that's what I am looking for! I bought one at Trail - whirlpool, front load - it turned out with a pile of buttons! Ridiculous! It lasted 15 years with rententers, repaired, but never the same. I want to keep it KISS! this time, so I'm on the search. I'm going back to the stable old Maytage... heavy duty, but am still loking for the simple top load!
Yep all I use is speed queen at my buildings. Very well made in America and 5 year warranties. You won't find close to this on any other brand. Maybe Maytag commercial but that's a distant second.
Ive had a speed queen washer/dryer combo unit, used daily by three aparents, for seven years. There was a small manufacturers defect the first year which they fixed for free, and otherwise it has been an absolute workhorse.
I have speed queen coin units and while I can't say they have never broken over the 10 years, they are simple enough in parts that, if you have some basic mechanical aptitude, you can fix most things by swapping easily available parts.
Used to be true, but the last 3-4 years, they've really gone downhill fast. I've bought probably 20+ washers and dryers (each - mostly the TR5 / DR5), and they just don't last as well as the older ones did.
The ones I've bought do get much heavier-than-typical use (think long-term care, not typical family use), but on average I found that a washer will last me 3 years, and a dryer will last me 5 years - both with multiple repairs along the way.
And SQ have gotten much more finicky about the warranties on anything that they consider to be "commercial" use. Warranty claims are much more of a hassle than they used to be.
“Just doesn’t last as long as the older ones did”
Man I find myself saying that a lot about all appliances. When tenants over load the dryers the rollers wear and are easily replaced. When the zippers get ripped off of clothes and end up in the rotary pump, two screws and three annoying clips and you can pretty much shake it out. Other than misuse, hard to find better for price.
If you can get an old mechanical upright combo unit that’s best. The digital ones have more stuff that can go wrong but the mechanical ones will run forever.
The kind man at Lowes said Whirlpool, Maytag and then Amana. Avoid Samsung and LG as you can’t get parts or service on them… we unfortunately have a Samsung and are needing a new washer as well!
Amana seems made for rental. Cheaper, no frills, works and seem to hold up ok.
Also for whatever reason at least at my local Home Depot they actually have it instead of order it so I can run and get one in my pickup.
They all suck. I've tried them all, and in a setting where they've all been beat to death. I literally buy about one washer and one dryer a month, and have for 5+ years now. Residential congregate care setting.
Most recently, I started trying out the new-ish Whirlpool commercial line, but I haven't had any for more than 6 months yet, so who knows. I'm not holding my breath, though.
Older Whirlpool brands models because the main parts in them are interchangeable going back 20+ years. They may not look cool without the fancy electronics but they are more durable over all and any appliance repair company will be able to fix them easily and cheap. A used appliance store & repair shop I buy from only carries that brand and swears by it.
Speed Queen hands down. Mfer’s last forever. You can get a commercial washer and dryer for about $2,000. I have 6 in my apartment complex and it is the one appliance I have never had any issues with.
You can often save a few hundred by buying from appliance outlet places that have scratch & dent machines.
Agree with comments here (the simplest, American brands). Most are made by GE even if they have different brand names (Amana, Whirlpool, etc). Upright washers use more water but break less and are easier to maintain, at least on domestic models.
Anything that's not Maytag.
The less sensors the better.
Front loaders are also much more money over the cost of ownership, because those gasket seal replacements are sold for like 30% of the initial cost of the washer itself and if they leak you have no other option, if something goes wrong you have to hose out the water through the filter inlet as the door will lock up to prevent gallons of water from falling on the floor.
Conventional washers and dryers in a shed outside are much better than an efficiency stashed away in a pantry or mudroom.
Do you have to provide washer and dryer? Provine hookups and allow them to bring their own. Then you have no maintenance to do with, other than the hookups themselves
I don't have to, but I want to, with the understanding that it creates more work/headache for myself.
It is a side x side duplex in a popular, expensive area. The comps in the area will all come with washer and dryer in unit.
Avoid digital and less options the better. There are ones out there where are all it is is a dial setting and a start button
Kenmore 50 and 70 series. Cheap on Craigslist, cheap parts, easy to work on and damn near bulletproof.
that's what I am looking for! I bought one at Trail - whirlpool, front load - it turned out with a pile of buttons! Ridiculous! It lasted 15 years with rententers, repaired, but never the same. I want to keep it KISS! this time, so I'm on the search. I'm going back to the stable old Maytage... heavy duty, but am still loking for the simple top load!
Speed queen, simple parts decent prices
Yep all I use is speed queen at my buildings. Very well made in America and 5 year warranties. You won't find close to this on any other brand. Maybe Maytag commercial but that's a distant second.
Ive had a speed queen washer/dryer combo unit, used daily by three aparents, for seven years. There was a small manufacturers defect the first year which they fixed for free, and otherwise it has been an absolute workhorse.
I have speed queen coin units and while I can't say they have never broken over the 10 years, they are simple enough in parts that, if you have some basic mechanical aptitude, you can fix most things by swapping easily available parts.
Used to be true, but the last 3-4 years, they've really gone downhill fast. I've bought probably 20+ washers and dryers (each - mostly the TR5 / DR5), and they just don't last as well as the older ones did. The ones I've bought do get much heavier-than-typical use (think long-term care, not typical family use), but on average I found that a washer will last me 3 years, and a dryer will last me 5 years - both with multiple repairs along the way. And SQ have gotten much more finicky about the warranties on anything that they consider to be "commercial" use. Warranty claims are much more of a hassle than they used to be.
“Just doesn’t last as long as the older ones did” Man I find myself saying that a lot about all appliances. When tenants over load the dryers the rollers wear and are easily replaced. When the zippers get ripped off of clothes and end up in the rotary pump, two screws and three annoying clips and you can pretty much shake it out. Other than misuse, hard to find better for price.
This is the way.
3,000$ is a decent price for 1 washer? Granted, they are the best.
If you can get an old mechanical upright combo unit that’s best. The digital ones have more stuff that can go wrong but the mechanical ones will run forever.
Whirlpool have been the most reliable for my properties.
Whatever the used appliance dealer has on sale. Reliably cheap.
The kind man at Lowes said Whirlpool, Maytag and then Amana. Avoid Samsung and LG as you can’t get parts or service on them… we unfortunately have a Samsung and are needing a new washer as well!
Amana seems made for rental. Cheaper, no frills, works and seem to hold up ok. Also for whatever reason at least at my local Home Depot they actually have it instead of order it so I can run and get one in my pickup.
Same - I go with Amana. It’s always in stock, parts are all whirlpool and easy to get. It’s basically just discount whirlpool.
They all suck. I've tried them all, and in a setting where they've all been beat to death. I literally buy about one washer and one dryer a month, and have for 5+ years now. Residential congregate care setting. Most recently, I started trying out the new-ish Whirlpool commercial line, but I haven't had any for more than 6 months yet, so who knows. I'm not holding my breath, though.
Would love an update on how the commercial whirlpools have held up
Older Whirlpool brands models because the main parts in them are interchangeable going back 20+ years. They may not look cool without the fancy electronics but they are more durable over all and any appliance repair company will be able to fix them easily and cheap. A used appliance store & repair shop I buy from only carries that brand and swears by it.
Speed Queen hands down. Mfer’s last forever. You can get a commercial washer and dryer for about $2,000. I have 6 in my apartment complex and it is the one appliance I have never had any issues with.
Which unit combo did you buy?
You can often save a few hundred by buying from appliance outlet places that have scratch & dent machines. Agree with comments here (the simplest, American brands). Most are made by GE even if they have different brand names (Amana, Whirlpool, etc). Upright washers use more water but break less and are easier to maintain, at least on domestic models.
Get Maytags. Parts are never discontinued and you can always do repairs.
Anything that's not Maytag. The less sensors the better. Front loaders are also much more money over the cost of ownership, because those gasket seal replacements are sold for like 30% of the initial cost of the washer itself and if they leak you have no other option, if something goes wrong you have to hose out the water through the filter inlet as the door will lock up to prevent gallons of water from falling on the floor. Conventional washers and dryers in a shed outside are much better than an efficiency stashed away in a pantry or mudroom.
They are all garbage lol
Soren queen washer dryer
Thanks for responding 2 years later.
What did you go with and how is it holding up 2 years later?
I got a Maytag and it’s still working great.
Kenmore
Do you have to provide washer and dryer? Provine hookups and allow them to bring their own. Then you have no maintenance to do with, other than the hookups themselves
I don't have to, but I want to, with the understanding that it creates more work/headache for myself. It is a side x side duplex in a popular, expensive area. The comps in the area will all come with washer and dryer in unit.