, other sources are up to $166. There are a couple that say $23 and $24 but that's too much of a disparity to be trusted, and both say out-of-stock.

Electrolux is based in Sweden, and also produces Frigidaire. The part at several sources is tagged as a Frigidaire item so it's apparently also used on some of those branded-models.

I looked at the receipt and he has the element #8284 @ $122.00. There are other numbers written but I don't know to what they belong.

Jane

Just installed the new GE machines (GFW850SSNWW -front load washer) and matching dryer and they are nothing short of AMAZING. It has an anti-mildew ring around the opening which is essential with a front loader. Stains come out easily and with no extra effort, clothes smell great, machine is big enough to fit bedding and multiple towels. Highly recommend!!

Runnermom, thank you for sharing! Does your model have an onboard water heater?

On specifications, it says water heater. Honestly, whatever you’re looking for, this machine has it.

Awesome, I will be sure to keep this model in mind. My first two options are Speed Queen and LG. Unfortunately Miele is out of our budget, but I'm open to anything but Samsung and sadly now....any Whirlpool brands ☹️

@Runnermon -- On your new GE washer, how much time do the wash programs take (the ones that you've used)?

Jane__NY, the current element part number is 134792700 which replaces for some older P/Ns, including 1482984. I find a reference to "replaces 8284" in the description of a substitute (non-Electrolux) element so 8284 may be another one of the older numbers that 134792700 replaces.

Also for your reference your model is EIMED60LT0 with a number zero at the end instead of a letter O.

I have tried a few different cycles and they have ranged from 55 minutes to over an hour. There is a fast 20 minute cycle option for lightly soiled items, but I haven’t tried it yet. I considered the Electrolux machines, but the GE machines are slightly larger, have the best anti-microbial ring, and have a function where they can do a combo wash and dry for a small load, all right in the washer. This is ideal if you need an outfit cleaned for the next day and just want to stick it in the washer and go to bed and have it be ready for the next day when you wake up.

dadoes, do you think he put in the wrong part? Maybe I shouldn't be happy with the repair.

It seems to dry well now, but is it a cheap replacement for the part?

Thanks,

Jane

I wouldn't be concerned unless a problem such as an early failure of the replacement part occurs. The P/N referenced on your bill may be one of the older numbers that was the original part in your dryer 10 years ago. His parts supplier may have had that original item in their stock, or maybe he just referenced it as such on the bill. Manufacturers often substitute/update part numbers, and Electrolux/Frigidaire produces dryers under multiple brand labels that may take the same part(s). That number may reference the element under another brand's coding.