Superb design-- works great and built to last!
Written: Sep 14 '06
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Pros: Uses little water/electricity.
Gently gets clothes clean.
Bullet-proof design.
US built, shipped factory direct.
Cons: Purchase price higher than many other machines.
Not flashy.
The Bottom Line: Great machine. Outstanding engineering, solid construction, stainless steel tub and drum, very energy efficient. This washer's unique design is simply a smarter way to wash clothes.
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| vigilant1's Full Review: Staber Top Load Horizontal Axis HXW2304 Washing Ma... |
I expect this to be the last washer I'll ever buy (and I plan to be around a long time!) It is designed like no other washer we looked at--it uses little water and gets clothes very clean while being exceptionally gentle on them. Best of all, the machine is truly "industrial quality," and is designed to be easy to fix when something wears out.
Design: Though the Staber loads from the top, it is really more similar to a front loader in the way it operates. The water is kept in a stainless steel tub, and the clothes are loaded into a separate stainless steel inner drum through a pair of trap doors. When you start the cycle, the clothes are tumbled through wash water just like they would be in a front loader.
- This design offers a number of advantages:
-- Like a front-loader, it uses far less water and uses less detergent to get clothes clean (compared to a regular top-loader). Staber claims the machine uses 16.5 gallons total for a regular load, which is a LOT less water than is used by top loaders.
-- It cleans clothes even better than a front-loader. The outer tub (that holds the water) and the inner drum (that holds the clothes) are different shapes so that water is pumped through the clothes as the drum turns. a cylinder-shaped drum (like on most front-loaders) can't do this). Like a front-loader, clothes fall into the water with each turn of the drum, they aren't twisted, dragged, and rubbed against each other by an agitator (as used on most top loaders). This is a lot easier on clothes. We've had our washer for over a year, and I notice that there is very little pilling of my clothes, and that my shirts are lasting a long time.
-- The drum is suspended at the back and the front by sturdy bearings. This is a much stronger design than any front-loader, where the drum must hang on a single rear bearing.
-- Unlike a front-loader, there's no front door to leak, or to get water trapped in the gasket and cause mold. This is a problem for some other designs.
-- I find it easier to load and unload than our old front loader. There's no bending over or feeling around inside to check for errant socks.
-- The washer holds a lot of clothes. Our king-size comforter fits in with no trouble. The company web site says it will hold 16 standard bath towels, which sounds about right. The drum can be filled entirely (there's no agitator in the way) and the clothes will still get clean.
Durability: Our previous washer was a front-loader, and it worked well for over 4 years. Then the bearing holding the drum self destructed, and because of the design of the machine, it was going to cost over $500 to fix. So, when I looked for a replacement, I wanted a machine that was designed to last a long time, and to be easily fixed when something breaks. The Staber is that machine. I've heard it is popular at remote logging camps military locations because they are sturdy and designed to be repaired without trouble. This is not the case with most modern washers--scan across the Epinions reviews and you'll see all kinds of reports. I didn't want a machine that could be destroyed by a kid's sock jamming it up or which would stop working because of a proprietary membrane switch panel that costs $250 to replace. So, we bought the Staber. The motor (our is a Bosch--very nice), belt, pump, and control board are all easily reached and changed by simply removing the front panel. All of the controls are mechanical dials that have been made by the same manufacturers for years (not "we-don't-stock-that-part-anymore" finicky electronic bubble switches and displays). The machine is designed to be fixed by the owner, the owner's manual has a helpful troubleshooting guide and instructions for fixing almost anything that might go wrong (when was the last time you saw an appliance manual like that?). Of course, you can have the machine repaired by any appliance service company.
The controls are very simple:
-- Temperature (Cold, warm and hot. All rinses use cold)
-- Water level (Regular and low)
-- Cycle (Regular, permanent press, and gentle)
-- Wash cycle time (Offers a pre-wash, then 15, 10, and 5 minute wash cycles, plus rinse and spin).
- If you want 200 different cycle types, then the Staber probably isn't the machine for you. If you realize that you almost never use anything but the "basics," you'll appreciate the soundness of this approach.
- Of note--the spin cycle does a good job of getting clothes free of water. The drum spins at 750 rpm, which is fewer RPMs than some front loaders BUT, because the drum is bigger in diameter (23") there are actually more "g's" pulling the water out. This efficient spin cycle reduces energy use in the dryer and shortens drying time.
The washer is manufactured in a small Ohio factory. Though the machine isn't cheap, it is no more expensive than many other front loaders that are not built nearly as well.
I've got to say that the Staber won't win any prizes for beauty. It's got no chrome, no fancy plastic bezels or dazzling digital displays. It is simply a well thought-out, well built, industrial quality machine that is designed to clean clothes efficiently and do it for many years. After my previous disappointment in purchasing a washer that looked great but crumped out early, I did a lot of research. As you'll see in Epinions ratings, there are a lot of big-name, big-buck machines that have big problems. The unique design and attention to the things that really matter are what sold us on the Staber washer. It has worked very well and we are very happy with it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1100
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Epinions.com ID:
vigilant1
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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