Yet another installment in the saga of our laundry equipment.
Our washer broke back at the end of June. We decided that rather than go buy a brand new one, we'd wait and buy a reconditioned one to make do with for the time being. We thought we were getting a good deal; $150 got us a large Hotpoint top loader and removal of our old washer.
4 days after we got it, it devolped a leak. We called the place we bought it from, and they tried for 3 days to get someone out to look at it but were stymied by time constraints and vehicle pass problems. Apparently they only allot a certain window for delivery, and having to wait at the gate for a visitor pass was screwing with their schedule (not my problem, I know, but I was the one who ended up getting the short end of that stick).
A week after the leak occured, the clutch started acting up. It wouldn't agitate or spin. Another call to the vendor resulted in a 4 days wait for service and a trip to the laundromat for us.
They came out and replaced the Hotpoint with a Whirlpool. I don't think they were out the gates of the base before I figured out that the timer was bad on it - it was washing when it should be spinning and spinning when it should be rinsing. Yet another call, a 2 day wait for delivery, and we got a Whirlpool that's not only smaller than the original washer we bought from them, it's older as well.
By this time, both Dave and I are so frustrated and sick of reconditioned appliances that we've decided to go to the local appliance store and see what they have in the way of brand new stuff. Yes, they apologized for selling us duds, but we STILL were washer-less for about 2 weeks all together, and laundry backs up fast around here in the summer time. I have three kids who change clothes at least twice a day, plus towels from the pool AND everyday use....if I don't do a couple of loads every other day or so, it gets backed up and I feel overwhelmed by this mountain of breeding laundry. Besides, I don't understand why they weren't TESTING this washer out before they sent them to customers, and by testing I mean doing a load of wash in them, not just farting around with the dial. A washer that spins when empty may not work so well with the weight of a full load of clothing and a tub full of water...as they found out with the first washer they sold us.
We'd had enough of messing around with reconditioned appliances and saw the wisdom of buying new. So, this past weekend we went to browse the stores and check out some washers and dryers.
We found a Frigidaire front load washer and matching dryer for under $800 for the pair - and they're stackable. Dave came up with the idea of having a stacking washer and dryer so that we could fit a chest freezer in the laundry room. I really liked the idea, but was worried that our next home might not be able to accomodate a permanently stacked unit. The Frigidaire pair solves the issue: we can have them stacked, or we can take them apart and have them side by side. They even fit under counters, much like the washers I grew up with in the UK. I LOVE high efficency washers; they use less water, less power and less detergent, and they also get your clothes cleaner and drier at the end spin cycle.
We went and paid for them earlier this evening, and will be having them delivered on Wednesday. We're going to go with Dave's suggestion and have them stacked in the laundry room so we can go buy a new chest freezer this month and move it in next to them.
If you had told me when I was a teenager that one day I'd be excited about getting a new washing machine and dryer set, I'd have laughed at you and told you I'd never be THAT domesticated.
What a difference 20 years makes, huh?