Great value for the money
Written: Mar 04 '04
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Pros: Small, quiet, cheap.
Cons: No proper way to secure attachments, intake hose attachment design.
The Bottom Line: Great value for those who are tired of coin-op and live in a small place. Definitely recommended!
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| epjh's Full Review: Haier XQBM22-C Top Load Washer |
Why I always wanted my own washer
I've always wanted my own washer in my downtown apartment. A few years ago, I saw an Italian front loading combo washer/dryer (washes and dries in the same unit), and I thought that I found my match, but the pricetag was way too high at $2k. The following year, the same store bought in an LG combo washer/dryer, but the price was still too high at $1.5K.
A few years later, I'm still lugging my laundry to the basement in my highrise and feeding them $6/week. The whole experience was unpleasant. I had to find a clean washer that didn't smell too noxious or have pet hairs in it. I'd feed it $1.50 for each load that was SMALLER than the standard consumer "super" load. Then I had to find a decent dryer that didn't smell weird. Halfway through the dryer cycle, it was back to the basement to Windex a spot on the dirty communal table to start folding items. My wife didn't mind the whole ordeal but I always thought it was icky. I don't know what unsanitary things are going into the washing machines but my imagination was making me cringe. And all these trips back and forth on the elevator drove me nuts.
Discovering the Haier
Two weeks ago, I had to buy a full size washer for my tenant. I own and rent out a house in the suburbs, yet live in an apartment downtown. (We keep our lives simple at this stage so it suits us fine). When I was washer-hunting, I discovered this Haier washer and kept wondering, is this the one for me? I ended up buying my tenants a Maytag washer, and tried to work through my washer jealousy. I kept thinking, why couldn't I get a washer for myself?
I went home, thought about it and realized that if all went well, the Haier would pay for itself in 1.3 years. Of course, there's no dryer, but given the size of the loads, I knew I could handle hanging up laundry. Yep, done that before when the dryer downstairs was broken, and I was too cheap to pay another $1.50. I thought about the compact GE and LG, but it was more than twice the price and I couldn't really hide it. Pity though, because the compact GE and LG are really MUCH nicer than the Haier and Kenmore portables. (See the pics on my web page.)
The illicit affair begins
Oh, yes, I have to hide the washer. The super in this apartment building has had bad experiences with people's compact washers depleting the hot water tank. Each hot water tank services a group of suites on ten floors. A few years ago, I complained about the lack of hot water, and this sent the super in a tizzy, interrogating every apartment about a suspected washer! I didn't want to be a culprit this time!
I finally convinced my wife, and we bought the Haier washer yesterday. We wrapped it in plastic bags, and snuck it in the back delivery entrance. This is the trouble I go to for my own washer...
After 10 loads of laundry and one service call, I have enough information for a review. I hope you find this balanced and informative.
Pictures are available
I have taken pictures of this washer, its packaging, and comparable washers.
This washer: http://members.lycos.co.uk/esprit9/galleries/g2/index.htm
Comparable washers: http://members.lycos.co.uk/esprit9/galleries/g1/index.htm
(there's some pictures unrelated to compact washers in there, sorry)
You can see the manual at this URL: http://www.compactappliance.com/ownersmanuals/haier/XQBM15DXQBM22Cownersmanual.pdf
Basic Information
Capacity is 4.9lb. However I weighed my clothes, and you have to take into account the VOLUME of your clothes too. The actual useable capacity is more like 4.5lb and about 65-75% of volume.
3 main cycles: heavy, normal, light, plus optional spin-only and optional wash-only cycles
Each cycle has a soak, wash, rinse + spin (except light has no soak).
Soak means it will agitate for one minute every 3.5 minutes.
Warranty: 1-yr in-home service limited warranty in Canada. I believe it may be carry-in service warranty in some areas (e.g. US, judging from the US manual scanned on the web). See review for information on my service call.
Other: 60 day money back guarantee from The Bay where I bought it from.
Electricity consumption: 240-295W (2-3A)
Water capacity: 7.9gal max
Size: 16" x 16" x 30 5/8" unpacked. The box is 18 29/32" x 18 1/8" x 32 1/2".
See my webpage for a picture of EnerGuide information.
Where I got it from and how I got it
I picked up the washer at a local department store (The Bay), and brought it home in a cab. $6 was the fare (my weekly laundry cost). They told me it was a "trial buy" and they had sold 60 units in about 4 months. The sales guy was great about wrapping it in plastic bags and carting it to the cab for me. Your mileage may vary, because all other appliance salesman I dealt with were sleazy a...oles. (Remember that Maytag I bought?)
Packaging quality and assembly
It's the usual styrofoam in a box. However the box has a pallette bottom. Just remove the plastic straps, and lift the whole box. Easy as pie. There is a styrofoam insert in the tub lid to secure the freely floating tub from damage, and the bottom is mounted on another styrofoam piece to secure the machinery. It is nicely packaged.
Assembly amounts to screwing on a plastic bottom plate. Not absolutely necessary but if you don't, the motor belt drive is exposed at the bottom. The screws are supplied, but you need to supply the screwdriver.
Size and weight
At 50 pounds it's light enough for two people to carry around the box, and okay for one person to lug between storage and bathroom/kitchen. There are handles for lugging it around. I didn't get a castor kit. It doesn't have the greatest handle ergonomics, but they are useable.
Build quality
You get what you pay for. Basically it's a stainless steel tub, EXCEPT the "pulsator" bottom which feels like hard plastic. (See the pictures). I'm not sure why they didn't go stainless steel all the way like the GE. The outer cover is softer white plastic. The mechanism (motor, pump, etc) looks tidy. I didn't see anything obviously sloppy there.
There is a removeable lint filter. The filter portion is like a bag that floats in the tub. I can see that if you overload the washer on a regular basis, you might damage the lint filter. As of yet it's too early to tell.
You can remove the back panel easily but I didn't see anything serviceable there. Wires were insulated with heat shrink tubing.
Noise level (spin, wash, transition clapping)
There are 3 main noises, and none of them are too bad. The wash cycle (agitation/pulsation) is a rushing water sound and motor hum. Spin cycle is mostly the tub spinning and vibration. Between different parts of the cycle, there is a "clapping" sound. This is probably the most annoying. It sounds like a loud switch or something snapping. Altogether, it is about as loud as an air conditioner or less, depending on what its doing.
From the next room, I can hear the motor humming during the wash cycle. It seems to carry through the concrete sub floor, but it is not very loud.
Attachments
You will get an intake hose with an adaptor and washers for different sized faucets.
Remove the aerator, detach the adaptor from the universal joint, use the right washer, and screw it in. That's about it.
Because the universal joint is secured by spring-loaded ball bearings, it is NOT a hermetic seal. There will be a small amount of dripping from that joint, but it is over a sink and not an issue.
Unlike one of the other reviewers, I cannot see how it is possible for "water pressure" to disengage any connection, unless it is not attached properly or the universal joint is defective.
The drainage hose comes with a U-pipe to secure it to the side of a basin. That was totally useless because I have a regular bathroom sink, and I had to come up with an unusual way to secure it. I stuck the end of the drainage hose through the hole in a vinyl 2.5lb barbell plate. It fits perfectly and works GREAT! You can see the pic I took and judge for yourself!
Washing Ability (different sized loads)
I tried all the different sized loads and also tried undersizing loads relative to the water level. In terms of washing ability, it seems to work fine as long as there is enough water for the clothes to agitate in. I have experienced no knotting of clothes, and judging from the lint deposits, it does not seem to be wearing out the clothes.
If you aren't paying for water, undersizing loads might make sense for some situations. I found that the lack of clothes means that the water motion isn't damped and you get more splashing. Otherwise, no issues there.
You can change the water levels after a cycle starts by using the "reset" feature. The manually actually recommends this for powder laundry, i.e. dissolve powder in small load, reset to desired size, add laundry and start.
I measured the elapsed time for each cycle, and it is close to what is stated in the manual. I found that the actual time is a little bit longer than what was stated by a minute or two. Heavy load cycle is about 1 hour and 5 minutes, regular load is about 45 minutes, and light load is about 24 minutes.
Spinning Ability (800rpm)
The motor is 1/7 HP. That's about 3-4 times weaker than a regular washer, but the load size is proportional. When properly balanced, the machine will vibrate. If the load is imbalanced, the washer automatically pauses for a few seconds. It seems to handle this situation without fuss because after a while, it seems to balance itself. If you open the washer, it cuts the power to the motor and stops spinning. This is a safety issue and at 800rpm, that makes sense.
The tub floats freely on a suspension, and you will hear occasional thumping as it bumps the inside of the sides. There are visible pads to cushion the impact and the noise.
The clothes come out a little bit more damp than the commercial washer that I'm used to. However it is not wet enough to squeeze or wring any water out of.
Detergent Handling
Because it's a small washer, you don't put too much detergent. I put in between 3-5 tablespoons of powder laundry (Sunlight) for a full load, DEPENDING on soil level. I am very careful about putting in too much because I don't like the detergent chemicals against my skin. The soil level is determined by the amount of suds and how the water looks and feels. I have also used Whisk liquid and a Japanese enzymatic low-sudsing liquid for front loading washers. The latter works best.
Basically, if you put too much detergent, it will oversud (unless you are using Tide HE or similar low-sudsing liquid), and you are asking for trouble. It will run down the sides of the tub and onto the machinery at the bottom. Judging from what I see in commercial laundromats, if your clothes smell like detergent when they come out, you probably use too much detergent. Not good for your health!
Instruction Manual
You can see the manual at the URL I gave near the beginning of the review. It's not up to Western standards, but it is understandable and relatively clear. I had absolutely no issues with it. I cannot understand some of the other reviewers who have complained about the manual, unless they were expecting lots of pretty pictures. You can read it, and judge for yourself.
And, NO, unlike what one other reviewer wrote, THE MANUAL DOES NOT STATE THAT LEAKAGE IS NORMAL. What's the point of a review that makes unsupportable claims?
I noticed that my manual says In-home service warranty. The one on the web says Carry-in. I'm in Canada so maybe that is the reason. I don't know!
Usuability (console, hose packaging, buzzer)
There's not much to the controls. Select the cycle you want, water level, push to start. It's really simple.
When it comes to packing/unpacking for use, its a big pain in the rear. There is nowhere to store the electrical cord or drainpipe. Removing the water intake hose is a problem because there is always a "head" of water in the hose that is released when you unscrew it from the washer, so I leave that end of the hose on. They used a red dye to mark the washer end of the hose, and it runs. I had to wipe it up. Good thing it doesn't stain.
When the washer is 30 seconds to finishing, a jingle bells tune plays. A buzz would have done just as well, but oh well.
Warranty
As mentioned before, it's a limited 1-year in-home service warranty. It may be carry-in service in your area, so please double check.
Level of service
I had to make one service call for something that was ultimately my fault. This was a great test for service! I also called BEFORE I purchased the washer to see what the authorized repair depots said about Haier washers.
To get service, call the phone number in the manual. Tell them where you live, and the model number. They will give you the phone numbers of authorized service depots in your area.
When I called Haier, I got someone who sounded a little.. unprofessional. I could hear a radio or something in the background, and the woman sounded like she was chewing something. Uh oh?!
She gave me two numbers. I called them both.
Both service depots were a totally different story. The women that answered the phones were curteous, and they were honest about Haier appliances getting a fair number of service calls.
When I made my real service call, I called the closer service depot of the two. The woman took my call, and said she'd ask the technician for advice on the problem I was having (more on that later). She called back in 20 minutes, problem solved. Great service, and no bureaucracy! Your mileage will vary!
Mistakes I made
If I've screwed something up, I'm big enough to explain what I've done wrong and not blame Haier for it. Here they are:
Didn't elevate drainage hose
When I started using the machine, I put the drainage hose in the bathtub. The side of the bathtub is about 2 ft high. After the first load of laundry, the thing would just run water, in the sink, and out the bathtub. It was ok if I plugged the drain with my finger. Made a service call and they told me to ELEVATE the drainage hose. Doh. Worked fine after!
Didn't turn off the water
I kept forgetting to turn off the water before disconnecting the universal joint at the faucet. Water sprayed everywhere! Doh. Now I use less pressure and remember to turn it off before. Good thing I didn't unscrew it at the washing machine first!
Summary of Problems
water spillage from intake hose
Haier should have re-designed the intake hose attachment to go into the washer at an UPWARD direction instead of DOWN. There is always a "head" of water stuck in there at the end of the wash, and if you detach the hose, you better have a small rag ready.
Packing the drainage hose and electrical cord for storage
Haier should have added moulded clamps or hooks to secure the drainage hose and electrical cord to the outside of the washer for storage. There's nowehre to put these things now, and it is a huge pain in the rear.
Securing the drain hose
Unless you use a laundry basin or something with a small lip, you will have problems securing the drain hose. I used a vinyl barbell plate but I'm sure Haier could supply something that's less of a hack, e.g. a clip to attach it to the intake hose. (See my web page for a pic)
Only one adjustable leg??
The manual says both front legs are adjustable, but one of them is actually screwed in. The other leg has a rubber foot that isn't secured all that well.
Other issues brought up by other reviewers
Leakage
THE MANUAL DOES NOT STATE THAT LEAKAGE IS NORMAL. If you have leakage, you did something wrong or the machine is broken.
Hose coming undone (universal joint?)
There is no way that "water pressure" will undo the intake hose, unless something is defective. Or your water supply is out of code.
Knotting of clothes
I haven't experienced this. It may have something to do with the relative levels of water and laundry.
Cost-benefit analysis
By my calculations, I will break even if the washer lasts me for 1.3 years worth of loads. This means I have to hang up my laundry. That's worth the hassle and greater hygiene!
I figured that if this washer breaks after 1.3 years (out of warranty), I'm ahead. By then, there should be a better selection of portable washers. (Haier has started selling larger 8.8lb and 11lb models that have more features).
Conclusion
I'm happy with this purchase despite the problems this thing has. I've mentioned the problems and possible solutions. If those could be fixed, this thing is pretty close to perfect for the price you pay for it.
I can't really complain about the size, because.. that's the size. There's just no selection in my area between 4.9lb and 11lb.
Actually, I'm relieved everything works. All I hope is that it stays working until I break even.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 232
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Epinions.com ID:
epjh
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 1 member
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