OT: washing machines

[CA renter]

Just wanted to let those who might be in the market for a washing machine know that new regulations will, once again, further cripple appliances made in 2015 and beyond. Already, they’ve mandated that washing machines not use hot water (they are governed to mix with cold, no matter what setting you have it on), and they won’t allow machines to fill up more than about halfway. Most machines also have lid locks that prevent you from opening them once they’ve started the cycle (like when you need to add another article of laundry to the load).

There is one company that has been able to work around some of these regulations to an extent (still not as good as their old ones) because they’re primarily a commercial company: Speed Queen. You won’t see any advertisements because of this, but the people who’ve owned them seem to universally like — even love — them.

Speed Queen

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg111135252411.html

I’ve done a lot of research on this, and have recently bought a Speed Queen that many claim will be just like our much beloved old-school machines that last for 20+ years. It’s been working like a champ so far, and we’re pretty rough on our washing machine.

Okay, just wanted to get out the information about the upcoming changes and offer up a recommendation for one of the last remaining (if not THE last) washing machine that is almost 100% American-made, and made to last. Mechanical controls, so no garbage electronic controls that might look cool to people like Brian, but that are guaranteed to fail long before their mechanical counterparts. No cheap plastic parts…it’s built like a tank, and weighs substantially more than most/all other machines.

[FlyerInHi]

I hate top load machines. I get rid of them immediately.

I like angular euro design. American appliances look bad. I’m glad GE sold to Electrolux.

[spdrun]

What if you connect both hot and cold hoses of the machine to hot water supply, or have a valve that allows you to cross-connect the cold hose to hot water when you need an extra hot wash?

New machines seem to be gimped to a max wash temperature of 120F. What about altering the thermistor that senses water temperature to make it think that the water is 10-20F colder than it is? Should be a simple circuit change.

Or if the circuit is more complex, isolating the sensor from the water flow and just hanging it out in the air would force it to go to full-hot…

[CA renter]

[quote=FlyerInHi]I hate top load machines. I get rid of them immediately.

I like angular euro design. American appliances look bad. I’m glad GE sold to Electrolux.[/quote]

Of course you do, Brian. 🙂

They make front-loaders, too. And their machines don’t stink of mold/mildew like the other ones do, according to those who’ve had both.

[CA renter]

[quote=spdrun]What if you connect both hot and cold hoses of the machine to hot water supply, or have a valve that allows you to cross-connect the cold hose to hot water when you need an extra hot wash?

New machines seem to be gimped to a max wash temperature of 120F. What about altering the thermistor that senses water temperature to make it think that the water is 10-20F colder than it is? Should be a simple circuit change.

Or if the circuit is more complex, isolating the sensor from the water flow and just hanging it out in the air would force it to go to full-hot…[/quote]

Yes, I think some people tweak things to make them work. Of course, none of this should be necessary, IMO, as machines should do what the owners want them to do. HE and other “green” technologies should always be one of the options, but it should always be an option. All too often, the “green” technologies end up doing far more harm than good, like when these machines give out after 5 years instead of 20, or when people have to double or triple-wash their clothes (or dishes, in the case of dishwashers…or flush 2, 3, or more times in the case of toilets, etc.) in order to get the same performance as the “non-green” goods and appliances.

[spdrun]

I wonder: speaking of Euro appliances — will one be able to get Euro washers with internal heaters post-2015? Some of them go up to 80-90C, close to boiling.

I’m assuming the motors are variable-frequency AC drive, so there’s no reason why they wouldn’t run on 240V/60hz as available in the US. Perhaps there would be a market importing via Mexico.

[spdrun]

Yes, I think some people tweak things to make them work. Of course, none of this should be necessary, IMO, as machines should do what the owners want them to do. HE and other “green” technologies should always be one of the options, but it should always be an option. All too often, the “green” technologies end up doing far more harm than good, like when these machines give out after 5 years instead of 20, or when people have to double or triple-wash their clothes (or dishes, in the case of dishwashers…or flush 2, 3, or more times in the case of toilets, etc.) in order to get the same performance as the “non-green” goods and appliances.

Agreed – but only coupled with higher energy taxes in order to provide economic incentive to adopt more efficient tech when possible. I’d much rather have that sort of thing “enforced” by high taxes so that people would WANT more efficient hardware, as opposed to outright regulatory mandates.

[FlyerInHi]

What model did you buy and how much did you pay for your speed queen, if you don’t mind sharing?

Front loaders don’t smell of mildew if you leave the door ajar. In fact, I have labels on the washers to tell my tenants to not close the door when the machine is not in use.

Electronics allow more precise cycles. You can’t do the same with mechanical controls.

[njtosd]

[quote=FlyerInHi]I hate top load machines. I get rid of them immediately.

I like angular euro design. American appliances look bad. I’m glad GE sold to Electrolux.[/quote]

The “euro design” looks good to people like Brian, I guess.

[Anonymous]

[quote=CA renter]Just wanted to let those who might be in the market for a washing machine know that new regulations will, once again, further cripple appliances made in 2015 and beyond. Already, they’ve […][/quote]

Who are “they?”

[spdrun]

^^^ Meddlers in DC?

[FlyerInHi]

I’m getting ready to remodel an apartment.

The whirlpool line is more euro and looking good these days.
http://www.whirlpool.com/Kitchen-1/102110001/

Do you want to control your appliances on your smart phone?
http://www.whirlpool.com/smart-appliances/

[spdrun]

Controlling a washer/dryer with a smartphone is about as useful as mammary papillae on a porcine male. You still have to load/unload it, so it’s not like you can load more schmatas and start a new cycle remotely.

[NotCranky]

What is the benefit of using hot water in the laundry?

[spdrun]

Kills bacteria? Removes stains? Boils Ebola viruses to death?

[Author]

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