Great Laundry Equipment at a Reasonable Price
Written: Dec 16 '03 (Updated Mar 17 '06)
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Pros: Great Unit. Very quiet, even at max spin speed.
Cons: Doesn't have all the fancy compartments for automatic addition of bleach or fabric softener.
The Bottom Line: You can't buy a better washer for twice the price
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| chaoscat's Full Review: Fisher and Paykel GWL11 Top Load Washer |
We hadn't purchased new laundry equipment for fifteen years. When our dryer died recently, I decided it was time to replace everything. We have a septic system and I wanted to get one of the new front loading washers. They use a lot less water than traditional top loaders. A friend of mine had been gushing about the Maytag Neptune equipment a year or so ago, so I thought I'd look into that. I came across this very strange web site: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/laundry/
These people actually have on-line chat sessions about laundry equipment.(still makes me shudder) If you are considering the Neptune system - go here and search Neptune. Talk about scared straight...
After that, I looked at the Kenmore Elite HT3 systems and the Whirlpool Duet units. I really wanted to buy the Duets, but these things are HUGE. If you're thinking about these make sure you get the dimensions and pull out your tape measure before you buy. The number one reason they are returned is that they don't fit in the standard laundry room. Also, those neat little pedestals you see the units displayed on DO NOT COME WITH THEM. They are an extra $ 150 per machine. All told, it was going to cost $ 2,400 for just the equipment. GAAAAH.
While surfing the the laundry site above, I came across the mention of a brand called Fisher & Paykel. Never heard of them... never seen them in a store. The washers are manufactured in New Zealand. Supposedly, they cleaned as well as a front loader and were every bit as efficient with energy and water use. They were also about half the cost of a front loader. The strange thing about what I was reading was ... there were no negative reviews. No nightmare stories about flooded washrooms, expensive repair bills, burnt out electronics, damaged clothes etc.. Everybody who had them, loved them. End result - I bought the set, washer and dryer. Only after I bought them did I really find out how they work. They don't clean like a traditional top loading washing machine. You pop the cap off the agitator, pour in your soap (it dispenses automatically out through holes in the agitator) and the machine begins to fill with water, but only up to a certain point. An automatic sensor determines how much, based on the machine loading. It's much less water than you are used to seeing in a top loader. Then for 4 minutes the machine rotates while this concentrated soapy water is recirculated back on the clothes with a "water fall" effect from a second set of fill nozzles above. After 4 minutes, the machine begins to fill again to a little higher level. Then it agitates for a preset time, based on what type off wash you set the machine for: Heavy, Normal, Permanent Press, etc. There is one setting for delicates where the machine does not agitate at all. The rinse cycle works differently as well. It does not just refill with water, agitate and flush. It fills partially, spins slowly to cycle out water and while spinning sprays the clothes with clean water. It does this 3 times. The end result is that much more soap is removed from your clothes. The rule of thumb for traditional top loaders is that enough soap is left in the clothes after rinse to actually wash them again without additional soap ... scary thought, huh. Not so with these units. At the end, it can spin up to speeds of 1000 RPM ( this is an adjustable setting). This is only 100 RPM less than the high end Kenmores or Whirlpools. Your clothes come out lightly damp. When you put them in the dryer, they are usually dry before the next washer load finishes. I can do a load of towels or jeans, wash and dry, in about 50 minutes. This is what it used to take just dry the clothes.
I haven't said much about the dryer. I can't wax poetic about a dryer... otherwise I'd be another lost soul surfing the above website. The dryer is fine. From what I could find out it's actually manufactured by GE for Fisher & Paykel, but has to stand up to both companies quality requirements. It's quiet and does what it's supposed to do. It has a sensor that stops the machine when the clothes are dry. The tub has a light in it, a not to be dismissed feature. The lint filter is in the front, which I like. I can see if it needs to be cleaned without dragging it out of the top of the machine. One feature I LOVE. You can TURN OFF THE BEEPER. Our old dryer used to automatically go into an hours long dewrinkle cycle. You had to remember to turn it off when you started the machine. If you didn't, every 15 minutes it would turn on for a minute, run, turn off and go BEEP..BEEP...BEEP. I can't tell you how many times I got up out of bed to turn the thing off because me wife forgot to deactivate the dewrinkle cycle. The buttons on this machine are mechanical. The settings stay set unless you change them. I can turn off the beeper and it has to be physically turned back on for it to ever beep again. Thank you God, no more BEEP...BEEP...BEEP. The main knob on the unit can be turned both ways. You don't have to do all the way around to reset for the next load, just back it up. As for reliability, We've had them about a month with no issues, that's all I can testify to at this time. From what I have read from other people, they are extremely reliable. You won't find these units in Sears. We had to go to Karl's Appliance to find them. I paid $1,300 for a washer, dryer, delivery, installation, 5 year warranty and removal of our old units. This is what a high end front loading washer alone costs.
Just a quick update. We've owned this equipment for almost 2 1/2 years now. I've never once had a problem with the washer or the dryer. Still extremely satisfied with it.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 600
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Epinions.com ID:
chaoscat
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Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 1 member
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