<p>Our commercial Maytag died after about 18 years. Bought a Kenmore HE (don’t know the model. I can’t find the model name on the machine OR instruction book). It was the lowest cost HE top loader with a stainless tub, and no agitator. So far it has worked fine(about 2 years old). Love the missing agitator, as it makes loading bulk items (comfortors, pillows, etc.) so much easier.</p>
<p>ran through two machines with wash plates. Besides the mold, adn stealing socks, they just didn’t last very long, and the wash plates are extremely expensive to replace.</p>
<p>Replaced the last with the best agitator machine I could. Would never go back.</p>
<p>What’s a wsh plate? Is that the thing at the bottom of the HE toploaders?</p>
<p>There aren’t many agitators out there now.</p>
<p>yes, its the disc at the bottom of a top loader machine that distributes the clothes around, (and I guess lift and tumble them to lose dirt). If I recall, the part alone to replace was $275.</p>
<p>The GE HE we bought does an adequate job. But when it spins, a little bit unbalance in cloth distribution will make large noise during the spin cycle and cause the washer “walk”, had to pause the cycle and play with the contents, some times several tries. We had the agitator versions for over 30 years, they do make noises, but not as often as the HE version.</p>
<p>I getting more and more tempted by an agitator model. It is $hundreds less than the HE front or top loaders and if we buy the extended warranty then we are good for 4 years at worst before I have to worry about replacing again.</p>
<p>Please let us know what you buy and how it works out. I feel the less complicated the better. We also purchased the 4 year warranty from Lowes for $109 additional. Due to a couple of problems with delivery, Lowes took $200 more off the price which made us very happy.</p>
<p>Swimcatsmom. Check the price of the extended warranty. You may find its ok to just buy the less expensive washer, and use the regular warranty. </p>
<p>There was a program on NPR not long ago about appliance. They basically said…they don’t make them like they used to…and most can be expected to last only an handful of years. Some folks actually look for good, well maintained used ones. Others just choose to spend $500 instead of $1000 with the idea that if they need to replace, they will be able to.</p>
<p>I agree with Thumper. Older units rarely needed service. </p>
<p>I have been following this thread with interest as I fear that my ancient washers will die eventually and I completely distrust all of the electronic features and front loaders. I have a GE stackable top-loading washer/dryer unit in a second floor linen closet and top-loading, agitating washer in the basement. I bought it used when we moved into our house 18 years ago. The stackable is now 17 years old and the dryer stopped working. As Thumper said, I went out to just replace instead of repair (pointless at that age), but GE changed the footprint of the unit so I would need to completely reconfigure the space, including sheetrock work. That will not happen so I just carry laundry down to basement when dryer is needed. (Built-in exercise.)</p>
<p>When the ancient basement dryer stopped working, I replaced w/o considering repair as dryers are incredibly inexpensive whereas service calls are very expensive. </p>
<p>Having read all of these threads, it doesn’t seem as though everyone now has much cleaner laundry with these new models.</p>
<p>“Having read all of these threads, it doesn’t seem as though everyone now has much cleaner laundry with these new models.”</p>
<p>Probably. But I definitely have more time since I do not handwash my delicates, and my water and energy bills a a bit smaller. Additionally, I do not have to take my king sized comforters to a laundromat since my front loader can handle them.</p>
<p>That said… Swimcatsmom, if you do not have a ton of delicates to wash and the price is an important factor, go with the proven option. That’s what I would do.</p>
<p>We have a Kenmore HE front loader that has been great for several years. Clothes are very clean and don’t pill as much as in a conventional washer. Lack of an agitator bar is a huge plus. I no longer have to go to the laundromat to wash comforters, pillows etc. The other thing I like about it is that it drains well, leaving the clothes well “wrung,” and the drying time is shorter.</p>
<p>I wonder if a HE top loader would drain as well as a front loader.</p>
<p>I do not think the top loader spins clothes as dry as the front loader.</p>
<p>I don’t have a front loader for comparison, but my HE top loader spins MUCH drier than our old agitator machine…they’re pretty dry! 
Less time in the drier.</p>
<p>We’ve had a Samsung top loader for a year and a half and have had nothing to complain about. The tank is a little deep and I can see how that would hinder a short person, but I think they have a smaller version too. When we first got it we couldn’t really understand how it could work without an agitator so we actually stood in front of it (it has a glass top) for a full cycle to see how in the world did it work. Amazing.With a small wash you can watch what I call the “percolator” technique as the pieces rise slowly up the middle and go over and to the sides to do it all over again. It’s fairly quiet except for the music it plays at the end of the cycles, cute at first, drove you nuts after a while so we turned it off. Don’t know it is coincidence or not but the electrical bill has been lower every month since we got it.</p>
<p>Well I had just about settled on just getting an old fashioned top loader with agitator but my husband suddenly announced he wanted a front loader. Ended up buying an 4 cu ft LG with steam and turbo wash or something and all sorts of cycles and do dads we’ll probably never use for almost 3 time the price. And in graphite instead of white because they did not have white and we didn’t want to wait (and I’m running out of underwear!!). Talk about one extreme to another.</p>
<p>Sure hope we love it for the price! Did decide to go for the extended warranty as it means we are covered for 5 years and if they have to fix it 3 times they exchange it for a new one.</p>
<p>^^swcatsmom</p>
<p>16 years ago we bought a front loader with all those useless bells & whistles and when it broke down the second time, we think enough is enough and switched to the agitator version. It is still working after two different tenants. </p>
<p>Btw. It never failed that the break down was after the warrenty expired.</p>
<p>swimcatsmom- I bet you will love it! You will love the shortened drying time (and savings on power usage). Make yourself use a different “bell or whistle” every so often just to keep up with the machine! 
We are also pretty good (meaning H is pretty good) about doing the cleaning cycle every 6 weeks or so. It tells you about that in the manual.</p>
<p>What I don’t like about my front loader – that I found out only after I’d purchased it - was that the washer gets moldy around the rubber gasket if you don’t leave the door hanging open. So, it hangs slightly open. Dislike. </p>
<p>I also bought the ones that are high up and have a big drawer underneath where you’re supposed to put your laundry detergent, etc. Well, all that means is that now I’ve lost the ability to fold my clothing on top of the washer / dryer set.</p>
<p>Most of the manufacturers have fixed the mold issues with the gasket and the LGs have the latch where the gasket gets to air and is not sealed but the door is closed during the non-use cycle. The gasket issue was a problem with my first Neptunes, although they did last 13 years and were still working when we moved and wanted energy efficient appliances.</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, for most washers the bottom drawer comes a separate unit and can be removed. See if you can remove yours.</p>
<p>I agree, the pedestals are useless as storage drawers because they are not tall enough to fit a jug of detergent. I have one, too, and hardly ever open it. It does makes getting the clothes in and out of the washer a tiny bit more convenient, but this convenience was not worth the extra expense, IMO. My dryer sits next to the washer and does not have a pedestal, so the top is used for folding. I am not much into laundry room decor, so the height difference does not bother me.</p>