No more maytag!!!!

[Bstable]

The very latest estimates (2010 manufacture) for consumer grade durable goods is now closer to 8 years of course dependent on use. Factor in a few premium brands and you might get close to 10 I guess.

Cleaning your fridge coils twice yearly will help it last longer. Especially if you have pets. Leave room around it for air circulation also. I can't tell you anything on cheap relay parts that will help though.

Not overloading the washer and dryer helps plastic parts and bearings last longer.

You either have to pay for premium brands or baby the commonly sold stuff and expect to change them out sooner than you'd like.

Again this is the reality for goods sold today as opposed to even 10-15 years ago. They are usually more energy efficient though. Not factoring in the materials and energy used in constantly building replacements. Hopefully they will be recycled for scrap most of the time.

+1 ..This is SO TRUE. The condenser fan motor pulls air across the condenser coils to cool them. As time goes on, the coils become clogged with dust, pet hair, etc... By gently vacuuming them you allow the evaporator to work more efficiently thus keeping the compressor from cycling on and off more than necessary. This saves the appliance AND a lot of electricity. OR you can just keep turning the thermostat up, and then eventually buy a new fridge.

It is an unavoidable fact that NOTHING is built like it was years ago. For that reason, is important to learn how to lessen the stresses to prolong life.

DAMN...I just bought a Maytag dryer 5 years ago, but so far no issues. Yes, I bought into the "Maytags are the better built appliances" when I shopped for a new one. Incidentally, it replaced a 30 year old Maytag. In 1993 I did a kitchen makeover, and bought a new Frigidaire washer, GE dishwasher, Hotpoint stove, and Hotpoint fridge. So far I have had no issues with any of them. Hotpoint is GE, but I am not sure they are around anymore.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Yep, sadly things have changed for Maytag. My Maytag top loading washer and matching dryer are now 26 years old and have had ZERO repairs! I also have a 22 year old Maytag garbage disposal that could grind a steel bar to dust and keep going.

 

[andy]

I certainly noticed a difference. I bought a used Maytag washer and dryer (both from the 80's) and they were both great. Then I moved, and had to replace the gas dryer with an electric one, so I sold it and bought another used Maytag. This one was a fairly recent model, and while it hasn't broken yet, it squeaks, rattles, and clicks like crazy. The old one was quiet and sold, despite being 15 or 20 years older.

 

[dr*audio]

The older Maytags were certainly well made. I've had zero problems with our 20 year old washer, but the dryer of the same age is not quite as robust. The belt doesn't last long, and the plastic fan got the flat portion in it's keyed hole worn out so it wouldn't turn. The replacement's been ok for around 10 years now. Those are the only problems I've had with them. I guess I will continue to maintain them as long as possible to avoid having to buy the new junk. How about stoves? Anyone know any good brands? The thermostat in ours is bad and NLA.

 

[Ausjoe]

How about stoves? Anyone know any good brands? The thermostat in ours is bad and NLA.

Used appliance store/junker might have a thermostat. Or the auction site.

How about Viking? A stove with an equivalent price if you adjust for inflation to a high end stove from the 70's. Of course that only works if your wages have kept up also.:sigh:

Average stoves all come from the same production facilities I'd guess.

 

[KLH9]

Decided to pay up for a Miele dishwasher and just about fell in love with the thing.

+1 for Miele. I put one in the cabin (an 18" half size) and it is da bomb. I have to go over to it to make sure it is running it is so quiet.

I've got an Asko in our other home. I can't decide which I like better as they are both the best dishwashers I have ever seen (steel chassis with multiple motors, not a dual speed transmission pump).

How about stoves? Anyone know any good brands? The thermostat in ours is bad and NLA.

I've had DCS stoves in 2 of our homes for about 12 years. Can't complain. Commercial grade built in "homeowner" sizes

http://www.dcsappliances.com/product/indoor/ranges/

 

[JonL]

+1 for Miele. I put one in the cabin (an 18" half size) and it is da bomb. I have to go over to it to make sure it is running it is so quiet.

Aside from the low noise, my favorite feature is the cutlery rack on top and the "top solo" setting which allows you to load just the top rack and the cutlery rack, and run the dishwasher with half a load and about half the water usage. It makes it a lot more practical to run the dishwasher when you need to use some of the dirty stuff, but you have less than a full load.

 

[PioneerGuy75]

Thanks for the replies and advice!

I could keep repairing it forever. A lot cheaper than a new one.

This is true....However I get tired of tearin the darn things apart!
I will fix the fridge because they are more expensive and a PITA to move!!

I have been eyeing Craigslist for replacements.....LOTS of Kenmore sets 4-5 years old for around $200......Is this a good thing or a bad thing....:scratch2:

 

[hdewees]

I bought a new LG French door with bottom freezer fridge - it's what GE Profile private labels from them, and I really like how quiet it is, and energy savings. I used to buy Maytag for dishwashers, but Consumers reports puts them at the bottom. I go with Kenmore or GE now. BTW - Viking is at the very bottom of the list for repair rates ranges (the worst).

 

[Bstable]

I bought a new LG French door with bottom freezer fridge - it's what GE Profile private labels from them, and I really like the quite, and energy savings. I used to buy Maytag for dishwashers, but Consumers reports puts them at the bottom. I go with Kenmore or GE now. BTW - Viking is at the very bottom of the list for repair rates ranges (the worst).

I use consumers reports too..have been for 30 years. One thing I have noticed is that certain manufacturers that supposedly have superior ($$$$)products, end up on the bottom of those lists. It may be because very few people have bought them, and thus only the people that had an issue responded to the CR questionnaire. It happens with vacuums also. I trust the lists though, because it is an actual database of owners that had them, and not opinion. I really trust it for cars, as you can see a pattern when certain systems/parts are problematic on certain cars.

back to the regularly scheduled program..

 

[Tinitus]

Our gas dryer is a 33 yr old Kenmore. All it's needed was a new belt and the gas valves replaced. The owner of the appliance parts store i do business with said to keep it running as long as I could because the drum is metal,and the new ones are all plastic. No surprise there.

The Maytag dishwasher lasted over 25 yrs. The only reason was that the inside developed a rust leak that wasn't really fixable. Got replaced with a new Kenmore. I was telling the installer about the Maytag lasting 25 yrs without a problem and he said "You won't see that out of these new ones".

 

[PioneerGuy75]

The "defrost module" went out again today..............:sigh:

Gald I was home and able to save the food in there (Just went to the store and restocked it!)

Also was glad I could fix it and save quite a bit on a service call.

STILL.................THREE TIMES IN 5 YEARS

One more module at $75 and I will have more in PARTS than I paid for it!

:uzi::uzi::uzi:

 

[eteller]

We had a TOTL Maytag fridge go out and we lost loads of food twice, that got replaced with a Kenmore (LG). Our dishwasher is a Bosch which has been fabulous except for a solder joint issue I fixed free. Our older Maytag washer and newer Maytag dryer have been fine, knock wood.

 

[gladiator335]

Can you imagine modern LCD TV will last for 20 years??? Don't think so.
So everything (or almost everything) is made today in a "disposable razor" sort of way. Use it until it breaks, recycle and buy a new one. Sad.

 

[merrylander]

We have a Maytag Atlantis washer - no problems so far forget when we bought it, maybe 2003. Our Whirlpool range had the control computer quit after 11 years, NLA. AFAIK manufacturers are only required to stock parts for ten years. Bought a new Frigidaire range.

 

[hardrock94]

Bought the wife all new Frigidaire,washer,dryer (frontloaders) along with a new refrigerator and range,so far so good,there 5 years old and going strong.

 

[yddet12]

I've had good luck with General Electric major appliances. The GE top-loading washer I bought in 1985 was still running perfectly when I donated it in 2002. Its replacement, a Whirlpool top-loader, barely made it through its two-year warranty before it broke down and flooded my laundry room with a mix of water, detergent and chlorine bleach. The Whirlpool ended up at the curb and was replaced with another GE top-loader, which has given no trouble at all.

Why did you donate it and buy a new one if it was still running fine?

 

[electronjohn]

When we bought our house in '95 I bought a Maytag washer/dryer set used for $150. Washer's been great so far, have replaced the dryer element twice. (I consider a heating element as a "consumable" with a finite life.) The Whirlpool side by side fridge we bought 6-7 years ago has been trouble free. Keeping the fingers crossed. Just over a year ago I replaced our Frigidaire gas range with a nice Amana. 2 months out of warranty the oven ignitor croaks. Ignitorstore.com to the rescue!! $28 & an hour & a half of farting around all was good again. Note: it's designed for easy assembly...the same doesn't hold true for disassembly!

My Mom just sold her house, and her "basement fridge" is going to my sister's. International Harvester...purchased brannew with wedding $$$...in 1950. Still icy-cold

 

[Dr Tinear]

Why did you donate [your GE washer] and buy a new one if it was still running fine?

My wife wanted a larger-capacity washing machine. The Whirlpool that we scrapped just out of warranty met that requirement. So does the newer GE top-loader that replaced the Whirlpool.

Back to the OP's point about Maytag appliances, both of his Maytags were from the time period when the company had grown by acquisition, was having trouble competing on cost with companies that had moved more of their production to Mexico or China, and was struggling to stay out of Chapter 11. Something had to give, and unfortunately that something was quality. Now that Maytag appliances are Whirlpools with a different badge, a few styling tweaks and perhaps a few different features, I'd expect the quality to be better than it was between 2000 and 2007.

 

[kx250rider]

We just bought a new Maytag standard top-load washer and propane gas dryer this year, and I'm VERY disappointed in the washer. It's a new greenie type machine, and it does not get enough water in it to do the job. I have to stop it and manually fill it further with a hose from the laundry tub every time. It's not malfunctioning either.... The factory rep says they know it doesn't work, but it follows the law. So I suppose there wouldn't be any difference if we had chosen another brand of machine. When I get tired of manually filling it, I'll go in an re-engineer it so that it washes clothes with plenty of water like a washing machine should do.

Charles