The tub, drum and spider cost $1,000, which is the same price as the washing machine? This is why so many consumers opt to for new products rather than fixing the old ones.
I'm all with you, PPihkala. I could never understand the attraction of a front loading washer. For me it defies logic. Yet, these washer have become very popular. Is there an advantage that I'm missing? Is the advantage of space that critical? Maybe so.
"the fact that the inside gets moldy if you keep the door shut after a cycle. Is this true?"
I think it should be a common knowledge that places that are always moist can get moldy. Which means that one should let the machine be open and dry out between uses, regardless of the orientation of the loading door.
I have a top loading washing machine like did my parents. I have a hard time believing that front loading one is a good design idea. I can figure out at least the following reasons:
1) the suspension and bearings at the front part ot the washing drum are more complicated in front loaders versus top ones.
2) the seal between rotating drum and the front hatch is more complicated than with top loaders.
The reason for front loading is probably the fact that front loaders take less place, especially when you place the dryer on top of it. Even without dryer, the top space is available as table space. So as always, top/front loading is a compromise between different requirements.
Good question, Jenn. While I was editing this post, I did some searching to see if front loaders really were less reliable than top loaders. My searching was inconclusive. However, I did see tons of comments about mold around the door.
I've been tempted to replace my 10+ year old top-load washing machine with a front loader, but have heard awful stories about leaks and the fact that the inside gets moldy if you keep the door shut after a cycle. Is this true? I'm more tempted to replace with a top loader that does not have the agitator in the middle - I'm tired of things getting wrapped around/stuck on the agitator.
Supposedly washers for the European market have longer wash cycles, during which the clothes are agitated more slowly. If this is true, I wonder if this results in longer bearing life (in both top and front loaders). It seems that there's not much one can do about the issue discussed here in that front loaders seem to be taking over because of consumer fashion -- or because that's what vendors are offering -- rather than the functional issues discussed in this post.
I have a Frigidaire front loader that I bought 11 years ago, but was actually made 13 years ago. It has served our family of 5 without problems until last month, when either the spider or rear bearings failed. My inner tub / spider has a 25 year warranty, but Frigidaire requires a technician to dioagnose and order the part. That labor alone is $200+, a lot to spend on a machine that cost less than $500 just after the turn of the century.
Googling will reveal that the average life of a front loader is 11 years while a top loader will go 14.
I hate to say this, but based on the countless "Made by Monkeys" stories, 10 years out of an applicance is a pretty good track record these days, front loader or otherwise. I have a front/loader washer dryer set that I purchased almost four years ago and haven't had a lick of problems--in fact, it's one of my favorite things I have ever purchased. I guess only time will tell if I'm biting my tongue on that statement. Stay tuned!
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