Found a couple very interesting threads over at the GardenWeb laundry forum.
This thread details, with photos, a Kenmore Oasis owner who owns a machine developing a nasty rust problem. And Sears, in typical Sears fashion, is trying to stick her with the repair bill, noting the issue as "cosmetic". This thread prompted a few other owners to closely examine their machines and determine that their machines were also developing rust in certain areas.
This thread is just as great. The owner's Oasis developed a rust problem under the lid which Sears wanted $365 to replace. (A third of the cost of the machine itself.) Sears eventually acquiesced and agreed to replace the lid.
Quote from the post:
"well i got someone to pry open the top and took alot of pictures..unbeleivable...its a piece of junk..the whole top is rusted..the service man is supposed to deliver the new lid..but my lawyer said to refuse the top and insist on a new machine"
So now, after the F51 error code debacle, these machines appear to be prone to rusting. Don't think for a second this issue will not affect the Whirlpool Cabrio and Maytag Bravo units. They're the same machines built with the same process.
Do not buy these machines.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Oasis/Cabrio Rust Issues?
LG Calls Whirlpool Onto the Carpet
From freep.com:
"Whirlpool Corp., the world's largest appliance maker, was accused of false advertising for claiming its Duet Steam clothes dryers use steam to clean and dry apparel, in a lawsuit by a unit of Korea's LG Electronics Inc.
"The case revolves around the precise definition of steam. Whirlpool dryers use a cold water mist, not steam, injected into the machine for 60 seconds, then heated by the dryer's rotating drum, lawyers for LG Electronics USA claim in a complaint filed in Chicago federal court Thursday. LG says its dryers inject water heated to 212 degrees, the boiling point, while water in Whirlpool dryers never gets that hot."
In my previous post, I questioned whether or not the Duet dryer actually uses steam in the operation of the dryer. Clearly, it does not. And this justifies my criticism of Whirlpool from an earlier post.
So I guess the alternative of throwing in a damp sock, or spraying wrinkly clothes with an empty Windex bottle, isn't really all that different from what the Whirlpool Duet SteamDryer does, eh?
Sunday, January 13, 2008
I Just Love Reader Comments
And I'm not just being facetious; I really do! But I especially love the comments that are written by someone seeming to be on the edge of the cliff. We all know someone on the verge of spiraling out of control. Found one today!
The comment I am referring to is on one of the older posts in my blog regarding the Whirlpool Duet Steam Dryer. You can read the post here.
And now for the comment:
"I just want to know who the ignorant person who made this blog was? First of all this IS the first EFFICIENT dryer to come out with the steaming option. You mention two other products which use steam, but most definitely in a different way. All three products function differently. One is a massive space eating monster in which you can dry as well as refresh your clothes. It's economically and efficiently ignorant in itself. The other is a WASHER, that utilizes steam to help "penetrate the fabric." We're talking about a dryer that can steam the wrinkles and odors out of your clothes if you don't have time to wash something and need to wear it out now. This must have been written by a man, obviously with your "wet sock" idea, Sure that would work if you had 10 minutes to wait while the wet spots that you made yourself on your shirt dry. But this dryer DOES actually work. Try taking a physics class. vapor is a state of matter and mist is just another word for that. Just because you don't agree with their marketing strategies, doesn't mean it's not an effective product. I would buy it because it satisfies the needs of the customer. You don't like it, DON'T BUY IT. It's that simple you whiner!"
Now this oughta be fun.
"I just want to know who the ignorant person who made this blog was?"
My name is Brad. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog!
"First of all this IS the first EFFICIENT dryer to come out with the steaming option."
Okay, niceties are out of the way, so I am going to call "bullshit" on this one. There is no standard for measuring efficiency in a dryer. All dryers are energy pigs anyway, and there is nothing that makes this dryer more efficient than any other on the market.
"You mention two other products which use steam, but most definitely in a different way. All three products function differently. One is a massive space eating monster in which you can dry as well as refresh your clothes. It's economically and efficiently ignorant in itself."
I don't even know what the hell she means by that.
"The other is a WASHER, that utilizes steam to help "penetrate the fabric."
Well yeah, but isn't that what the Whirlpool dryer does? Someone help me out here...
"We're talking about a dryer that can steam the wrinkles and odors out of your clothes if you don't have time to wash something and need to wear it out now."
Uhm... yeah, kinda like the LG Steam washer. What the hell is your point?
"This must have been written by a man..."
And there it begins...
"...obviously with your "wet sock" idea, Sure that would work if you had 10 minutes to wait while the wet spots that you made yourself on your shirt dry."
Yeah, that's about what it takes. Throw the sock in, start it up, ready to rock in about 10 minutes. Of course, that's still better than the Duet Steam Dryer. According to the use and care guide, the two "steam" cycles take 15 and 20 minutes. So there.
On a side note, I say "steam" (in quotations, I mean), because the use and care guide says the dryer sprays water into the drum. So... does it use steam or not? Anyone know?
And I know some people who actually keep a spray bottle of water handy for just this purpose. Maybe a buck at Dollar General?
"But this dryer DOES actually work. Try taking a physics blah blah blah..."
I am wondering if perhaps this wasn't written by the engineer at Whirlpool that came up with this idea. I mean, how can a person be so emotionally invested in a freakin dryer? Or perhaps she just dropped a grand on this thing and is feeling very defensive about that decision.
Reader Mail: Samsung VRT?
From Brian:
Hello Brad,
I found your blog re: washing machines and would be grateful to learn your opinion on the best front-loader for second floors. I live in a condo in Chicago and will be installing stackable frontloaders in a room between my master bath and master bedroom. That’s the only place where I can install a washer and dryer. I will be installing a concrete pad and emergency drainage system so that:
Vibration is reduced
Water spillage won’t be an issue for me or my neighbor below me.
The most important aspects to me are:
As little vibration as possible.
Quiet operation
Quality / can I get a repair person to the machine if something breaks.
I have read that direct drive machines are quieter than belt-driven machines, and that vibration really varies by machine. I am inclined to go with the Samsung VRT, which claims to emit only 63 dB (whereas a “conventional” washer emits over 70 dB). However, it is expensive ($1300) and since Samsung is new with washers, service may be difficult. However, I would expect that service in Chicago should be available.
Since I installing a concrete floor and using the “ShakesAway” rubber pads as a barrier between the washer and the floor, is it overkill to spend $1300 on the Samsung VRT. Do you think I will notice a dicernable difference between the Samsung VRT and other frontloaders that are half the cost? I don’t mind spending the $1300 but I just want to understand if there is a major difference.
Thanks for any advice you can provide.
Brian
Brian,
As you may have read on the blog, I used to own a Maytag Neptune washer which was built by Samsung. I really loved this machine, and can only think the new Samsung washers will be superior to the Neptune.
From what I have been able to gather, the Samsung washers are among the quietest on the market. Certainly installing the washer above a concrete pad will help tremendously. Most of the vibration problems you read about are with machines installed on a wooden floor.
I wouldn't get too excited about a 7db difference, though. Granted, there is a noticeable change at that difference, but having them in their own separate room will help muffle any sounds. Again, just based upon my experience, the Samsung-built Neptunes were not the quietest available at the time, but I did not find the operating noise to be obtrusive.
I doubt you will have any trouble finding service in the Chicago area. A search of servicers in the Chicago area yielded seven results, and many times manufacturers do not have every servicer listed. Hell, I live out in BFE and discovered the old coot Lloyd, our local appliance servicer, is even listed.
As for the difference between Samsung and other less-expensive frontloaders, there are not going to be a lot of differences. I firmly believe even the cheapest Frigidaire or Danby washer will out-perform any topload washer. With the Samsung, you will get one of the largest capacities available. You will also get a machine that washes extremely well and can create extremely hot water.
Plus, they just look freakin cool!
Let me know what you decide, or if you have any other questions.
Brad
