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stacking a front loader washer and front loader dryer

16 years ago

Can anyone recommend a front loading washer and dryer that they have stacked? Are you having any problems with the washer moving if the load is unbalanced? I'm wondering what would happen to this tall tower if the washer decided to "take a walk". Do you having any other pearls of wisdom I should consider when choosing a stackable front loading washer and dryer?

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Comments (6)

arley_gw
16 years ago
Check the Laundry forum and do a search; the laundry gear gurus have discussed front load equipment thoroughly over there.
evaperconti
16 years ago
My He3s are stacked, the washer always goes on the bottom since it is where the weight and vibration take place. The installers should bolt the two together and level them so they don't walk around. I've had mine for quite a while, doing at least one load a day, and have had no walking issues.

The only thing I can tell you in terms of "pearls of wisdom" is to not leave a box of detergent on top of the dryer, since the initial ramp up to the spin cycle tends to shake the units a bit and, well...you can imagine the rest of THAT story!
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Well...I completely disagree that Bosch is worse on the problems you mention than other brands, the assertion is certainly NOT supported by the posts on this forum, nor is it supported by JD Powers customer satisfaction statistics. (I agree that people on this forum have had some issues with the dryers, which is why I was surprised at the JD Powers results on dryers.) If anything, most Bosch owners seem to get their problems resolved much more successfully than owners of other machines. Most such complaints apply (or not) generically to all FLs, and are a matter of owner negligence rather than actual machine problem. Complaints about various models tend to go in waves, for example back when you first bought your Bosch there were Sport owners discussing a lawsuit against Whirlpool because of pump problems. It is hard to draw conclusions from the frequency of such posts without information on market penetration for various brands. Were we all wearing dirty stained germ infested clothes? Yes. I think most of us just want a washer that is dependable, cleans our clothes and hopefully do that job for serveral years. For this only the classic washtub will work. - DR
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I should have said that they don't have mechanical brakes that trigger when the motor stops driving the drum. Some may have "electrical" braking via the motor but it's not instantaneous and unlikely to prevent a catastrophic failure. Majority nowadays don't have physical bump switches that the drum impacts when oscillating (the "old-style" Maytag Neptunes do have bump switches, probably some others from that time-frame). Balance sensing is by monitoring rotational inertia and characteristics during the slow-RPM load distribution routine. Catastrophic failure of the drum or drum support stops the machine ... the drum can't turn if it's jammed. The control would/should sense the high-current or lack of rotational sensor feedback and shut the motor off but probably not in a way that would prevent damage from occurring. There's not a lot can be done if the drum breaks loose from the support spider at 1,000 RPM+. Maybe (hopefully?) someone will reply to advise in the contrary! My Neptune TL has a device (I believe it's called an accelerometer) on the control board in the console that can sense the vibration if the drum impacts the cabinet. It comes into play during the distribution routine at start of spin. Max spin speed is limited to 500 RPM if an impact occurs at any point during distribution, even it if redistributes and gets a perfectly balanced spin. The sensor remains active during spin on the Bulky cycle but not on other cycles best as I can determine. However, it definitely does not have a spin brake, takes a long time for the heavy drum to coast-down.
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I would get a front loader again. I have a neighbor with an LG top loader without an agitator and she hates it. People have been happy with Electrolux, Whirlpool Duets, Mieles, LGs. Look them over and see what features you need. For example. I have a regular sized Miele, but would not be able to wash a king sized quilt/comforter in it. My house is too small for a king sized bed though, haha. I love my Miele and have a second set, I found used on Craigs List from an appliance repair shop that repairs high end appliances, in the basement now, for DH farm clothes. I have a regular laundromat going on here :) I like having special wash cycles for wool, pillows, outerwear, whites, sanitize, etc. I love having an on board heater. My washer will wash cold, cool, warm (104f deg), very warm (122f), hot (140f), and sanitize (158f). I usually use warm, very warm, and hot.
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janpoo
16 years ago
I have an LG Tromm. Using it is just fine but if you need to have a service call -- at least in NYC -- it is a pain.

There is one company that comes to un-stack the units and there needs to be two of guys because it is heavy. Even when you call to remind the company to send two guys it doesn't always happen so there is sometimes another day of disruption while either my husband or me takes off of another day of work to wait for the guys who will arrive within a five hour window. Then the guy who fixes it will come another day within another five hour window -- we have not been able to get the two scheduled for the same day yet and we have had three service calls in three years. Then there may be a part that needs to be ordered so it's another visit from the fix-it guy. After the fix the re-stacking guys have to come back.

We live in an apartment and for us stacking is the only way to go. If you have a choice, go with side-by-side.

-j
wildturkey450
Original Author
16 years ago
janpoo, do you think that the reason you are having so many service calls is because of the brand name or do you think stacking is causing the problem? Knock on wood, but I go decades before my washer or dryer ever gives me a problem.
mcmann
16 years ago
janpoo makes a good point about servicing. I've had my Kenmore He3's for 3 years - they are not stacked but they came with the braces to stack them. One of the reasons I chose them was because of the stackable option. If we move I may have to stack them. No service calls in three years.
janpoo
16 years ago
springwater, the first two calls were because the dryer would die when i tried to use the sanitary cycle. the guy came -- after the destacking -- and it was fine. the units were restacked and it happened again. same thing. restack and it happened AGAIN! this time, my husband started futzing with things and realized that the button to select sanitize stuck ever so slightly and when he jiggled it free everything was fine. None of the other buttons had that problem. our most recent call had to do with a ripped hose in the washer which i suspect was caused by my son leaving a sharp toy in his pocket which got loose and punctured the hose. so i think it was more just one of those things although the sticky button could be both -- if the dryer were on the ground i may have seen that it was pushed in slightly but who knows.

-j

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