Washing Machine - Super exciting...

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Washing Machine - Super exciting...

WyleECoyoteNZ

1049 posts

Uber Geek

#225994 14-Dec-2017 16:19

..no, not really, but hey.

So, our faithful F&P 5.5 KG top loader we've had for 13 years and has never needed servicing is in the throws of dying. Run it empty, either short or full washes and it completes, add clothes and it gets stuck during a cycle, goes into a loop (e.g. constantly rinsing) and won't complete.

F&P will charge $125 + parts to fix\service, and with the age of it, that's a deposit on a new one.

So keen to hear peoples opinions, what's good, what's not? Front or Top loader? Fronts are more water efficient, but take much longer.

Are F&P good machines or just pricey Haier's? LG? Panasonic?

We are a family of four with 2 kids under 9.

1 | 2 | 3

8345 posts

Uber Geek

#1919655 14-Dec-2017 16:22

How much is space an issue in your house?

Front loaders can generally go under a bench etc, while a Top leader usually needs its own floor space,

trig42

5816 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1919657 14-Dec-2017 16:25

Front Loader.

Most can do a 15 minute cycle, and a 40 Minute (ours does both). Works well for lightly soiled. We do the long washes on bedding, or soiled items (gardening gear etc).

We have a Beko 9KG. 2 years in, no issues (touch wood). Is an Inverter model, I think they pretty much all are now though. LG gets good reviews. Samsung also (and they have the Add Item feature where you can open a little door in the door to add the sock that fell on the floor on the way to the laundry).

Mistenfuru

198 posts

Master Geek

#1919661 14-Dec-2017 16:32

I've just gone with the basic Electrolux Front Loader after previously always using a Top-loader.

It's been brilliant, washes so much better and clothes come out far dryer thanks to the faster spin rate!

WyleECoyoteNZ

1049 posts

Uber Geek

#1919662 14-Dec-2017 16:32

wellygary:

How much is space an issue in your house?

Front loaders can generally go under a bench etc, while a Top leader usually needs its own floor space,

Haven't measured the width of existing top loader, but replacement will go where existing machine is.

Pumpedd

1759 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1919667 14-Dec-2017 16:38

Front Loaders are much cheaper to run as they use almost 50% of the water of a top loader.

LG is currently the best according to Consumer NZ.

davidcole

6041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1919676 14-Dec-2017 17:12

We’ve just gone front loader as well. A Miele. After an f&p top loader.

We had some white towels we got for our wedding 15 years ago. We thought they were clean, but a couple of cycles through the front loader (with no added napisan or anything) and they’re even whiter.

Previously known as psycik

Home Assistant: Gigabyte AMD A8 Brix, Home Assistant with Aeotech ZWave Controller, Raspberry PI, Wemos D1 Mini, Zwave, Shelly Humidity and Temperature sensors
Media:Chromecast v2, ATV4 4k, ATV4, HDHomeRun Dual
Server Host Plex Server 3x3TB, 4x4TB using MergerFS, Samsung 850 evo 512 GB SSD, Proxmox Server with 1xW10, 2xUbuntu 22.04 LTS, Backblaze Backups, usenetprime.com fastmail.com Sharesies Trakt.TV Sharesight

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#1919678 14-Dec-2017 17:18

Pumpedd:

Front Loaders are much cheaper to run as they use almost 50% of the water of a top loader.

LG is currently the best according to Consumer NZ.

A Samsung model is actually the best now - according to Consumer NZ.

The rating is 83/100, but there are 4 models rating 82 including an LG, an F&P, another Samsung model, and a Bosch. The highest rated top loader rated 68.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a Samsung appliance.

We actually bought an F&P front loader - based mainly on the fact that it was the only model I could find that had a matching non-condensor dryer available (a condenser dryer would have been a waste of time and money as there was already ducting and vent etc in place), but also the consumer rating seemed pretty good.

Non sale retail price after haggling at Harvey Norman was about 20% below Consumer's suggested "average" price.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

mattwnz

20180 posts

Uber Geek

#1919679 14-Dec-2017 17:18

F&P ones are quite cheap, you can get almost new second hand ones on trademe for about $300, so I doubt it is worth repairing an old on of that age that has had a lot of use. But you may get somethign for it second hand. Also F&P have been traditionally very reliable. It all comes down to your budget.

DjShadow

4093 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1919684 14-Dec-2017 17:29

One way I'd answer it:

Do you have a Water Meter?

Yes: Front Loader

No: Top Loader

Is your council threatening or talking about Water Meters: Front Loader

I have a Samsung 10kg Front Loader, only needs about half a scoop of power (or half a cap of liquid) and does a pretty good job. Average Washtime is 50 mins.

Maintenance wise it needs a Drum Clean cycle run every so often, there is a proper washing machine cleaner (Ceraclean) you can get from most Supermarkets for about $5 do to this with.

Dingbatt

6760 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1919867 14-Dec-2017 21:08

If you have a sprung wooden floor just be aware that front loaders can shake the crap out of your house. Concrete slab, no problem.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

UHD

655 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1919883 14-Dec-2017 21:27

Pumpedd:

Front Loaders are much cheaper to run as they use almost 50% of the water of a top loader.

LG is currently the best according to Consumer NZ.

Cheapness is a non-issue when you don't pay for water. :)

davidcole

6041 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1919926 14-Dec-2017 23:10

UHD:
Pumpedd:

Front Loaders are much cheaper to run as they use almost 50% of the water of a top loader.

LG is currently the best according to Consumer NZ.

Cheapness is a non-issue when you don't pay for water. :)

Then do it for the water restrictions/environment

ajw

1932 posts

Uber Geek

#1921073 18-Dec-2017 09:22

DjShadow:

One way I'd answer it:

Do you have a Water Meter?

Yes: Front Loader

No: Top Loader

Is your council threatening or talking about Water Meters: Front Loader

I have a Samsung 10kg Front Loader, only needs about half a scoop of power (or half a cap of liquid) and does a pretty good job. Average Washtime is 50 mins.

Maintenance wise it needs a Drum Clean cycle run every so often, there is a proper washing machine cleaner (Ceraclean) you can get from most Supermarkets for about $5 do to this with.

Very surprised your Samsung hasn't got a bowl clean cycle. All the newer models have including the top load washers.

Senecio

2718 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1921112 18-Dec-2017 09:48

davidcole:
UHD:

Pumpedd:

Front Loaders are much cheaper to run as they use almost 50% of the water of a top loader.

LG is currently the best according to Consumer NZ.

Cheapness is a non-issue when you don't pay for water. :)

Then do it for the water restrictions/environment

Or just do it for the better quality wash and how much gentler front loaders are on your clothes.

rb99

3425 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1921118 18-Dec-2017 09:56

ajw:

DjShadow:

One way I'd answer it:

Do you have a Water Meter?

Yes: Front Loader

No: Top Loader

Is your council threatening or talking about Water Meters: Front Loader

I have a Samsung 10kg Front Loader, only needs about half a scoop of power (or half a cap of liquid) and does a pretty good job. Average Washtime is 50 mins.

Maintenance wise it needs a Drum Clean cycle run every so often, there is a proper washing machine cleaner (Ceraclean) you can get from most Supermarkets for about $5 do to this with.

Very surprised your Samsung hasn't got a bowl clean cycle. All the newer models have including the top load washers.

Bowl clean cycle ? Is it different from Drum clean cycle ?

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

1 | 2 | 3