LG front loader washer and dryer?

[tominboise]

My GE washer and dryer are finally taking a crap after 20 years of use, so I am shopping for new. I looked at LG front loader washers and dryers at home depot tonight. We have been using a top loader washer for the last 20 years. I understand the water and energy savings potential of the new designs. I am curious about the reliability and durability of this equipment.

If you have an opinion, I'd like to hear it.

Thanks, Tom

[NICO]

I've got nothing to say about the LG washers/dryers because I don't own one, but I will never buy another LG appliance again. This is based on my $1400 French Door style fridge shitting the bed 3 times in the first 4 years of ownership, all for the same basic, diagnosed but unrepaired problem.

I would suggest given consideration to where the product is made, if that matters to you at all.

This is worth reading anyway.

Consumer Reports has a snippet or two to consider when shopping around for styles as well.

Good luck.

[AerialCameras]

NO!

If you do laundry like most North American families, buy a US made w&d. I've had only one Whirlpool washer and dryer and two GE fridges and ranges my whole adult life and only one service call. Several friends have gone down the fancy Euro/ Asian appliance route only to be replacing again in three to five years. My parents have been married fifty-six years and just recently bought their third maytag washer and dryer in as many years. Like motorcycles and cars, the more fancy bells and whistles you add to an otherwise straightforward machine, the more problems you're likely to have.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoldStar

[Gimpinator]

Yeah I'm going to have to vote thumbs-down on LG too. Our two year old high-zoot LG dishwasher crapped the bed. Of course it was out of warranty. The main motor is a piss poor design that sits right underneath the unit, separated from the hot water by one tiny little rubber lip seal.

Over time water dribbles onto the motor and seizes up the top bearing. (I learned this by fixing it myself with a $75.00 replacement motor bought online. If I had to pay for a service call the thing would be sitting out on the curb...)

Get an American made unit. Fageddabouddit for 20 years.

[kfalls_rider]

I own a motel. About seven years ago I switched to 'merican made front loaders. The machines run seven days a week and I have had no problems or service calls. They just keep on running.

[Off the grid]

Having just bought a home, the wife and I did extensive research on a good, efficient W/D setup. We wanted a good system that was HE rated and was Energy-star compliant.

Some things we found.

1. Front loaders are generally more expensive, but clean better and more completely. They use less water and the clothes come out drier, using less dryer time. Top-loaders are usually much less expensive, but you get what you pay for.

2. With front-loaders, usually the bearings or skirt goes. Check some websites for reviews.

3. Dryers are basically the same and use around the same amount of electricity. The caveat is that you want to get a large-capacity dryer with a moisture sensor. A moisture sensor will shut off the dryer when the clothes are dry instead of running the full cycle.

We ended up with buying a (used-refurbished) Front-loading Whirlpool Duet HE washer. It uses about 1/3 the amount of water and much less energy than a "standard" washer. It's big enough to handle a comforter.

The dryer is a HUGE Kennmore front-loading "Dry-clean" unit that has a moisture sensor. It works astounding, drying huge loads of towels and jeans in less than 40mins. Our previous stackable dryer used to take 2 cycles of 90mins to dry the same load.

We got both units, installed with a 90day warranty and a pedestal for the Washer for around 550 bucks from a local business that sells used appliances. We do laundry daily and are very impressed with our new(used) units.

Do your research and good luck!

*EDIT AVOID LG. Everything I have read has been negative. Chinese crap.

[Redne Dab]

We've had a stackable LG washer-dryer for about seven years. Only maintenance has been a clog and once we learned how to clean an unknown internal filter -no reoccurences.

-They get stuff clean & dry.
-Only used it two or three times but the sterilize function is nice.
-Low maintenance.
-They still look brand new.

Redne

[MeanMoe]

We bought a LG set in 2008 after a 5 year old GE shit out it's tranny. The LG has been fine but not without issues.

If you don't do laundry on a regular basis, water sits in the filter and mildew will start (bad design). Solution is to leave the door open when not in use then run a tub clean cycle/rinse prior to doing laundry. I will also make the first load a white load set to sanitize.

Door seal leaks if large, heavy load is run. All towels or all jeans will result in a dribble of water down the front. I've read the recommendation to clean the door seals but it still does it.

I'd say that, overall, I'm neutral on the brand. I wouldn't purchase another large LG appliance but my experience hasn't been extremely positive or negative. We ended up with the LG because of poor performance from prior GE and Whirlpool appliances.

[AtlantaViking]

No comment on the HE front loaders because our 20-year old Maytags are still going strong (read never a single issue) but I know their days are numbered. I just cant believe that they are still chugging along and that's after 5 moves - damn these things were built well.

[Yooper_Bob]

My only contribution is this....if you go to fill up a glass of water, does it make more sense to pour it in the top, or try and figure some fancy way of getting it in the side.

Buy something simple....way less stuff to go wrong.

[papalobster]

Originally Posted by Yooper_Bob

My only contribution is this....if you go to fill up a glass of water, does it make more sense to pour it in the top, or try and figure some fancy way of getting it in the side.

Buy something simple....way less stuff to go wrong.

If you are going to get a top loader, you had better act fast. they are going the way of cards, points and distributers. The EPA mandates for power and water usage are going to kill them off for good by 2013.

I wouldn't suggest a Maytag. Ever since whirlpool bought them, the quality has taken a poo. LG gets you with the bling and the fancy pants stuff, but really, you need to get the clothes wet and soapy and then wiggle them around a bit. Then you add fresh water, rinse em, spin em out. Do you need 4027 different buttons and cycles for that?

That being said, I work at Speed Queen. I have a SQ front loader at home that has over 9000 hours of operation on it.

[spagthorpe]

I have used two different sets of Samsung front loaders at different houses I've stayed at, and thought they were awesome. Top loaders use too many resources, and they are harder on the clothes.

A good set of front loaders should be good for a long time, but nobody really builds anything well anymore. You should know that by now. Comparing a washer or dryer to the appliances that were around when we were growing up makes no sense. Do you really think anything you buy now, at just about any price will still be around in 20?

[crampfan]

We bought a Samsung top loader. I give it 5 stars. super quite, does a great job, no problems so far, and the wife loves it.

[mikeash]

Bought new LG front loading washer and dryer set a year ago when I bought my house.

1. I love the high speed spin on the washer. The clothes dry faster because of this.
2. My laundry space is small, and it's nice to be able to have the space on top of the machines.
3. You have to wipe down the rubber seal for the dryer door every time you let it sit, or leave the
door open. It will develop mold and smell quickly if you don't.
4. Can't speak to longevity, because I've only had them a year.
5. So far, I'm glad I bought them.

[Dagofast]

I'm normally not an early adopter, but we've had an LG front load washer & dryer for quite a while now. The serial numbers are both low, like #00153.

Our original Maytag from 1980 had developed problems after almost 20 years so we bought another. The new unit was a total piece of crap that we kicked to the curb within 4 years. At that point, all of the domestics were offshoring so we said screw it and took a shot with the LG's. They have both performed flawlessly to date. *knocks on wood*

My siblings have each bought Samsung front loaders and dryers and LOVE them. I would have to give the Korean stuff two thumbs up!