[QUOTE=Rayski13, post:4, topic:394861]
I repair clothes washers/dryers & parts for these are impossible to get. They are extremely small (capacity) so you might be able to wash two pairs of pants if you are of small stature. These are only practical for someone who absolutely cannot fit a larger portable washer where they live. You are better off paying much more for a larger washer to avoid the possible problems they have with these washers (bad control boards & bad suspension rods).
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I have one and it is the best investment i’ve made. I live in a TINY New York City apartment, and my building charges $5 a load for laundry. I got one of these, keep it in the closet and I have clean clothes whenever I want. I did not purchase the drier, but I have a drying rack from Ikea I use. My clothes last much longer since they dont have exposure to that heat. I still have to wash large comforters in commercial washers/dryers, but sheets go in this machine no problem. If you EVER need a replacement part it is beyond easy to go to the website and buy it direct. They even have pictures for reference.
Does anyone know the weight of it? I have a really small bathroom in my apartment, and it won’t fit past the foot gap between the Sink cabinet and the toilet bowl. I would have to lift it over and then set it down, or use it near the doorway and completely block access to the bathroom which wouldn’t be good either. Since it’s a gravity drain does that mean it has to drain into a tub/toilet, or could I use it in the kitchen? My concern is the sink is higher than the unit, would that mean it wouldn’t drain correctly?
[QUOTE=flynhghr, post:62, topic:394861]
Does anyone know the weight of it? I have a really small bathroom in my apartment, and it won’t fit past the foot gap between the Sink cabinet and the toilet bowl. I would have to lift it over and then set it down, or use it near the doorway and completely block access to the bathroom which wouldn’t be good either. Since it’s a gravity drain does that mean it has to drain into a tub/toilet, or could I use it in the kitchen? My concern is the sink is higher than the unit, would that mean it wouldn’t drain correctly?
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Specs are in the description. 57.8 lbs. Manual (downloadable from description page) includes notes about draining (p14): “To avoid possible water back-up, the drain hose must reach a height of at least 31-1/2 inches minimum and 40 inches maximum.” So yeah, you drain it to the sink, not the tub or toilet. It even comes with a drain hook to hang it on the edge of the sink.
[QUOTE=viviankb, post:44, topic:394861]
I have the Haier HLP23E 1.5CF washer, the next size up, and I LOVE it. Have used it several times a week for almost two years. In 1.5CF I can wash my queen size duvet cover (by itself) and my sheets (individually). It was under $300 at Home Depot and it’s definitely paid for itself. Yes, I’m afraid it will eventually break, but it has been completely worth it, and I’d buy another.
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We considered the larger model, which was only about $200 refurbed a few months ago on some other site. We liked the digital display, which actually counts down the time. Unfortunately, the cabinet is significantly larger.
I assume you meant dryer, and not washer, because the link went to the Avanti dryer. I have one but have NEVER used it because this Haier spin dries the clothes so effectively that many items are wearable within hours with simple air drying. A fan would speed up the process. As for the Avanti vs. Haier, my gut feeling would be to go for the Haier simply because it has electronic controls. That makes it more automatic and gives more options. Generally speaking, solid state electronic control are more reliable than mechanical ones. ON the other hand, it’s easier to home-repair a mechanical breakage, whicah can be visually diagnosed. Electronic failures needs specialized diagnostics and the replacement of entire circuit boards.
[QUOTE=robio, post:64, topic:394861]
Specs are in the description. 57.8 lbs. Manual (downloadable from description page) includes notes about draining (p14): “To avoid possible water back-up, the drain hose must reach a height of at least 31-1/2 inches minimum and 40 inches maximum.” So yeah, you drain it to the sink, not the tub or toilet. It even comes with a drain hook to hang it on the edge of the sink.
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Thanks for the info. I looked at the specs and it didn’t have weight there. So I can use it in the Kitchen and don’t have to worry about lifting it over the toilet which is good. Didn’t think to look at the manual, and got distracted by other great woot deals, lol.
“Since it’s a gravity drain does that mean it has to drain into a tub/toilet, or could I use it in the kitchen? My concern is the sink is higher than the unit, would that mean it wouldn’t drain correctly?”
there’s a little pump which pushes the rinse water enough that it will go through the drain hose, up and over, and drain into the sink even if the counter is higher than the unit itself. I use mine in the kitchen with the kitchen sink always. I’m probably not describing it very well - By “gravity drain” I meant that once the wash water gets into the sink, it drains like a sink full of water or bathtub full of water, as opposed to when a regular washing machine has a hardwired hookup to your drain system, which force-pumps the water through the drains, which is a problem in buildings like mine where the wastewater stack is shared, bla bla bla I’m not a plumber but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Anyways, when you’re done washing, you still have to empty the drain hose and water hose, just by manipulating the hoses down, then up and whooosh, water out. Then I coil them both into the machine’s tub so any drips and drops just go in there.
“The casters don’t look like they’ll roll across carpet too well.” most casters don’t roll across carpet too well.
“Any issues with leaking — both when in use and when stored?”
one issue I have had is when I upgraded my kitchen faucet, the new sink hookup is drippy while the machine is running. You do have to be careful when you first start using the machine to watch for where the hoses will go when you set the water running - as water in the hose causes tension which will make a pliable hose move around and leap. Also always make sure when you snap the waterline in place that it’s secure - I’ve been sloppy once or twice while clipping it in while on the phone or yelling at the cats, turn the water on full blast and WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH HELP, GET THE TOWELS OMGOMGOMG. But the unit itself has never leaked.
would someone who has this machine please let me know if it would work with my faucet? thanks very much.
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If the faucet opening can be unscrewed, there is some adapter somewhere that will interface the washer to your water source. It already comes with a bunch of adapters that will fit most US sinks and tubs. I agree that it cannot be used on sinks that have removable heads with a hose. Yu may be able to remove the head and connect the washer’s hose to the sink’s hose but I’m not sure. The bathroom sink is more promising. YOu can also try the tub, which many people use.
It’s been nearly a year since I moved out of my apartment and put my little Haier and its accompanying dryer in storage, but that little washer was THE GREATEST PURCHASE I MADE while I was living in that little place. I used it for over two years.
It never broke, though it would sometimes stop when I put too many clothes in. It also didn’t shut off the water once and overflowed my bathroom. Other than that, it just worked.
The limit to what I could clean was maybe 4 shirts, 2 pants, and a bunch of undergarments at once. I had a king size bed and could only clean one sheet at a time. Sure beats the heck out of going to the laundromat, though.
I’d highly recommend getting the dryer, too. I found one on craigslist for $100 and still have it.
[QUOTE=izzyamar, post:54, topic:394861]
I bought one of these on Amazon in December last year, and it’s been a lifesaver. So much better than washing stuff by hand in the tub, or paying for the laundromat. I use it every weekend, and it’s still going strong. It’s quiet, doesn’t use a ton of water (3 different water level options, too!) and it has a pretty powerful spin cycle. Probably one of the best appliance purchases I’ve ever made. A link to my Amazon review if you’re interested
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Great Amazon review. I said this was a life changer for me and it was no exaggeration. I used to dread laundry day, having to drag the sack down stairs and then several NYC blocks, only to have to wait for a free machine. After the wash, I’d have to wait for the extractor. And then for a free dryer. There was a lot of waiting and wasted time. In fact, despite the toil of walking through rain and snow, I actually preferred those days because there were fewer people at the laundromat. With this machine, there is no such thing as laundry day anymore. I do my laundry whenever it’s necessary. SOmetimes there is only one load every two weeks, and sometimes, it’s two loads a week. No time is wasted because the wash is done while I do other things, whether that be cook, clean, watch TV (it’s quiet) or even sleep. Like I said, this machine has been a life changer for me.
[QUOTE=robio, post:56, topic:394861]
OWNERS: How much water and moisture is left in the machine and the drain tubing after use? In our place, this thing would have to be stored behind a bedroom door when not in use. I’m thinking about the humidity, etc.
EDIT: Also, would you recommend the 1yr warranty from Square Trade?
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I store mine in my bedroom closet. There’s a bit of water left inside sometimes (you can hear it when you move the machine sometimes) but I’ve never had a problem with humidity or condensation. I was concerned about that at first myself. I store mine with the hoses folded inside it, so the door is propped up a bit and that probably helps keep condensation from forming.
The casters are cheap plastic and probably would have trouble across carpet. But you mount them yourself when you get the machine, so you can get better ones at the hardware store and install those instead. I plan to do so eventually myself.
[QUOTE=cabaretsinger, post:53, topic:394861]
Thank you for posting that it uses 7 gallons. In the Specs, it list usage at 2 BPF. After searching Google, I still have no idea what 2 BPF means in this context. Anyone else have a clue?
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I should point out that my 7 gallon result was simplistic, and calculated before I actually owned the machine. It was based on an entry in Walmart’s Q&A for the machine, and my own calculations for 1 cubic feet (1cf = 7.4 gallons). I reasoned that since this holds 1cf (7.4 gallons), and half of the drum is holding clothes, only half of that volume is then holding water (3.7 gallons). That’s true during the wash cycle, and then again during the rinse cycle. Hence around 7 gallons. I did not factor in the fact that the Heavy option involves 2 rinses. On the other hand, if you choose Low, the manual says that it uses less than 3.44 gallons. Here is a capture from the manual: