18 lbs. is more realistic given the volume of Asko's drum. You can certainly stuff 24 lbs. in there - but you must use your feet to do so. As for the seven rinses: is every rinse followed by a spin? I think to have read somewhere that spinning only begins after the third or fourth rinse or something like this.

Alex

Yes, Asko said 18lbs. is the norm, but if need be, the machine can and will handle 24lbs. of dry clothing! Impressive, considering the Miele Little Giant, at $3600 can only handle a max of 15lbs. I am not sure about the spinning, but Asko told me, as far as they know No other machine offers this many rinses if needed!

I am also interested in the new Asko Pro-series. Buyer reviews are scarce since the units are new. I was able to locate an owner review on an Australian dealers site.The review was brief and did not go into any detail. No dealers within a hours drive of my locale have any in stock. The current Asko's appear to be engineered in Sweden but made by Gorenje in Slovenia. The USA distributor is none other than the prestigious Sub-Zero/Wolf, maker of high end kitchen appliances. I hope that is a good sign for Asko's presence and continued vigor.

In Europe, Miele's residential washers are marketed as 20 lbs. units. LG even sells a smaller (less deep) unit than the Pro Asko washer and markets it as 26 lbs. capacity. As does Samsung.

Anyone know the average water consumption on this machine?

It depends on the program selected.

The longest with prewash and 5 rinses uses about 106-117 liters of water depending on temp of wash.

Standard cotton wash uses 62 liter and 3 rinses

Then it goes from 94 to 36 liters of water/program and the amount of rinses.

These figures are from the swedish manual and are all standardised and the amout of water depends of how the machine is used and what is being washed.

With some free time today I searched the web for any information regarding the Asko Pro series washer and found a few tidbits.

The launch brochure for the series can be found at Mama Brein.

Here follows a link for a video of Crt Prasnikar, Managing Director of Asko, at the Australian introductionfor the Pro Series.

I also discovered that Gorenje itself is a major manufacturer of heat pumps for home use which could bode well for the Pro Series dryer as well.

Gorenje has also entered into a strategic alliance with the Panasonic corporation.

There is really nothing we probably don't know already in the above links. But the info does keep the appetite whetted.

I stopped by a dealer to talk about the Asko W8844XLW, and found out a few things:

He said they've sold about six of these machines so far. They've sold many more of the consumer model.

Sub-Zero servicers will now be trained on Asko appliances, so the Asko service network is bigger than before. For me this means a servicer half an hour away, while before the closest servicers were an hour away (and I live right near Washington DC).

The 240V plug on the washer, which according to the manual plugs only into an Asko dryer, is actually a North American "air conditioner" plug, with the live prongs horizontal rather than slanted like the usual dryer plug. I've asked the salesman to find out the NEMA number.

The salesman said the washer can be hooked up cold-fill-only, or cold-and-hot. In the manual it looks like cold-fill-only. This washer has a 2000W heater, better than the typical 120V 1000W heater, but of course no match for the Miele Little Giant or Octoplus 5000W heater.

I asked about the lack of a bulky or comforter cycle. The salesman said a regular cycle would work. I also called Asko customer service about this, and was told that the machine can handle up to a queen-size comforter. I stated my concern about the whole comforter getting wet, and the rep said that a suitably-sized comforter would tumble around enough to get wet through and through. I asked which cycle to use, and she said the Everyday Wear cycle with high water level option would work for a comforter that can take a warm wash. I'm used to my Miele W4840's comforter cycle, which runs a "venting" step to soak the comforter and rid it of air.

I'm thinking of getting the Asko to put in the basement, leaving the Miele in place in the laundry corridor upstairs. I have a laundry tub in the basement, presently with a manually-switched sump pump. A 240V outlet would be easy to install.

suburbanmd, thank you for the great, helpful info!

Anyone know how the Asko W8844XLW compares to the Laundrylux Crossover?

Laundrylux Crossover is a 120V machine, and I don't see mention of a heater. Compared to the Asko, the Laundrylux has a bigger drum (3.5 cu ft vs 2.83 cu ft), and is heavier (299 lbs net vs 203 lbs net). The Laundrylux has "full size" cabinet dimensions (27" W x 33 3/4" D x 39 3/4" H) while the Asko has "compact" dimensions (23 3/8" W x 27 9/16" D x 33 7/16" H). I don't know Laundrylux cycle times but I suspect they're short. Asko has long cycle times, all listed in the manual online. For example, Color cycle is 1:49.

Latest on electric plug requirements: "There is some debate as to the cord/plug on the current models since the Asko USA was purchased by [Sub-Zero]. I have been told that the current models have a 6-20P plug. If this is correct, then a 6-20R receptacle is all that you would require. However, if the units are still be supplied with the “strange” European plug which connects to the companion dryer, then there is a simply cord change that can be made. This cord (Part #8064210) changes the European plug to the 6-20P. "

My shortlist for when our Miele units will be replaced includes ASKO. The W8844XLW is the one I would choose if I had to choose today. I'm disappointed that Miele has done nothing in the way of US laundry machines worth owning other than the Little Giant. I truly wonder whether Miele can even compete in the US market any longer.

Having owned ASKO products in the past, it's refreshing to learn that Sub-Zero is now involved. Before, ASKO was only a niche market, and you were dependent on those who locally serviced ASKO. We were fortunate to have a service rep with a thorough knowledge and direct connection with ASKO.

Sub-Zero Group, Inc and ASKO Form a New Alignment

I just confirmed with Laundrylux that the Crossover does not have a heater. That's a big disappointment.

Some more tidbits on the Asko, from another call to customer service:

It's a true cold-fill machine, with only one fill hose. It can be hooked up to hot water if you wish, but then you'll never get a cold wash.

Temperature choices: 85F through 160F in 5 degree increments, plus 205F on sanitize cycle. The program chart in the manual shows Fahrenheit temperatures that aren't multiples of 5, but do convert to multiples of 10 in Celsius degrees, so the manual is probably suffering from incomplete conversion to Fahrenheit. The manual also says 203F is equivalent to 90C, but of course it's 95C.

Spin speed choices: No spin, 400, 800, 1200, 1400.

^ What's the disadvantage of a cold-fill machine? Longer cycle times?

Assuming 5 gallons of wash water to heat, a quick calculation tells me that the Asko's 2000W heater could heat it at the rate of 163 degrees Fahrenheit per hour. Say it's winter in a cold climate and your cold water comes in at 40F, and you're doing a hot wash at 140F. So it's 37 minutes to heat the water, or somewhat longer since the clothes and washer are also being heated. Not too long in the context of the Asko's generally long cycle times, per the program chart on page 24 of the Use & Care Guide linked on this page

http://www.askona.com/laundry/washers/pro-series-washers/w8844xl

The Asko isn't for someone who wants fast washes. Cold fill does have the advantage that every wash is a "profile wash", which is supposed to be good for removing stains. Also good for those of us with a long hot water lag in the laundry room, because the lag doesn't matter anymore.

Wow, I just read in the Asko Operating Instructions manual that the full Sani cycle, which is what I would likely use most often, takes 2h56m to complete!

The White and Color cycles can also be run on the Sani temp. These cycles are faster because they don't run a prewash and five rinses. The estimated time in the manual is also based on 24 lbs - a smaller load will be faster.

^ But the White and Color cycles only go up to 140F, not 203F, correct?

There's also the Time Choice cycle, which lets you choose the cycle ending time as well as temperature and spin speed. Of course it can't magically speed up heating of the water. But how high a wash temperature can your foster dog paraphernalia withstand over the long term?

"But how high a wash temperature can your foster dog paraphernalia withstand over the long term?"

That's a good question. And one I don't have the answer to since I haven't been washing in a heated unit.

The manual says that White and Color allow the temp to be "set freely". Other cycles state max limits like 140 or 104F.

Questions on the type of load this machine can handle and clean effectively:

I have several king size, light-weight blankets (Calvin Klein brand often found at Costco for less than $20). Can I effectively wash one of these in the W8844XLW?

Can I wash a complete king sheet set in this machine?

How many large bath towels?

megamorph....YES, you can easily wash a full king, complete sheet set in the Asko W4884XL. You can easily do this even in a Miele standard size 2.2/2.3 cu. ft. washer. The Asko is 2.83 cu. ft. Asko told me a queen sized comforter or a kind sized blanket will fit just fine too!

Cross reference to other thread

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2434312/asko-pro-series-wandd-any-experience?n=3

You may want to consider the new Electrolux compact at 2.4 feet. So far I like it a lot.

Yeah, the Asko is a compact, so it's another choice in that limited market. But the excitement here isn't about its compactness, rather its true wash temperatures, and 2000W heater. I'd consider it just for the temperatures, and the robust heater makes it more compelling. Cold fill is also appealing to me, because of my laundry corridor's distance from the domestic water heater. Incidentally, cold fill is the most energy-efficient way to operate. Not necessarily the most cost-effective, depending on utility prices.

As a second washer, the Asko could go next to the utility sink in my basement, once I get a 240V 20A outlet installed. Don't even need washer hookups, just have to attach the hose to the threaded faucet and turn on the cold handle. The sink has an ancient manually switched sump pump. To avoid possible flood, or back siphoning into the washer, in case of carelessness on my part, it seems wise to convert to a modern undersink sump with pressure switch. That'll take some plumbing work, plus a 120V outlet for the pump. So I have some work to get done, before ordering the machine. Hoping to get that stuff started soon.

Does anyone know if these are still made in Sweden, or have they moved production to Eastern Europe?

My understanding is that design and engineering are still done in Sweden but all production has been moved to Slovenia. I think the name of the Slovenian city is Levenje. Gorenje appliances has a large plant in Levenje and might be headquartered therein also.

@larsi

Did you buy this yet? It's my first preference after I discovered that the doors on the Miele would open on the wrong side given my installation.

anoop....I have decided against it, as the washer plugs into the dryer. I do not like nor want the Asko dryer, and did not want to go to the expense and trouble of having another electrical outlet installed in our laundry room (our panel had to be expanded). I kept my beloved Electrolux 70 Series Wave Touch dryer with reverse tumble and bought a new Electrolux 60 Series Washer. So stayed with Swedish things ;)

Like I said above, the washer doesn't have to plug into the dryer. It can plug into a 6-20R wall outlet, the kind used for 240V air conditioners. So you wouldn't have to buy the dryer, but you would need room on your panel for a double breaker.

Where are the electrolux washer and dryers made? Do they make their own or rebadge some other brand?

Hi Suburbanmd....yeah, I know the washer does not need to be plugged into the dryer, but I did not want to do the work myself or pay an electrician to install what was needed for more electric appliance facilities in my laundry room. We have our electric dryer already there.

anoop....Electrolux DOES NOT use re-badged appliances; they make their own great units. They have a few companies that use their appliances and re-badge them, most notably Frigidaire. As of now, the units are designed and engineered in Sweden and Made in Mexico. Since it looks like Electrolux might buy GE home appliances (or maybe it is complete by now)..there is some good chatter that Electrolux washers & dryers might move production to the USA!