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Thread ID: 103296 2009-09-17 23:24:00 Washing machine whellington (15030) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
811439 2009-09-18 00:50:00 Front loaders are crap they often go out of balance on the spin cycle and take a walk across the room. It's easy to see why that would be so. zqwerty (97)
811440 2009-09-18 00:55:00 Front loaders are crap they often go out of balance on the spin cycle and take a walk across the room. It's easy to see why that would be so.

Indeed, we had a 1949 Bendix front loader, one of the first in England, the standard installation included grouting the feet into the quarry tile floor :lol:

Admittedly it was an early design.
Terry Porritt (14)
811441 2009-09-18 00:57:00 Poms like them as they often have them in the kitchen and have the extra bench space.

They have been proven to give a better wash by the Consumer,but we still have the top loader.
Cicero (40)
811442 2009-09-18 01:02:00 Indeed, we had a 1949 Bendix front loader, one of the first in England, the standard installation included grouting the feet into the quarry tile floor :lol:

Admittedly it was an early design.

I remember those Terry. The securing was to stop them waltzing around the laundry at great speed.

Ken
kenj (9738)
811443 2009-09-18 01:07:00 I got a new washing machine recently and reviewed top vs front loader machines.

Front loader
Pros
* Water efficient
* More gentle on clothes
* Better at cleaning
* You can stack your dryer on top (good for those with limited space)

Cons
*Cannot do small loads
*May not rinse well so if you have sensitive skin there may be residue wash powder in your clothes
*Generally take much longer to complete a cycle
*Generally more expensive

Top loader
Pros
*Can do small loads or interrupt the cycle to add more stuff
*Faster to complete cycle
*Rinses clothes well
*Better priced

Cons
*Can be rough on the clothing
*Not as water efficient


Most machines have a cut off if the load gets unbalanced. Many will automatically re-adjust the balance of the load by adding water and doing a quick agitate.

I got a top loader in the end, but went with a more energy/water efficient model.
Jen (38)
811444 2009-09-18 01:11:00 I remember those Terry. The securing was to stop them waltzing around the laundry at great speed.

Ken

Right, they were not so good at balancing in those days maybe, and it did run at a high speed. It had an electro-mechanical clutch that activated for high speed spin, and I forget how many times I had to replace that.

However that machine lasted about 15 years or so.

The Gentle Annie just replaced a couple of months ago by an F&P Elba top loader lasted for about 20 years, with just a few things replaced like solenoid valves and the pump motor.

The Elba is very very quiet.
Terry Porritt (14)
811445 2009-09-18 01:19:00 Top loader. Fisher & Pykel. Always top rating by Consumer.
:)
Trev (427)
811446 2009-09-18 01:45:00 Right, they were not so good at balancing in those days maybe, and it did run at a high speed. It had an electro-mechanical clutch that activated for high speed spin, and I forget how many times I had to replace that.



I had a NZ front loader that also was a spin dryer, assume it was the Champion.
I remember a variable diameter pulley that wore out and wouldn't grip the belt. There was a large block of concrete in the bottom of the machine steadying it.

Newer machines may use less water so the door doesn't need to be locked for the whole cycle. After all you can open a dishwasher.
PaulD (232)
811447 2009-09-18 01:51:00 Should that not be whashing machine? So confusing these days.

For the record I have a top loader BTW.
Sweep (90)
811448 2009-09-18 02:18:00 RE: . . . . and everyone in the UK uses them .

No necessarily a strong recommendation .
Scouse (83)
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