I'm currently in the market to purchase my first washer and dryer set for my family of 4. We are looking to spend no more than $1,500 on a complete set. What are your recommendations? Obviously we are looking for longevity in the set. We do between 4-6 loads per week. Thanks for your help!
I have very good and long time performance from Sears Kenmore washer and dryer products!
I got a traditional dryer back in the fall from Whirlpool and a top-loading HE washer. I have been pretty happy with them. I got them at Best Buy, but Sears might have better delivery and installation. I think Lowe's has these, too.
Amana is the Whirlpool families more entry level machines, even though they share the same drivetrain as the other members, which include Jenn Air, Maytag, Magic Chef, and Kitchen Aid. Keep options to a minimum. Steam cleaning, or 13 wash cycles and the like are unnecessary and just more things to break cause down time. Keep it simple. Get the matching dryer too. All Whirlpool products have readily available parts that are reasonably priced, should the need arise. Amana is my first choice followed by Frigidare. Do NOT get a GE anything.
If you want longevity and value get a traditional style of washer and dryer rather than the so-called high efficiency models. Most HE washers are not made with water-safe metals; they turn into electrodes in water that slowly fuses components together, turning an appliance that used to be a 10-15 year investment into a 4-5 year expense. LG and Samsung in particular are notorious for this. High-end brands like Miele and SpeedQueen are great, but they also cost a small fortune. The top-loaders that don't have a traditional agitator are notorious for tearing clothes and leaving large mechanical grease stains/burns from how they agitate and spin clothing. For the best bang for your buck, get a traditional top-loading washer with an agitator tower in the middle and a traditional matching dryer. As tempting as it can be to buy those swanky gloss-black or red numbers at the hardware store, even the most expensive models will not last longer than a decade. Besides, ***no one will see them but you!*** I have a Whirlpool set at home, and they work great. My parents have Kenmore, and it's the same deal. Both sets are a decade old and still trucking along.
