It's 2025 and I guess I accept that all washer and dryers are junk compared to what they used to be.

With that said, I'm looking for advice on what is the least junky.

My tiny early 1960's house was originally setup for an top load washer and an electric dryer. In the corner between the two is the gas water heater so space in there is a bit cramped.

Here is a crude pic I drew that may or may not make sense:



Sorry my drawing makes the room look bigger than it is. It is actually really small.

In 2018 when we were remodeling we decided to try and free up some space and put in a gas line hook up near the water line so that we could run a gas dryer stacked over a front-load washer. We vented the dryer through a garage/foundation vent (this has caused some issues with lint coming back into the house through the vent).

We bought a Maytag 3500 series and stacked them.

This seemed to work ok. The gas dryer tends to run a bit hotter than I would like and the washer gasket seems to always have mildew issues both of which we lived with, but in the past few months the washer has only wanted to work intermittently where it completely turns itself off or fights to get going. It appears to be a control board issue and will likely cost as much as just buying another one to fix it and would be a big pain in the rear that I can't do myself easily because they're stacked. We've been just dealing with it, but my wife is going to kill me if I don't get it fixed or replace it.

I'm now looking at going back to the original setup with a top load agitator washing machine and an electric dryer. I would like to keep it as simple and easily serviceable as possible.

Should we look at another Maytag or Amana? I really don't want to spend Speed Queen money and I don't want another front loader.

Just looking for honest thoughts and advice.

All I can say is stay away from Samsung. They make great TVs and phones. But their appliances suck.

Both Maytag and Amana are brands that are manufactured by Whirlpool.

Our Maytags are still going strong, I have had to replace two heating elements, mainly because the last one was from Chungpoo China.. and not OEM...

For space the over/under setup seems good, everything I see on research is Miele or Speed Queen at the top. Avoid Samsung, their CS is crap.

Do you have a Costco or Sams membership, you can get good prices on units, they have sales all the time, they deliver and pickup and install, and you can get concierge service which makes a huge difference whem making warranty calls.

No manufacture messes with Costco when they call.

Yes, we have Costco. I'm leaning Maytag. I honestly just want a simple old school washer and dryer.

I think you made the right decision getting rid of the top/bottom units and back to original set-up.

I have a Maytag that's been good and have always heard good things about them. Maybe Brad can chime in with his thoughts.

Just went through this.

Your average washer is made to last 5-8 years. The washing machine your grandmother had that lasted 20-30 years is now only found in the Speed Queen line.

We had front loader washer and dryer in our house when we purchased the place. Whirlpool Duet, both on the riser cabinets with storage drawers underneath. They were only two years old at that time.
Top of the line then, the original house owners spared no expense.

Within a year of us using them, the washer started throwing error codes. To this day, the gas dryer continues operating as it should.
The diagnostics for that particular fault code said start with replacing circuit board #1.
If the problem wasn't fixed, then replace circuit board #2.
Both circuit boards, in total, over $500, and that was ~ six years ago.
And of course, being electrical components, if replacing circuit board #1 didn't repair the problem/error code, you still had to pay for the part.

We decided to go with the old school Speed Queen commercial/analog model, like in a commercial laundromat, minus the coin collection device.
Circuit boards? It has zero circuit boards!
When we bought it, the factory guarantee was five years, and the local appliance dealer added two years on top of the factory. So seven years in total.

We have done nothing with the Speed Queen other than feed it endless loads of laundry, and truck loads of detergent and softener.
I did actually see where you said you didn't want to go with Speed Queen, but look at the situation you are in now.
Grit your teeth, figure out how to purchase the Speed Queen commercial/analog, and buy a washing machine that will actually go the distance.
There is really only one choice.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Just went through this.

Your average washer is made to last 5-8 years. The washing machine your grandmother had that lasted 20-30 years is now only found in the Speed Queen line.

I concur.

Whirlpool Cabrio Platinum [W&D] here. Going on about 10-12 yrs.
Washer has a very small leak when running & dryer isn't as efficient as it used to be.

Would likely replace with the same

The Speed Queen Classics - TC5 washer and DC5 dryer - are right about the only option these days for a old school style mechanical/analog W/D that's designed to last and to be easily repairable.

Just keep in mind that (like the old school W/Ds) their load capacity is smaller than most of the fancy newer style W/Ds, so may not work for you if you have a large family and need the XXL load capacity. The washer also uses an actual physical agitator, so they get clothes cleaner but are a bit rougher on clothing compared to fancy newer touchless washers (again like all the old school W/Ds were).

I know you say you don't want to spend Speed Queen money, but you can either spend that money up front and have a W/D that will last decades, or spend that money or more over time by replacing your W/D every ~5-8 years. Pick your poison.

We went to Lowes and purchased a front load LG and matching dryer. Had them over 6 years - daily use and zero problems. Lowes gave all sorts of discounts and offer the 12 months no interest program.

I have had to visit the local Laundromat on occasion. They all have Speed Queens. The clientele is pretty rough with them but they seem to hold up.

Speed queen is the laundry queen

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Just went through this.

Your average washer is made to last 5-8 years. The washing machine your grandmother had that lasted 20-30 years is now only found in the Speed Queen line.

You ain’t kidding. When my wife and I first moved in together we bought a 20 year old Maytag washer and dryer from an old lady for $20. It served us for almost another 20 years more and would have kept going if my wife hadn’t wanted to upgrade.

We got the Speed Queen professional series of both the washer and dryer and they are amazing. A company you can call and a human being picks up the phone who knows more about the product than sales people in a store. I had never heard of Speed Queen until this forum and would recommend that if you can do it in any way possible.

If you do buy a Speed Queen, number one have it delivered by the company you bought it from so it is their responsibility. A Speed Queen washer has more shipping bolts that must be removed than your average washer. I found that out when the idiot delivery people only removed half the bolts and my brand new expensive washing machine began bouncing all over the place and left a pile of shaved metal on the ground. The fancy company I bought it from even sent out “experts” to examine it and couldn’t figure it out and said it had to be repaired. One call to Speed Queen and the operator who answered the phone asked if the removed the lower shipping bolts and walked me through how to find them and they failed to remove them. I made the company replace the washer with a new one.

Your situation may vary; 18 months later I still LOVE my LG "All-in-one". Half the footprint, only needs 120v, no vent, QUIET, LOTs of different settings and options. Also it is extremely energy efficient.

Set it an forget it. I do 2-3 loads a week, almost always I load and set it at night, it runs and next morning I have clean/dry clothes. (I was bad at leaving clothes in the washer).

Caveat: It was ~$1,700. A full load: wash, extra rinse, and dry takes 4-5 hours. If you are a "laundry day" or big family, might not be for you.

we just replaced our expensive 3 year old samsungs with speed queen basic model no more buying that. after 2 years our dryer would take forever to dry anything, put new boards in watched tons of youtube videos had techs out still didn't work dumped them and went simple... wife is happy.

We moved in to this place nearly 2yrs ago and we started off using the top-load Maytag from the previous owners. While they worked, they were definitely behind the modernity power-curve and mildew growth was an apparent problem inside the drum.

Did some research and settled on LG front-load units, 5cu ft capacity, purchased through Costco. While the two units were not 'matching' or, apart of a pre-assorted/marketed package, the fact that they were the same color-finish nobody would know...besides it was only us viewing & using the machines. The local discount appliance warehouse was cheaper, however Costco offered an additional year on the warranty, would do the install and take-away the old units something the other-guys could do but with additional charges. I think at the bottom-line, we ended saving $150 going through Costco despite having to wait about 2-3 wks for it to show up.

To date, so far so good. The delivery/install was seamless, the contracted guys banged it out within 30-minutes; they showed up at 8am and was done in time for our morning walk.

We have a local place that sells new appliances out the front, and refurbished old one out the back. I buy used old ones from him. They last just as long as the new ones, and only cost me $100-$150 to replace when they die instead of $1000. On average I've gotten 7 or 8 years out of them.

If I bought new, I'd get commercial grade laundromat type stuff. The consumer grade appliances are junk.

good timing.

the igniter in my dryer went out again. I replaced it a year ago. It's like $30. That was the second time I replaced it. I guess I'm replacing it again and hoping I get another year. My washer is two years old and I already had to replace whatever pump that drains water.

My kids just told me that their mom's 6 month old washer is having belt problems. Not sure what brand. I told them to wash at my house and dry at her's and take some of my laundry over there and dry it for me while I order this igniter.