Washing Machine Update . . .

[Cudedog]

By some miracle, I found the paperwork on the broken washer (amazing - I can almost never find paperwork), seems it is only four years old, and at the time I bought it I also bought an $$extended warranty$$ (a thing I almost never do, because I am cheap).

I actually didn't even remember purchasing this extended warranty (Duh!), but there it was, right there on the original receipt (a nice surprise, that!).

This extended warranty doesn't expire until February 2020.

Well, this morning I went into Lowe's - where I originally bought the machine - and spoke to the manager there. Told him I still had a year on the warranty, but that I was now afraid of the machine, didn't want to repair it, and asked if (since I had never had a warranty repair on the machine) if I could get a credit from this warranty put on a new washer.

He said I would need to call a number (Lowe's doesn't handle such things after a purchase is a month old) but what might happen, he said, is since I still had a year to run on the warranty, and since I had the paperwork, that they would first need to send someone out to my house (to verify that the machine was damaged) and if it was determined that the machine can't be repaired, THEY MIGHT GIVE ME A NEW MACHINE. Whoa!

Although I'm not sure I want a new machine of this model, it is definitely better than shelling out $400 - $600 for a new one (I paid about $600 for the one that did the self-destruct thing last night).

I'm not holding my breath, but if I get an offer of a new machine, I'm going to jump on it.

Anne

[BirdbyBird]

Nice job finding the paperwork! Good Luck.

[Irmi]

I'm so glad you found the paperwork for the machine and hope it works to your advantage!

[Bethers]

Super that you found the paperwork. Make sure you let us know what transpires.

[Redetotry]

Good grief!!!! That must have been frightening. So glad you found your warranty. I never by warranties either but I did on the new washer I bought. It is a stack electric Whirlpool and it broke twice the first six months I had it thus the warranty. My old Maytag developed a hole in the tub and they no longer had replacement pasts. It did a great a job but this Whirlpool is terrible. The room it is in is small so I was limited in choices. One of my friends bought a new gas stove and one of the burners exploded with a flash of fire, luckily she had just turned away to pick up a spoon or she would have been burned. Her son was home, heard her scream and for some reason picked up the fire extinguisher as he ran inside. What a mess that made but it put the fire out and he knew where the gas shut off was. The 'fixed' it and about 6 months later another burner did the same thing but they would not replace the whole stove. I would be afraid to use it!!

[Bethers]

Yikes, BJ, that stove would be out of my house after the second time. Scary!

[MandysMom]

Anne, I would do some online research. I keep thinking I heard of certain washers doing what you describe and could even be a recall. Might have been a couple of years ago. Google the symptoms you saw. If it is a recall amd you weren't notified I think I'd at least call homeowners insurance.
Velda

[Cudedog]

Good grief!!!! That must have been frightening. So glad you found your warranty. I never by warranties either but I did on the new washer I bought. It is a stack electric Whirlpool and it broke twice the first six months I had it thus the warranty. My old Maytag developed a hole in the tub and they no longer had replacement pasts. It did a great a job but this Whirlpool is terrible. The room it is in is small so I was limited in choices. One of my friends bought a new gas stove and one of the burners exploded with a flash of fire, luckily she had just turned away to pick up a spoon or she would have been burned. Her son was home, heard her scream and for some reason picked up the fire extinguisher as he ran inside. What a mess that made but it put the fire out and he knew where the gas shut off was. The 'fixed' it and about 6 months later another burner did the same thing but they would not replace the whole stove. I would be afraid to use it!!

Thanks, BJ.

The worst part of it was when I was leaning over the machine pressing the shut-off button (the button wasn't working!) as the machine was bucking around the floor. It was plugged into the wall behind the machine, I couldn't get around the front of the machine because it had jumped to the middle of the laundry room, sowas too near the wall. I couldn't get in beside the machine because it had pushed the dryer in the way. I thought for a second (only a second!!) of somehow climbing over the machine to get to the plug, but was afraid it might buck backwards and crush me.

Had I got trapped it might have been weeks before anyone would have found me. Don't want to think about that part.

About the time I decided to run outside and flip the electrical breakers, the machine stopped.

Your story about the kitchen range raises the hair on the back of my neck. I think that if this had happened even once for me, that range would have been out the door.

Anne, I would do some online research. I keep thinking I heard of certain washers doing what you describe and could even be a recall. Might have been a couple of years ago. Google the symptoms you saw. If it is a recall amd you weren't notified I think I'd at least call homeowners insurance.
Velda

Thanks for the suggestion, Velda. I checked online, and it seems it was the Whirlpool front-loader that exploded (the photos of the exploded machine are pretty much YIKES!). Also, the Samsung top loader has been known to explode off its top. My machine is a Whirlpool top-loader, Model #WTW5000DWO, if anyone is interested (had to get the model number off the machine to arrange for the Whirlpool technician to come out).

Apparently front-loading machines (at least of the Whirlpool variety) have a heavy concrete block counter-weight bolted to plastic. It was the failure of the plastic that let loose this counter-weight. Who knew!! A front loader is now off my list as a potential new washing machine.

My machine is a Whirlpool top loader. I checked my model on Consumer Reports, and there are LOTS and LOTS of complaints about this machine. Wish I had checked before I bought it!!

Whirlpool is sending out a technician to my house on Wednesday. Even though I do have the extended warranty, I don't have a lot of hope that Whirlpool will offer me a new machine. Probably, at best, they might offer to make repairs. If they do, I will decline the repairs. I don't want this machine in my house.

Hey, Barbie, where have you got off to? How goes the house-selling adventure? Inquiring (nosy!) minds want to know.

Anne

[BarbaraRose]

So far I have been lucky with my new washer I bought last fall. No issues and works very well (top loader).

I am doing fine, altho a bit frustrated. All offers fell thru on the house so I am back to square one, waiting for a new interested buyer... am so worried I will lose the Indio house if this one doesn't sell soon.

[JudyJB]

I would really like the model number and some photos if you could post them. If Whirlpool does not give you a new machine, maybe the homeowners insurance will.

Personally, I think top loaders clean better than front loaders because they use more water. My kids all have front loaders because they do a lot of large loads with their kids, however, most of us on this forum are single or have empty nests, so we really don't need that huge capacity. My one son has had a lot of problems with his washing machine and had to to replace it once. Now he has a warranty.

I also am a believer in simple is better when it comes to appliances. I seldom need more than a couple of load sizes and only need to choose from two or three cycles. Less to break, is my thoughts. When I sold my condo to full-time, I had had an Amana washer and dryer and never had any problems with either of them. Bought in 1997 and sold in 2012.

I have a gas stove now in my RV, but way back when I was first married, I had a gas stove in a mobile home. One day, as I was wearing a 100% cotton nightgown, I turned on one of the top burners and it made a whomping sound as it lit a thin film of grease on the top and very briefly burned the front of my nightgown. Luckily, the fire on the cotton fiber went out immediately and I was not burned, but it was very scary. I am still very careful to keep the top of my stove very clean, and given a choice, I would rather have an electric stove.

[Bethers]

Personally, having owned top and front loaders, were I to buy again I'd research and find the best rated front loader. They clean better, imho, ... It's not all about how much water they use. But they do make some top loaders today using the technology used on front loaders. There is a reason commercial washers (think motels and commercial laundries) have always been front loaders.

[Cudedog]

The story continues. . .

**FIRST UPDATE**

To recap:

After my washing machine failed on Saturday, I went into Lowe's and spoke to the manager about my failed washer. He gave me a telephone call to have someone come out to inspect the machine. I called the number, arranged for someone to come out on Wednesday.

A few minutes ago, I received a phone call from a number I didn't recognize, the caller said it was about having my washer repaired. I guess somehow my original conversation wasn't understood - I don't want "repair" on this washer, I want an "inspection", but I let that part go.

Anyway, this caller wanted to know if someone could come out tomorrow (instead of Wednesday) and I replied that I had told the original service consult that Tuesday would not be good for me, which is the reason it was scheduled for Wednesday. I also said (stupid me!) that I wouldn't be at home on Tuesday (so now I guess I will be staying home on Tuesday "just in case" this call was bogus).

So the woman says, "Thank's, I'll let him know" (!) and as I opened my mouth to ask a question of when they might actually be coming out to look at my machine, she hung up on me before I could speak.

I immediately called back the number on my cellphone (ain't cellphones great?) and no one answered at this number. Tried this several times, nada.

I then called the number Lowe's had given me for the service people who were due to come out on Wednesday (Don't laugh. Their name is "Quality Appliance").

Guess what? Big surprise (not): Quality Appliance is not answering their phone, either. Tried several times, nada.

I then called the Lowes "service number" trying to find out what the heck is going on, a guy said I would need to call "Quality Appliance" to find out. I said I had done that already, multiple times, to both of the telephone numbers I have, no one is picking up the phone at either number.

The Lowe's service guy then tried to call "Quality Appliance" himself, and he couldn't get anyone to answer the phone, either. (This is in the middle of the day on Monday).

He said "they should be there" because it is "during business hours", so he didn't know what was up. He also said that there wasn't anyone else in my area that could service my machine. He said he would try to find out what the deal is, and get back to me. Sure, fine.

So. That is where things currently stand. Am I surprised at getting the inevitable run-around? No. Am I surprised at this level of "no service"? No.

Am I taking careful notes in preparation of making The Big Stink?

You bet.

Suggestions appreciated.

**SECOND UPDATE**

I called again (sixth call so for) and finally got someone on the phone, apparently my "unknown number" was the personal cell of the "Quality Appliance" people. The woman I spoke to said that they only come out on Fridays (! Even though Lowes - I guess - had scheduled me for Wednesday) but that they couldn't come out this Friday due to something about a death in the family "late last year", and the fact that she is assisting the remaining family members on this Friday to "find a new place to live".

(She actually told this to me on the phone - a LOT more than I needed to know).

So I said fine, no problem. . . but exactly when are they going to actually be able to come out?

Of course, she said she "wasn't sure" and that she would "need to check, and would get back to me".

Uhuh.

Anne

[Acadianmom]

I think Lowe's contracts with local repair people. That's what they did to install my microwave. I got a call from Lowe's later, probably to check on the install but I missed the call. I have a complaint about the installation. I thought about checking on the vent after they left and they hadn't even aimed it in the right directions. It needs to be taped with the silver tape they use on vents.

Martha

[snowball]

wow Anne that is so totally not professional and am surprised that a company like Lowe's has them
doing work for them... I think a call to the manager at your local Lowe's would be in order
and if Fridays is the only day they work in that area then they shouldn't have scheduled helping with something of that nature on that day... totally unprofessional
sheila

[MandysMom]

I agree Beth, my front loader gets clothes cleaner than all the top loaders I owned before. This past week or so was the first issue with this one, which just had its 10th birthday. A $190 part and in minutes I was back in business. When this eventually goes it will be replaced with similar, though I hope it will be a long time because the guy at the parts store said all the new machines are poorly made and I was better off repairI g this as long as I can.
Velda