@BunsenBurner it is LG but I dont know if it is Tromm. It doesn’t say tromm on it. It is about 5 years old.
@mom60 I’m stuck on the 2 foot clearance. Do you mean behind? Because wouldn’t you need at least 2 feet to stand in front of it to load and unload things into any washer and dryer? (I don’t think one needs 2 feet behind. That would probably require a lot of renovation for most people, wouldn’t it? We certainly don’t abide by that.)
We replaced the Maytag Neptune frontloader which lasted about 15 years with an LG frontloader. The LG works well, but the only thing I don’t like about it is the solenoid which controls the water valve opens and closes very quickly causing a water hammer effect. I had to install those water columns to my water outlets to keep the backpressure from slamming my pipes.
We have hard well water; I am not aware that any sort of special hoses were used when installing our Speed Queen, or any of our previous washers for that matter.
Unrelated information: Speed Queen recommends HE detergent, which we had been using for years anyway with our previous 2 washers. Our Calypso lasted 5 years (with several repairs) and our Cabrio 6 years. I expect to get a lot more years from the Speed Queen.
I was told that our Calypso that lived 7 years outlived all of its siblings. It was a disaster of a washer. I was told that repairmen called that model the Collapso. 
DH and I had a Maytag that we got when we moved in our house in 91. It lasted until 2007, at which point it would only wash on 2 of the three cycles - (gentle or heavy were fine, regular wash wasn’t working). We needed a replacement switch that would have cost $140. So we bought an energy effficient front-loader. I hated the fact that it took forever - almost an hour- to wash a single load - I want to be done with 5-6 loads in just one morning each week while I do other housework. So after a week I couldn’t take it and made DH return it to the big box store.
At that point, my now-late MIL was coincidentally moving into a nursing home, so we swapped our old machine for her Maytag that was just a few years older than ours, but not used nearly as much as we had. We have a well so I don’t care about water cost, and I will not put up with clothes that aren’t clean (at the time we still had kids in soccer so we needed uniforms cleaned promptly!) or that take forever. If it cost me .80 more per load in electricity cost to run the ancient machine that does what I want promptly, I will happily pay it. I figure I more than save that by hanging clothes on the clothesline instead of paying to run the dryer.
After having been through this experience, when my mom’s neighbor was moving out and offered her old working washer to us - the new buyer had their own set, I jumped at it. So we now have another “spare” machine in mom’s basement waiting to be loved again. DD and DS both have claimed “dibs” so whoever gets a home first will get it.
Replacing washer hoses when getting a new washer is the thing to do.
Yes, of course, but what does hard water have to do with it? The comment about Florida’s hard water puzzled me. We got new hoses of course, just nothing special for hard water.
Just visited my local independent store to look at the Speed Queen. Wow, they do look so well made, not a bunch of plastic-y controls etc. The owner said they last for years, hands down the best machines they sell. Virtually no complaints.
I like that they have a shorter wash time (30 min vs 1+ hour), and they are top loading. There is a 5 year warranty on the electronic controls which is a lot longer than other brands. I just can’t see paying $1000+ for a cool looking machine that doesn’t necessarily performa as well.
I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. It feels good to have narrowed down the choices and feel confident about what I am planning to buy.
When I get my Speed queen, it’s going to be the one with the old fashioned dials…not the digital one.
I have noticed most laundramats have speed queens–some look ancient but are still functioning. I do believe they make them VERY sturdy, which is what I want in a washer and dryer. I do have electronic controls on our Maytag Washer & Dryer but we’ve mostly been happy with both of them and are approaching 28 years with them.
Speed Queen and Miele are the two major brands supplying laundromats with machines (here and in Europe).
Not to carry on about my Speed Queen with mechanical dials but I do want to point out a few oddities about it. It’s best to know details before buying, in case these make a difference for you.
- All rinse cycles use only cold water. There is no other option.
- The only cycle that fills the tub to rinse, or that has the option to use warm or hot water to wash, is the "Heavy-Duty/Permanent Press" cycle. Despite the name, this is not a harsh cycle-- I use it for nightwear, non-delicate undies, towels, husband's work clothes, sheets. There is an option to fill the tub for a second rinse but I don't find that I need it.
Also, hot water is actually 100% hot water-- not a mixture of hot and cold water. - The "Normal Eco" and the "Handwash/Delicate" cycles use cold water to wash and rinse. They do not fill the tub to rinse-- they spray the clothes continuously while spinning. It saves on water, and soap is not left in the clothes. I use the Normal/Eco cycle for most of our colored clothes as they are not permanent press.
- Beware, the Soak/PreWash cycle empties the machine when it is done! So if you want to wash in the same water used to presoak, it's better to choose a different cycle. Fill the tub, then pull out the dial to pause, and then push it back in to resume the cycle when they have soaked long enough.
- Due to water saving regulations, the machine must automatically fill only to something like 80% of max-- but you can manually add more water by holding the load size dial to the far right until the water reaches the level you desire.
There are also YouTube videos that show you how to increase the fill level with a simple fix-- opening up the top and adjusting a switch inside. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=speed+queen+fix+water+level
As there are only 3 of us, I just put in a bit less laundry for each load. What you don’t want to do is to wash a 100% full tub with an 80% full water level, as it will cause premature wear on the machine-- and on the laundry.
I’ll admit some of these are odd, but I’d buy the Speed Queen all over again in a flash.
I need to find time to go look. The independent appliance store isn’t open in the evening or on Sunday. I think in my space I need a top loader so I am thinking I’ll probably go with a Speed Queen. Anyone have the digital machine?
As for #4 - you can just leave the lid open and it will soak forever. Won’t agitate though.
My Speed Queen was delivered Friday. I did my first load of wash and everything came out clean.
We think we got a bad dryer and the will replace later this week. The delivery guys couldn’t get it hot! I can get the clothes to eventually dry but the exhaust out of the vent is just lukewarm.
Check your dryer vent and clean it/have it cleaned while you are at it. If the old dryer worked there likely is no blockage but this is a good time to start with a clean path to the outside. I still remember doing a load at my SIL’s once with bad drying and then discovered she never emptied the lint trap- yours should not have the problem yet. A couple of years after a new dryer, in an older home, we found that someone had not done all of the connections at the roof correctly- removal of a screen meant to be removed at installation made a world of difference et al. The house buyer’s inspection didn’t do the job on that part.
btw- learned there are good and poor metal “tubes” from dryer into wall. A good time to optimize this as well.
Our old house vented directly outside. Each house is a learning curve.
The old dryer got hot. Vent to outside was cleaned out. The dryer vents directly outside.If they bring a new dryer and the same thing accords H will need to investigate what is happening with the gas connection.
I need to read through this thread again as it is time for me to buy my washer and dryer. For those with the Speed Queen, I see there is no soak option; not that I need it often, but do you miss it? Also, there is no dispenser for the detergent, and it has to be added to the tub before putting in the laundry, which I am doing now at the apartment, and don’t love it. Don’t think it is a deal breaker, but something I have to think about.
On a silly note, I sure do miss my red machines; the Speed Queen only comes in white!
The other machine recommended by my appliance store is the Maytag Bravo model #MVWB766FW as I do want the option of being able to add more water for certain loads which both the Speed Queen and the Maytag offer.
I had to go check but my Speed Queen has a pre wash setting. I’ve never used it. I didn’t have a soap dispenser in my old Kenmore so I’m used to adding the soap directly to the tub. With my Kenmore I always added it after the clothes with the Speed Queen they say to add soap to bottom but sometimes I forget. I’m happy with my decision. It’s taken me awhile to get used to the dryer door opening to the side. My old dryer hinged at the bottom and I didn’t worry about stuff falling to the floor when I’m folding. One thing I’m not thrilled about is that the dryer doesn’t dry well if the load is small. I find I have faster drying time if I put a couple of the smaller loads in the dryer together.
I admit I looked with envy at all the beautiful colored machines at the appliance store but in the end I’m happy with my choice to go with the Speed Queen.