!["The]("/local/Z/ZWIRE1091/zwire/images/052202washers.jpg")
CNS
|
The latest spin,
manufacturers say, is the front-loading technology in washers.
|
|
HEARD
about the Neptune, the Calypso, the Duet?
Then you probably haven’t shopped for a washer and dryer lately. We’re talking upscale. We’re
talking sleek lines, quiet performance, artificially intelligent moisture sensors and catalytic cleaning action.
We’re talking washing machines with brand-name recognition and coat-of-arms insignias on the front.
As the Lexus is to cars, Maytag’s Neptune is to washers and dryers. Whirlpool’s Duet is not
a washer and dryer, it’s a "fabric care system."
Times have changed.
Laundry appliances have come out of the drab back room in the basement and into a laundry
closet in the kitchen or master bathroom. Along with new locations, washers and dryers have gotten new style,
new color and new technology.
The latest spin, manufacturers say, is the front-loading technology in washers.
Anyone who’s ever been to a Laundromat or cleaned sheets in hotels or hospitals might disagree.
The small point that front-loading washers are now available for the home can be debated also. They’ve been
around in Europe for years, says Mike Staats of Staats’ Service Today, a repair business, and American manufacturers
have tried to market them in the 1960s, and again 10 or 15 years ago.
"The old front-loaders were, frankly, garbage. People liked them when they worked," he says.
"Now, with concerns about energy efficiency, they’re trying them again. Technology-wise, they’re quite a leap.
I think this time they’re probably going to stick."
And, as Mr. Staats points out, a high-end product is a chance for manufacturers to charge
high-end prices. Expect to spend $800 to $1,000 on a front-loading washer.
All manufacturers have what they call their top-of-the-line top-loading washer-dryer sets,
such as Whirlpool’s Calypso, which come with larger tubs, better insulation, improved energy efficiency, and
more options.
!["The]("/local/Z/ZWIRE1091/zwire/images/052202washer-front.jpg")
thisoldhouse.com
|
|
The Maytag Neptune (at left) features a tub tilted at a 15-degree angle for improved visibility and reach. Its 2.9-cu.-ft. capacity is the largest of all front-loading washers. |
|
But front-loading machines, also known as horizontal axis machines, promise all that and
more. Unlike top-loaders, they don’t have an agitator in the middle, which reduces wear and tear on clothes
during washing and allows them to easily hold more clothes and/or larger items, such as comforters and sleeping
bags. They also extract more water during the spinning process, which ultimately saves on drying costs.
Energy-efficiency is the big selling point, says appliance manager John Grady, and, considering
the price, front-loaders have been selling well at Hampton’s.
"Everybody can’t afford a $1,000 washing machine but people are very conscious of saving
energy," Mr. Grady says.
At about 20 gallons per wash, front-loaders use about half the water top-loaders use, which
also means less energy needed to heat the water. But its high price isn’t the only downside to front-loading
machines. Though lesser amounts of regular soap powder can be used, manufacturers recommend specially formulated
low-sudsing detergents, which aren’t as readily available.
Because of the design, the machines can require more stooping and bending, though manufacturers
say that problem has been minimized in newer designs.
If they cost more, will they last longer?
"That’s
tough to answer," Mr. Grady says. "They haven’t been on the market long enough. But prices will come down as
time goes by."
Coordinating a washer to go with the dryer can involve research time. You can spend a few
hundred bucks each for a good washer and dryer. Or you can go uptown and buy a washer and dryer that do everything
but fold the clothes.
There have probably been more new advances in washer technology than with dryers, says Mike
Staats of Staats Service Today. The biggest move with dryers are manufacturers’ attempts to coordinate the
time it takes to wash a load of clothes to the time it takes to dry them.
Shorter drying times mean less trips to the basement to change loads because both appliances
are stopping at the same time.
Dryers usually last longer than washers, they’re also cheaper. Most people select a dryer
based on how well it coordinates, particularly capacity-wise, with the washer. So, for now, we’ll focus our
attention on what you need to consider when buying a washer.
Capacity and Durability
If you wash frequent, small loads, you can probably get by with a small tub capacity. If
you wash all at once, including king-size sheets and oversize towels, you want a large-capacity model.
Because washers last 10-15 years, consider your family’s current and future size.
Manufacturers describe tub size differently, so ignore pounds or pieces and focus on tub
volume. The smallest is slightly less than 2 cubic feet, the largest is almost 3 cubic feet.
Stainless steel and plastic tubs won’t rust, but check to see if the surface is smooth enough
to prevent harm to delicates. Make sure fill hoses and fittings are rust resistant and strong enough to withstand
high water pressure.
!["Illustration]("/local/Z/ZWIRE1091/zwire/images/052202washers-illus.jpg")
thisoldhouse.com
|
|
Illustration of the interiors of a Top-Loader (left) and Front-Loader (right). |
|
Speeds and Cycles
Motor speed determines how quickly the agitator moves and how gently or vigorously the machine
washes. Cycles refer to the amount of time the clothes spend agitating.
Two-speed washers generally provide permanent press and a delicate cycle; three-speed machines
feature a hand-wash simulation for delicate items. Some high-end models offer four speeds.
How many speeds and cycles you need depends on what you wash. The wider variety from
delicate silks to muddy jeans the more options you’ll want.
Water Levels and Temps
Different water levels also add flexibility by letting you tailor water use to load size.
Entry-level washers typically have just one water level, one speed, one cycle, and two temperature settings.
Top-of-the-line models can feature 14 cycles, four speeds, four temperatures and an infinitely variable water
levels.
Choose features based on the washing you do. If loads vary by type and size, you’ll want
flexibility.
Control Issues
Who does the laundry? Do children or elderly family members need easy-to-understand, color-coded
features and cycle indicator lights. Large lid openings can make loading and unloading easier.
Dials are the most common control features on washers. Make sure you can read and understand
the graphics. Some options do some of the controlling for you, such as dispensers for detergent, softener and
bleach that add premeasured amounts.
Energy Use
Often, a higher price tag is offset by lower energy costs over the life of the washer. Figure
out roughly how much you’ll save by checking the yellow energy-efficiency labels on display models. They show
the estimated kilowatt-hour per year and compare the electricity that model uses to similar models.
Here again, flexibility in cycle, water level and temperature options, can help save energy.
Sources: Copley News Service, Todayshomeowner.com
and Whirlpool Inc.’s washer
shopping guide.
|
!["]("/local/Z/ZWIRE1091/zwire/images/newrightBlack.gif")