I am in the market to buy a washer dryer within the next month as I move into my first house that we just bought.
Just stated looking around now just to see what is out there at Lowe's
so we saw these front load washer and dryers being around $1100+, while top load being around $300-$500 for the average prices.
some top end Top End Energy star washers I saw for even $1000 (GE)
question is, after looking at the pro's and con's for front load/energy star, one question comes to my mind. "What's the Point?"
Energy Star website stats an average of $550 over the lifetime of the washer. but factor in the prices of the energy star/front load, and that any repairs will cost more on a front load than a top load, you don't really save anything. even not considering repair costs, the price premium of the front-load/energy star makes it not worth it. i get the savings up front rather than over a period of even 10 years.
i am not the "energy conservative" person, so buying it on that basis does not affect me, as that would seem to be the only other reason to get it.
I am not really sure on the track record of the front-load washer/dryers. places I have read was info posted around 1-2 years ago, when it seems that these washer/dryers were starting to get popular. they were saying there could be issues with them, mechanical issues, etc. but I am not sure if any of those issues have been fixed in the recent models. (as one con they stated for front load was that once you start, you cannot stop it in the middle. but it seems that is no longer the case as I see pause buttons on almost all of the front load washers I looked at. so not sure if the issues i read about have been resolved since also?)
if i knew that the front end/energy star appliances lasted longer, then the savings could possibly outdo a top loader?
but as far as i know:
pro's:
- use less water and electricity
- use less room as they can be stacked
- look better (hehe)
- quiet compared to top load from vibrations
con's:
- heavier
- more costly to repair
- more prone to mechanical errors (??)
- track record not as known?
Just stated looking around now just to see what is out there at Lowe's
so we saw these front load washer and dryers being around $1100+, while top load being around $300-$500 for the average prices.
some top end Top End Energy star washers I saw for even $1000 (GE)
question is, after looking at the pro's and con's for front load/energy star, one question comes to my mind. "What's the Point?"
Energy Star website stats an average of $550 over the lifetime of the washer. but factor in the prices of the energy star/front load, and that any repairs will cost more on a front load than a top load, you don't really save anything. even not considering repair costs, the price premium of the front-load/energy star makes it not worth it. i get the savings up front rather than over a period of even 10 years.
i am not the "energy conservative" person, so buying it on that basis does not affect me, as that would seem to be the only other reason to get it.
I am not really sure on the track record of the front-load washer/dryers. places I have read was info posted around 1-2 years ago, when it seems that these washer/dryers were starting to get popular. they were saying there could be issues with them, mechanical issues, etc. but I am not sure if any of those issues have been fixed in the recent models. (as one con they stated for front load was that once you start, you cannot stop it in the middle. but it seems that is no longer the case as I see pause buttons on almost all of the front load washers I looked at. so not sure if the issues i read about have been resolved since also?)
if i knew that the front end/energy star appliances lasted longer, then the savings could possibly outdo a top loader?
but as far as i know:
pro's:
- use less water and electricity
- use less room as they can be stacked
- look better (hehe)
- quiet compared to top load from vibrations
con's:
- heavier
- more costly to repair
- more prone to mechanical errors (??)
- track record not as known?