Best Top Load Washing Machine

[Brokenhandle]

Pretty sure Rafter H BBQ bought a set a year or two ago.

Ryan

 

[sandyut]

Another vote for Speed Queen. My cousins own an appliance dealer. Speed Queen is made in the USA and they do in house testing on their products. The only thing we’ve had go wrong is a lid switch and it was an easy fix. Also another thing she told us, use one tablespoon of dry detergent per full load. More is not always better.

Can you give a little more of a review/evaluation on these? Like I noted above, we dont like the GE ones that came with our house. They are inconsistent and now the washer is making a crazy noise during agitation mode. I dont want to invest a dime or a second on a repair on a GE. Tried that on the GE dishwasher, waste both time and money and it still left DOA. Many thanks!

 

[Brokenhandle]

Can you give a little more of a review/evaluation on these? Like I noted above, we dont like the GE ones that came with our house. They are inconsistent and now the washer is making a crazy noise during agitation mode. I dont want to invest a dime or a second on a repair on a GE. Tried that on the GE dishwasher, waste both time and money and it still left DOA. Many thanks!

Sorry Dave, my brain read that you were reviving a thread, but apparently I didn't listen to it and thought you started a new one.

Ryan

 

[fxsales1959]

Yeap. Our washing machine is on its last leg. In the market for a new top loading washer.

The wife wants simple and heavy duty washer built to last. I told her, “Thats why I married you”.
That comment didn’t go as planned.
Anyways, what brand do you guys recommend? Currently looking at Lowe’s and Home Depot.

Banjo man out.

We have an LG smart drum series that's been here longer than my wife. 10 year warranty direct drive. lots of buttons. She likes it, and I like that.

 

[DougE]

Can you give a little more of a review/evaluation on these? Like I noted above, we dont like the GE ones that came with our house. They are inconsistent and now the washer is making a crazy noise during agitation mode. I dont want to invest a dime or a second on a repair on a GE. Tried that on the GE dishwasher, waste both time and money and it still left DOA. Many thanks!

All I can say is that Speed Queen is touted to be the end all be all of top loaders from owners on other forums I frequent. Never saw a negative review of them.

And if you go by what I said, yours will prolly be a lemon.

 

[JIMSMOKES]

reviving this thread.

Our GE washer that came with the house started making horrible noises during aggitation cycle. We dont love it. The matching dryer is just OK. mostly works but would cry to see it leave.

Any of you own a Speed Queen? looking at the alternatives, its not really that much more $$ if they ar as good as rated and last as long as they say. If you have one, curious on the model, warranty and if you have used the warranty?

Thanks!

My set is around 15 it's never used warranty. Dryer stopped heating last year. Started to trouble shoot. Then found out the whole new heating element came with both thermal limiter and overtemp sensor. Less than 40 bucks and few screws to pop front panel off. Back in business less than a hour. More trouble to pull unit out to unplug than anything.
Their built to be able service and repair not just replace.

 

[OldSmoke]

Speed Queen.

Told the store owner I didn’t want digital, no Bluetooth, no water saving, just rotary knobs like grandmas. They still make that model. It has been great and gets my dirty garage clothes clean!

 

[sandyut]

My set is around 15 it's never used warranty. Dryer stopped heating last year. Started to trouble shoot. Then found out the whole new heating element came with both thermal limiter and overtemp sensor. Less than 40 bucks and few screws to pop front panel off. Back in business less than a hour. More trouble to pull unit out to unplug than anything.
Their built to be able service and repair not just replace.

Like they used to be. I had 25 year old Kenmore, part were so cheap and easy to swap. Many thanks

 

[sandyut]

Speed Queen.

Told the store owner I didn’t want digital, no Bluetooth, no water saving, just rotary knobs like grandmas. They still make that model. It has been great and gets my dirty garage clothes clean!

I want reliable, no gimicky crap we will never use. Like 3 setting and a couple knobs and a start switch!

 

[bigfurmn]

The wife wants simple and heavy duty washer built to last. I told her, “Thats why I married you”.

The fact you are here to ask this question after that comment sir, I think I have a new hero.
Have a LG top load without the agitator that we got when the little man was born about 5 years ago. Very nice unit. Only thing is momma is kinda short and has issues reaching the bottom of the drum.

 

[Brokenhandle]

The fact you are here to ask this question after that comment sir, I think I have a new hero.
Have a LG top load without the agitator that we got when the little man was born about 5 years ago. Very nice unit. Only thing is momma is kinda short and has issues reaching the bottom of the drum.

Goose her!

Ryan

 

[bigfurmn]

Goose her!

Ryan

She's 5'2". Goose her all I want, then all I'll be doing is extracting her from it.

 

[Fueling Around]

Hard to find any appliance that doesn't have some kind of "smart" electronics as part of the build.

I think we have had a Speed Queen washing machine for 4-5 years now. Wife loves it.
Appears to be similar to the photo somone posted. If the dials click and don't click/clack when you twist they are electronic.
I really had to talk her out of replacing the Frigidaire dryer after I put about $50 in to maintenance.
Hey another $1,200 for a "matching" dryer for sake of cosmetics wasn't in my picture.
As I posted earlier, recommendation for Speed Queen came from a local business that used to sell appliances. They stopped selling when everything came in damaged and the factory response was not good. Appliances is/was their secondly business. They sold Speed Queen, LG, and other brands.
Our down south unit has a Whirlpool. We are on our third replacement in as many years of living here. Maintenance people are not top quality. We get a used replacement that has been "fixed" for one reason or another. First thing I do is to level out the washer. The maintenance guys forget that part.
I used to love Whirlpool as they were relatively easy to repair and TADA used to be the Kenmore brand.
Years ago I lived in Seattle area and had Reliable Parts which only sold replacement parts. The clerks could tell you the history of appliances based on parts replacement alone.
I walked in the door with a squirrel cage from my Admiral (Maycor) dryer. They had the repair kit on the counter when I got there.
GE dishwasher crapped out. Stopped at Reliable Parts and they said GE was the highest priced replacement parts. Bit the bullet got GE replacement part as the unit was solid.

Sorry for the lengthy response. I have a lot of appliance repair as a amateur.
mike243 was the pro, but I haven't seen him post recently.

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Can you give a little more of a review/evaluation on these? Like I noted above, we dont like the GE ones that came with our house. They are inconsistent and now the washer is making a crazy noise during agitation mode. I dont want to invest a dime or a second on a repair on a GE. Tried that on the GE dishwasher, waste both time and money and it still left DOA. Many thanks!

Yea, the Speed Queen we have is the washer with I believe a 7 year warranty. It’s been a great washer. In three years all I’ve had to do is replace a lid switch. The other thing with SQ is they are made very solid and durable here in the US and their simple design makes them very accessible if you need to work on them. I personally wanted a washer without all the fancy stuff. I wanted solid, simple and durable… and I feel that’s what we got in the SQ. I told my cousin I wanted something to last and didn’t mind paying some extra to get that. I was tired of other brands being bought brand new and lasting 3ish years. We are not hard on appliances and only getting a few years was getting beyond frustrating. She said most brands today are just not made to last. But as said I told her I wanted something to last, be reliable and made solid. She did not even hesitate and took us over to the SQ. She said, then this is your machine. I admit I had never heard of SQ at that point in time and was a bit hesitant… but she assured me that machine would outlast 3-4 of the other machines we had tried before. I am glad we listened to her recommendation… again the washer has been solid, dependable and it’s not noisy when running.

We do still have our Maytag dryer that works fine as of right now. It’s their commercial line…. But I will tell you when that goes out, we will replace with a SQ unit without a doubt.

Sorry for the delayed reply and hope this helps.

 

[paneraica]

Have a Kenmore. 16 years old and still works fine. Two models on the site have good ratings

 

[sandyut]

Yea, the Speed Queen we have is the washer with I believe a 7 year warranty. It’s been a great washer. In three years all I’ve had to do is replace a lid switch. The other thing with SQ is they are made very solid and durable here in the US and their simple design makes them very accessible if you need to work on them. I personally wanted a washer without all the fancy stuff. I wanted solid, simple and durable… and I feel that’s what we got in the SQ. I told my cousin I wanted something to last and didn’t mind paying some extra to get that. I was tired of other brands being bought brand new and lasting 3ish years. We are not hard on appliances and only getting a few years was getting beyond frustrating. She said most brands today are just not made to last. But as said I told her I wanted something to last, be reliable and made solid. She did not even hesitate and took us over to the SQ. She said, then this is your machine. I admit I had never heard of SQ at that point in time and was a bit hesitant… but she assured me that machine would outlast 3-4 of the other machines we had tried before. I am glad we listened to her recommendation… again the washer has been solid, dependable and it’s not noisy when running.

We do still have our Maytag dryer that works fine as of right now. It’s their commercial line…. But I will tell you when that goes out, we will replace with a SQ unit without a doubt.

Sorry for the delayed reply and hope this helps.

that is everything I wanted to hear! thank you! at the end of the day, who uses the 25 different options??? no one, it hot warm or cold, sml med lg. Im sure my wife uses delicate.Im sure we will be picking one up soon, we are also looking at a range so we can snag both at the same place. thanks again, im no rush your response was not slow.

 

[mike243]

I never messed with washer and dryers much but I'm pretty good at loading and unloading them, at 1 time whirlpool ruled home appliances, not sure that is still the same, they soured me on bottom fridges but most of those have issues no matter who makes them. I ran my Maytag top mount that didn't have a agitator for 13 years, no problems with it up until recently, hit start walk away and it might quit before you got out of sight, probably a control board but suspected I wasn't going to start swapping parts on 1 that old. I never have liked front load as I helped rebuild a few, the motors are whats warranted for 10 years, drum bearings seem to be a issue with most of them. I never helped on a GE front loader, whirlpool LG samsung yes, somebody posted there were only 2 manufactures of washers, not sure where he heard that but more now than there ever has been. I picked up a set of GE front loaders and the washing machine has a dry cycle so when your done no mold or mildew. mine are in a unfinished basement and wife wouldn't be happy leaving a door open to stop smells. Had them about 8 months, pretty nice and wifi to let me know when they are done, being down there and hard of hearing I would set my phone, now I can tell when washer and dryer are done no going down there and looking. Buy a extended warranty if your not mechanically inclined, a part is bad enough but labor is really bad and getting worse. Grape vine sez sears service is cutting tec's pay to $14 a hour plus commission, they will lose most of the good tec's they have I'm afraid. Buyer's beware and good luck picking 1 that will go the distance.

 

[sandyut]

that looks like the one that came in our house. I think its about 5 years old. it wasnt filling quite right at first. then I unplugged it to put up some insulation and now its great. Always baffling how unplugging and replunging fixes so much.

I miss Kenmore. I bought a set in 1995 that lasted till we moved in 2003, still going when we left them. replaced a couple $5 parts myself over the years. but bombproof!

Now this one is howling like crazy. I fear we will be lucky if it lasts till the new ones arrive. sounds horrible.

 

[sandyut]

Ordered a Speed Queen washer and dryer Monday. Should be 2-3 weeks or so before delivery, install and haul away. Hopefully the GE wont die before then, but it sounds bad.

I looked at the "high end" combo sets from Costco and they were nearly as much with too many negative reviews.

 

[yankee2bbq]

Yeap. Our washing machine is on its last leg. In the market for a new top loading washer.

The wife wants simple and heavy duty washer built to last. I told her, “Thats why I married you”.
That comment didn’t go as planned.
Anyways, what brand do you guys recommend? Currently looking at Lowe’s and Home Depot.

Banjo man out.

Here is an update:

Went ahead and got the pair. Speed Queen washer and dryer.

I’m officially out of the dog house!
Thanks guys for suggesting Speed Queen!