Disappointing, but adequate Maytag washing machine
Written: Mar 28 '04 (Updated Mar 28 '04)
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Pros: Maytag quality, fill with lid open, extended rinse cycle, EnergyStar™ rebates
Cons: Misleading temperature and load size controls. Inconsistencies in the user's manuals.
The Bottom Line: Use only if you (1) don't wash in hot water, (2) mark the appropriate clothing load level on the side of the barrel, and (3) check the translations thoroughly.
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| Arthur.Rubin's Full Review: Maytag SAV5701A Top Load Washer |
Unaccustomed as I am to writing about major appliances --
In late July 2003, our long-used washing machine bit the dust. (At least, it didn't destroy any clothing.) After a few minutes checking Consumer Reports washing machine ratings, we selected Maytag; and there being a Maytag store just around the corner, we went there.
We selected this model for the following three reasons:
(1) It fit in the space available in the garage.
(2) Larger capacity than our previous washer (less of the space was used by the mechanism)
(3) $75 EnergyStar™ rebate from the local utility.
However the machine has three problems that we found annoying:
(1) Misleading and inadequate temperature controls
(2) Misleading load size controls.
(3) Inconsistencies in the user's manual -- both between translations, and between sections.
Temperature
There are 6 temperature settings for the washer (wash/rinse temperature): Hot/Cold, Hot/Cold, Warm/Warm, Warm/Cold, Cold/Cold, and Cold/Cold. However, if we ever wanted to wash in hot, but temperature-controlled, water, there's no way of doing it.
Let me explain...
The manual doesn't specify the precise temperatures for the rinse cycle, but, for the wash temperature:
Hot: Hot water tap
Hot: 90 °F
Warm: 70 °F
Cold: 65 °F
Cold: Cold water tap
Anyone who thinks that 90 °F is hot has (a) never been to Phoenix in summer, and (b) never tried to wash heavily soiled clothing. In fact, the included "Laundering Tips" manual defines "Hot" as 120-140 °F and as 105-125 °F, "Warm" as 85-105 °F, and "Cold" as 65-75 °F and as 65-85 °F.
At this point, (at least, after reading the manual), we only use Hot/Cold (for towels which we don't care whether they fade), Cold/Cold (for clothing with detail images, and clothing which is marked or experience suggests should be washed in cold water), and Hot/Cold for everything else.
If we had known this in advance, we probably would have gone with a different model.
Load size
There are 5 settings which range from 1/4 full to 3/4 full. If you were to follow the instructions in the manual for clothing loading, you could fill up to about 7/8 full, which is probably too full for all the clothing to be properly washed. However, 3/4 of this barrel is more than 100% of our previous washer's barrel; and we normally load the laundry during or immediately after the water fills, so this wouldn't have been a show-stopper even if we had known about it in advance.
Other factors that may be of interest to readers:
Ease of Installation: I have no idea. We paid them to install it.
Speeds: Normal, Permanent Press, Gentle
Cycles: Normal, Permanent Press, Gentle
Noise level: It's in the garage. I have no complaints, but if this is important to you, I suggest you go to the home of someone who has one and listen to the cycles.
Additional Features: Bleach dispenser, fabric softener dispenser, extra rinse, fills (but will not start washing) with the lid up. (Not having shopped around that much, I don't know which features are standard.)
Languages: Manual in English, French (probably Canadian French, rather than French French), and Spanish. I'm not a language expert, but the temperatures in °F and °C do not agree in the French translation, there are a few typos in the temperatures in the Spanish translation. This doesn't give me confidence that the translations are accurate.
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 500
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Arthur.Rubin
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Member: Arthur Rubin
Location: Brea, CA, USA
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