Q: A couple of weeks ago you wrote about washing machines. And in early December, you had a column about induction ovens. Will you please consider reviewing other appliances? Less than two years ago I purchased all new appliances for my kitchen. They were supposed to be quality, but I think all of them are cheaply made and difficult to operate.
A: When I reviewed appliances in the past, it was because they were new or novel, like I did with the Panasonic Countertop Induction Oven. But yours is not the only letter I received about this topic. Because of reader demand, appliances will be featured occasionally in the column now.
The recent column featuring Speed Queen laundry equipment touched a nerve. The correspondence from other owners was overwhelmingly positive. In one of the few critical e-mails, a reader with a Speed Queen washer was not satisfied with its performance on delicates, saying the agitator swooshes only two times per load. That must be a problem with that particular machine, because I ran a test load of delicates on my washer and had no such issue.
The column also mentioned complaints I'd heard about front-loading washers having issues with musty smells and mold. Several readers wrote to share their advice that these problems can be minimized by leaving the washer and detergent doors open, and by not using too much detergent.
I got a surprising amount of universally negative commentaries about the appliance industry in general. One reader lamented that he ditched a 34-year-old Maytag washer-dryer pair simply because he thought they were old, and then had what he called, "Three of the worst possible washing machine purchase experiences on the planet ... Don't even get me started about the new gas ranges."
A few readers asked if it is possible to get other types of appliances with Speed Queen's old-school quality, reliability and longevity. I did some research online and spoke with repair personnel, as well as longtime industry veteran Rick Voss of Voss Appliance in Pittsburgh. The consensus is no, you can't. I was also advised that the more electronics and complexity in the appliance, the more likely it is that it will break and the more expensive it will be to fix. If longevity is what you are after, you may be better off repairing a simpler, older machine.
I must admit that I haven't experienced any appliance horror stories. As part of a kitchen remodeling project five years ago, I replaced my home's early 1980s GE kitchen appliances (which all still worked perfectly). I chose a Frigidaire Gallery range based on the look, feel and positive reviews, then added a side-by-side Frigidaire Gallery refrigerator so the stainless finishes would match. Both have worked reliably, although the icemaker's poor design often results in the ice being dumped into the freezer compartment. (How did that make it past product testing?) I also bought a Bosch dishwasher that has been reliable, though I miss the perfect drying of a heating element and a food grinder so I don't have a filter to clean. These are minor quibbles, and Rick did compliment the Bosch dishwashers as, "a solid product that has been out for a while."
Keep those e-mails coming, and I look forward to providing more appliance coverage soon.
Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get recommendations and read past columns at soundadvicenews.com.
