I just bought a new Kenmore set last month. The one before that was a Hot Point set. The dryer stopped and we just went and bought a new set to match. I figure when one goes out, it is a short time later, the other piece will go.
I believe the Hot Point lasted about 14 years. I don't buy for looks, mine are hidden in the laundry room where only I go into. LOL
Looks like you got your self a great deal!

My washer is a Speed Queen, and it's only a year old. I did a lot of research before buying it. Speed Queen has made commercial washers for a long time, and they're noted for high quality components that hold up well. Not so many bells and whistles, which was fine with me.

Previous washer was a Maytag. I wish I could tell you how long it lasted, but I don't remember. It wasn't a very short time, but I know I had the repairman here more than once, and I was surprised it didn't last longer. Previous one was a Maytag that lasted quite a while. I think the one before that was a GE, and that lasted for ages.

All of which makes me sound very old, which I suppose is appropriate. :-)

We have a top loading Magtag we bought in 1987.....got the dryer then, too.
Before that we had Kenmore that lasted many, many years.

We're on our third set in 23 years. The first set was used and we sold that still working after about 7 years. The second set (Roper brand) we had the rest of the time and just sold that a year ago when we got a good deal on a Samsung front loader set.

I don't think I'll get another front loader. I liked it up till a couple weeks ago when I realized my clothes aren't smelling clean. I've been trying all kinds of things to fix the problem.

Can't beat the deal you got Nicole. Hope it serves you well!

In this house, GE - HE, top loader...2 years old, and I love it.

My previous washer, at my old house lasted 22 years. From 1984-2006.
The washer and dryer were GE, and were supplied with new construction of the house.

Washer lasted 22 years, and dryer was still going strong when I sold the house in 2008.

Kenmore, have probably had it 20 years. DH is able to take it apart and repair which is the only reason it has lasted so long. But I still think it's a good brand.

I've looked at washers. So many choices now. I understand the front loaders need to be left open a bit or they start to smell moldy. I even saw washers without agitators. I wonder how or if those work.

Good luck.

Kenmore and I have had it for over 15 years

I got my Kenmore washer and dryer in 1983--never been serviced! (knocking on wood....)

Samsung washer and dryer, front loader. I'm very impressed with its cleaning abilities but it's just stuffed full of gee-whiz computer gadgetry. Everything is electronic.

I had an appliance store for 10 years, and the best washers and dryers *were* Maytags and Kenmores (whirlpool made to Kenmore specs). There are 40-year-old Maytags and Lady Kenmores that are still chugging along.

If I had one of those, I'd keep repairing it as long as possible. Modern appliances are sissy-girl weaklings compared to those old workhorses.

Rose

Here is a link that might be useful: Homart Appliances - 1950 Homart Dishwasher that still works like new.

I bought a top loader and didn't know it was an HE and hate it. I have to do the extra rinse to get the soap out. Someone said that wasn't necessary, said they do get the soap out. I bought a laundry powder with scent by mistake and couldn't sleep in my bed because the fragrance burned my eyes. If I rinse twice I don't smell it. As far as I am concerned that is proof enough for me.

I bought a Maytag Bravos top loader HE washer and dryer, will be 3 years this Dec. Got it because of the large tub so I could wash king comforter in it.

My old washer was a Maytag and was 13 years old, still worked. Dryer was also a Maytag and was 11 years old, it didn't seem to be drying as well as it used to. Sold both to a college student for $75, even gave her the manuals with receipts so she knew how old they were.

HE washers need HE detergent and very little. I use 1-2 tablespoons. My wash always smells good and the soap is out of it. I have a front loader and leave the door open a few inches after I take the wash out. My washer and dryer are Frigidaire and are 5 years old.

1-2 tablespoons will not get clothes clean in a top loader. I cut back to a fourth of a cup one time and my husband's under arms started smelling bad and I asked him if he was using his deodorant, he said yes. I finally figured it out. I felt terrible because I blamed him for something that was my fault.

Kenmore about 15 years old. Bought both at the same time and never had to have any service done. The dryer still works well, but for some reason I have a gut feel it is taking a little longer to dry. Of course DH was doing the laundry while I was recovering from surgery and he may have just been overloading the washer, making the dryer work that much longer.
After seeing the problems two of my dgd are having with their front loaders, I think I will stick to the top. I am so short it is really hard to reach everything, especially since the fusion in my neck, so the front loaders were looking good. What a good find Nicole!

Bought my Kenmore washer & dryer in 1982 but had to replace the washer last year. The dryer is still going strong. I hope my whirlpool washer will last as long.

12-1/2 year old Whirlpool, mid-line model, top loader. The dryer broke down last year, and it was the second time (gas model, ignitor both times, but we replaced with another Whirlpool, about same model. The washing machine works like a champ.

Maytag top loader,think we got it in the late 80's.We got it when Montgomery ward was still around.It's been a good machine.

Speaking of machines,what's up with most all the stores carrying mostly liquid detergent these days,is it because of the front loaders???
Kathi

We had a Kenmore top loader w/spin dry for 30 yrs and then the transmission began to destruct. Replaced the Kenmore with a GE top loader w/spin dry, an ordinary machine without a lot of frills. I've had the GE for 10 years - no problems.

The Kemore used an center agitator. The GE has an interesting way of agitation. It oscillates the tub back and forth. The center piece looks like an agitator, but is not. It has a one way clutch in its hub. It advances a bit on each tub oscillation and screws the clothes downward. Its goofy, but does work.

The gas dryer is 40 years old and still goes. I've repaired it twice myself. The last repair was major. The drive belt broke and we nearly had a dryer fire, but was saved by the overheat cutout. When the belt broke, the tub and fan stopped and the fire kept going until the fire tunnel overheated.

For the repair, I replaced the drive belt, the front lint screen, and cleaned the lint out of the machine. I had to take the machine apart to replace the belt and that was not a fun job. I wished I had replaced the rotating tub seal as well. Once the machine was apart, I also cleaned the vent duct and outside flapper. My next job is to upgrade the ductwork to all metal. The old duct is very flexible and made of plastic film over a support wire. A plastic vent "hose" is no longer recommeded; All metal is now recommended for dryer venting.

I had learend from servicing another machine that it was important (on certain machines) to clean the lint out. That machine had packed lint around the back of the tub and completely insulated a temperaure sensor. That's why its controls were misbehaving. Once the lint pack was removed, the sensor began working as intended and the dryer was "cured".

On washing machines, over loading the machine shortens it life. The machine may handle a big load and many people load them up to do a weeks worth of laundry with only 2 loads. If these loads are excessive, it will shorten its life. The machine will last longer if the laundry is broken into more, but smaller loads. Most washing machines have electrical controls that have enough life to wear out the mechanical parts.

The only repair that I have done on motors in my washers or dryers is to replace a starting capacitor. A number of newer machines do not have start capacitors thus eliminating that problem. I recommend that you buy machines without a start capacitor. These can be hazardous. I had one that shorted to the frame making the machine a shock hazard. Back then, wash machines were intalled without ground wire. A ground wire is mandatory these days. If the machine ground is accomplished via the third wire in the power plug, do not defeat this feature.

We had an electric combination washer/dryer before DS. I think it was GE.

I bought a set of almost new Maytags in 1971 -- from a man whose wife was divorcing him after he gave them to her for Christmas. LOL They lasted more than 25 years -- gave them to DS for his first house when I (foolishly) bought a set of Whirlpools. (The Whilrpools weighed about half what the Maytags did; it was as though they were made of tin.) Made do with those until we built a new home.

Bought a set of Frigidaires (FL) in 2001. The washer quit 2007. We'd had a housesitter for a month; I suspect she'd overloaded it. I bought the same model again. Surprisingly it was still only around $500. Kept the dryer. Both doing fine.

When I bought the cheap Frigidaire I'd figured I could buy THREE of them for the cost of one of the more highly advertised brands. (Hah! Maybe I will have to!)

Mine is a Sears Kenmore and it's almost 20 years old. I got it right after I got married and we moved into our first house. I've had it fixed once a couple years ago when I thought "that's it" but it's still working fine.