Stackable washer and dryer or a one piece unit?

As evidenced in my other thread, I've changed places to be closer to work but had to downgrade to somewhere with no garage and a smaller house. This also means my washer/dryer won't fit in my new place and I need to go with a stackable / frontloader type unit or the all in one / washer /dryer combos.

I originally thought about the combo unit because I've heard so many bad things about front loading washers/dryers as far as reliability and smell. Then I started thinking about how bad it would suck with the combo if one of the components broke, then you would have to buy a whole new combo every time. Also, the smaller size isn't exactly an added bonus. The front loaders have the added benefit that they would likely be suitable for when we move next year.

Any thoughts? What brands should I look at and which ones should I stay away from?

Stackable isn't bad. Dryer goes on top, washer on bottom, and you don't even have to worry about the washer being a front loader (I've never seen a dryer that was not a front loader)

+1 for stackable, modularity is always better.

SWMBO's first apartment by herself, out of grad school came with a smallish stacked washer/dryer combo, and the washer was a top load, it was big enough to wash queen sized sheets & pillow cases in. She did a summer internship at Edinburgh Ag College in Scotland, her "flat" had a small combo unit and it SUCKED! Her and her roommate used the dining room, and some clothes racks to dry their clothes. I went to visit and they had clothes everywhere drying. The combo unit merely gave them warm damp clothes.

• Lee

mtn wrote: Stackable isn't bad. Dryer goes on top, washer on bottom, and you don't even have to worry about the washer being a front loader (I've never seen a dryer that was not a front loader)

How is that possible? How would you have a non front loader washer on the bottom?

In reply to Enyar:

Used to sell appliances as a college job.

The stacables will 99% of the time be much better stuff. The combos are just basic stuff. I also seem to remember the service guys saying that they were hard to get at the guts to repair, but I might not be remembering correctly.

On the other hand, the front loaders that are usually stackable are typically much more expensive. They have computer controls which are not easially diagnosed. I always tried to get people to get extended warrenties on them because its easy to get screwed.

Kindof a pick your poision situation.

bigdaddylee82 wrote: In reply to Enyar:

Ah yes, this is what I was referring to as a combo unit. You're telling me these are two separate pieces?

In reply to Enyar:

Also relevant, this hide-and-seek game somehow made national news when the girl got stuck, in a top-load washer/dryer stack.

This is a "Combo" very similar to what SWMBO had in Scotland, except theirs was built into the kitchen cabinet just like a dish washer.

Most of them are. My dad is an appliance repair guy, he says the front load washer reliability problem isn't caused by the washer. They are often marketed as holding far more since there isn't an agitator, which is true, more fits in there. They also use less water for efficiency reasons. They ALSO spin faster which helps make the dryers work easier. The problem is, more water makes life easier on the washer, and makes for cleaner clothes with less crazy ringing. Less water, plus more crazy ringing, plus crazy fast spin dry, PLUS all of The extra weight the salesman told you would fit in there is a recipe for fried bearings, among other things. A bearing job on one of those is a nightmare, and they charge a premium for the parts. Don't stuff clothes in one, don't even fill it to the top. You can even turn off the high speed spin. How does this make them better than the old ones? Good question, but they sure are hella expensive, aren't they?

Also the all in one units blow big time. Don't bother, a stackable one is just like the side by side ones in different packaging.

For brands, stick with whirlpool owned companies including amana, maytag(for new ones, they only recently we're bought out) and a few others. Avoid GE, they suck, and when they break parts cost double. GE doesn't make their stuff, they buy from the cheapest Bidder and stick their name on it. Same for kenmore, Sears, and other box store brands. In the past they could be rebadged good ones, but lately it's more likely Chinese or Mexican stuff.

Avoid LG, they were caught programming their machines to know when they were being tested, and use less power to get fake numbers. It's a corrupt company. for a while they also wouldn't sell parts to people who wouldn't do warranty work for them, until they realized not paying well for that kind of work means nobody does it, customers get pissed, and buy something else.

Whirlpool products are usually good, and when they aren't at least they are designed for easy service and parts are priced fairly. They aren't as cheap, but long run you'll be better off.

Rufledt wrote: Avoid GE, they suck, and when they break parts cost double. GE doesn't make their stuff, they buy from the cheapest Bidder and stick their name on it. Same for kenmore, Sears, and other box store brands. In the past they could be rebadged good ones, but lately it's more likely Chinese or Mexican stuff.

Hey now, I work for a company just like GE, and ..

and..

yeah. What you just said is totally true.

Enyar wrote:

bigdaddylee82 wrote: In reply to Enyar:

Ah yes, this is what I was referring to as a combo unit. You're telling me these are two separate pieces?

The one in the picture is a combo, but they do make them as separates. At least I am assuming so, because my apartment had a Kenmore dryer and a GE washer that were stacked.

Rufledt wrote: Most of them are. My dad is an appliance repair guy, he says the front load washer reliability problem isn't caused by the washer. They are often marketed as holding far more since there isn't an agitator, which is true, more fits in there. They also use less water for efficiency reasons. They ALSO spin faster which helps make the dryers work easier. The problem is, more water makes life easier on the washer, and makes for cleaner clothes with less crazy ringing. Less water, plus more crazy ringing, plus crazy fast spin dry, PLUS all of The extra weight the salesman told you would fit in there is a recipe for fried bearings, among other things. A bearing job on one of those is a nightmare, and they charge a premium for the parts. Don't stuff clothes in one, don't even fill it to the top. You can even turn off the high speed spin. How does this make them better than the old ones? Good question, but they sure are hella expensive, aren't they? Also the all in one units blow big time. Don't bother, a stackable one is just like the side by side ones in different packaging. For brands, stick with whirlpool owned companies including amana, maytag(for new ones, they only recently we're bought out) and a few others. Avoid GE, they suck, and when they break parts cost double. GE doesn't make their stuff, they buy from the cheapest Bidder and stick their name on it. Same for kenmore, Sears, and other box store brands. In the past they could be rebadged good ones, but lately it's more likely Chinese or Mexican stuff. Avoid LG, they were caught programming their machines to know when they were being tested, and use less power to get fake numbers. It's a corrupt company. for a while they also wouldn't sell parts to people who wouldn't do warranty work for them, until they realized not paying well for that kind of work means nobody does it, customers get pissed, and buy something else. Whirlpool products are usually good, and when they aren't at least they are designed for easy service and parts are priced fairly. They aren't as cheap, but long run you'll be better off.

Great post, thank you very much along with everyone else that posted. I believe what you're trying to say is front loader is OK if treated correctly, AIO sucks and to go with a stackable like the one where the chick got stuck in posted above?

I love my front load washer. I realize not everyone does, but really most problems are caused by people not reading and following the directions. (Ie, you can not leave you clothes in one over night, they will smell in the morning due to them being sealed in a damp environment. You have to leave the door open after doing wash loads or the inside will mildew and smell since it's, again, a sealed damp environment.) But using them right they're fast, work better, and use less utilities to do more laundry. Mine's about 7 years old and I would never go back. Bosch, made in the USA, awesome units. Bosch aren't stackable though so you'll need a different brand.

I wonder why they don't have as many true combo units here in the states? There was one in a place I stayed in Rome, and it was awesome, and tiny. You put in dirty clothes and took out clean, dry clothes. As many times as I wash a load, only to forget about it and have them get all mildewed, and have to wash them again that system would be a nice one to have.

Rufledt wrote: Avoid GE, they suck, and when they break parts cost double. GE doesn't make their stuff, they buy from the cheapest Bidder and stick their name on it. Same for kenmore, Sears, and other box store brands. In the past they could be rebadged good ones, but lately it's more likely Chinese or Mexican stuff.

Whoops; just bought a GE pair a few months back! Then again, u was looking at the cheapest that fit my needs (low energy use, knobs rather than buttons, no displays or anything that looks like it will break at first use, etc.)

Damn. I was hoping to come in here and read that all in one units are awesome.

I like the idea of not having to switch my clothes from washer to dryer (I forget). I also value the extra space.

And then there are the old Bendix washers. Any body had any experience with them ?

I mean we are going wayyyy back.

Love my front loader. Love having the dryer stacked on top of it. It freed up so much space when I went with this setup.

Rufledt wrote: My dad is an appliance repair guy, he's got this ultimate set of tools......he can fix it.

fixed it for you

This is GRM...build a platform out of scrap wood to support the dryer over the washing machine.

stuart in mn wrote: This is GRM...build a platform out of scrap wood to support the dryer over the washing machine.

That is not a bad idea. Maybe not with scrap wood, but a few 4x4's, some 2x4's, and a plywood platform... How hard could it be?

I lived for several years with a couple of different All-in-one washer/dryer combos.

I love the concept. Put in dirty clothes, take out clean, dry clothes (albeit, several hours later). They can be very compact (you can put them where a dishwasher fits and finish/trim them the same). They can be portable (roll around, temporarily attach to the sink faucet) and ventless. A real biggie is that there are 110V units. All this means they can fit in spots that were not originally designed to house a washing machine and/or Dryer.

Downsides are that they are very expensive and can be hard to find folks to work on them. They also (like any front loader, as I understand it) like a very solid floor to sit on. They spin fast and if the floor has give, the whole house knows when it's spinning. The 110v dryer takes a long time. 4 hours for a total cycle (wash and dry) were pretty typical. It's not bad...just an adjustment you have to make. Put a load in before you leave for work in the morning...it's done when you get home (for instance).

If you get one of those (and lots of valid reasons posted above not to), get a service agreement/warranty with it.

We got a lemon to start with. It sucked. Then, we got a better one (I think it was an LG with larger capacity than our original tiny one) and it lasted several years. I noticed when picking up the kids the other day that he ex-wife had replaced it with side-by-side units. That says alot in a 600 square foot house (there's really not room for two units, but she did it anyway).

I'm renovating (painfully slowly) a similar 600 square foot house. I plan to install an all-in-one unit when it's done and ready to rent. By then, the technology and acceptance of these units in the US will have furthered by a decade...

Datsun310Guy wrote:

Rufledt wrote: My dad is an appliance repair guy, he's got this ultimate set of tools......he can fix it.

fixed it for you

You got that right. He has tools for everything (except woodworking I guess) and since he does A/C work, too, he even had a bunch of R12 for my old van! The supply is diminishing, though...