I've gotten some good advice from this group, and thought I'd share my
recent experience. I had to replace my 11 year-old Whirlpool washer
(we push our washer pretty hard - we probably average 3 loads a day),
and naturally my main concern was reliability, balanced with low
cost. Here's what I found:

Consumer reports 2 most recent repair frequency ratings (March 06 and
Jan 07) put Roper at the top, at 6%-7% . Whirlpool and GE were in the
next tier at 9%-10% (that's percentage of reported machines that ever
needed a repair). This is by far the most useful information CR
provides, since it's based on thousands of actual consumers reporting
their experience. The rest of the stuff they report on is of dubious
value. I read the reports, but don't always agree with their
conclusions or opinions. It's funny, because they focus a lot on
efficiency of water and power usage, but also freely admit that the
extra cost for the most efficient machines will take many, many years
to recoup.

After a bit of research (mainly here), I found that Roper is
apparently made by Whirlpool. I had always associated Roper with
bottom-of-the-line el-cheapo appliances, but I gave them another look,
especially after seeing the CR reliability numbers. Whaddayaknow, the
Roper at Lowes said "Roper by Whirlpool Corporation". So I looked at
it a bit closer. Looking into the tub was almost like looking into my
old Whirlpool. I pulled the agitator cap off, and there was the same
agitator dog assembly underneath. Looking down below, I saw what
looked like the same pump/motor/direct drive assembly, and the basic
innards looked almost identical. To top it all off, it was the
cheapest washer I'd looked at so far! I bought it right there and
hauled it home. And this wasn't the bottom-of-the-line 1-knob 2-cycle
cheapo either. It had 4 water level settings, 3 temperature settings,
and 3 main cycles: Normal, Permanent Press and Gentle. The only
feature we gave up was the nice-to-have-but-in-reality-little-used
PreSoak cycle. No, it's not a fancy, feature-laden machine, but it
has everything we normally use with no fluff. Cost? $275!
Comparable Whirlpools and GEs were going for $50-$100 more, and
outside of a couple of minor features, the main thing they had going
for them was that they looked sharper and more modern. The Roper
looks more plain and utilitarian. If we were hosting dinner parties
to show off our laundry machines, then the looks might be worth
something, but they pretty much spend their days alone in the laundry
room. Big deal. And to top it off, the Whirlpool it replaced cost me
$410 11 years ago! (Have appliance prices really gone down that much,
or did I pay too much back then?)

I have theory about the reason Ropers rated higher in reliability than
their Whirlpool brethren: I suspect most Ropers sold have fewer
features - less stuff to go wrong. I bet a good chunk of the
Whirlpool repairs reported had to do with fancy new features -
electronic panels and such. I don't know, but maybe Roper only sells
basic machines. I read a couple of comments here about Ropers being
more simple machines, and that was a big factor in me giving them a
second look.

I had also been considering a GE (Sam's club had a nice model at a
good price), but since I wound up with a Roper, I already know how to
replace such common part failures as the pump or motor coupler (in
fact, I scavenged all the useful parts from the Whirlpool before
hauling it to the recycling place). Since I'm not an appliance
repairman, there's always a learning curve for me the first time I
have to repair one - this way, the first time something goes out, I'll
be able to fix it in a jiffy.

I hope this is helpful to someone in the future. I'd be interested
to hear any comments or other opinions.

replying to rodak, Robin wrote:
Thank you for your information. My Mother needs a new washer and dryer and I
am going today and buy the Roper. I also, saw the Roper tub looked just like
the Whirlpool and wondered if the name cost more. I just need a simple to
operate washer and dryer.. thank you again for the information
Robin

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...er-224153-.htm

Robin wrote:

replying to rodak, Robin wrote:
Thank you for your information. My Mother needs a new washer and
dryer and I am going today and buy the Roper. I also, saw the Roper
tub looked just like the Whirlpool and wondered if the name cost
more. I just need a simple to operate washer and dryer.. thank you
again for the information Robin


Whirlpool acquired the Roper brand in 1989. If it looks similar, there
is a good reason.



--
"In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place."

"Truth Sounds Like Hate To Those Who Hate The Truth"

replying to rodak, Mary J wrote:
Thanks for all this. I love Whirlpool but was hesitant to go with the Roper.
You told me all I needed to know! I'm still getting my Whirlpool but for less
money. Awesome!

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...er-224153-.htm

In article irect.com,
says...
eplying to rodak, Mary J wrote:
Thanks for all this. I love Whirlpool but was hesitant to go with the Roper.
You told me all I needed to know! I'm still getting my Whirlpool but for less
money. Awesome!

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...er-224153-.htm





Often the Roper is the same as a Whirlpool, but with out some features.
Such as sound proofing material or they wll leve off some functions
and/or buttons that many may not need or want anyway.

About like buying car. There will be several 'standard' options if it
is a lx,xle,se or what ever letters may be associated with that brand.

Often the Roper is the same as a Whirlpool, but with out some features.
Such as sound proofing material or they wll leve off some functions
and/or buttons that many may not need or want anyway.

About like buying car. There will be several 'standard' options if it
is a lx,xle,se or what ever letters may be associated with that brand.

What is the consensus here about the reliability and total life cost of electronic vs mechanical controls.

I try to buy mechanical controls.

I know they will eventually wear out but they will be less expensive to repair and are more immune to power surges.

Mark

Often the Roper is the same as a Whirlpool, but with out some features.
Such as sound proofing material or they wll leve off some functions
and/or buttons that many may not need or want anyway.



What is the consensus here about the reliability and
total life cost of electronic vs mechanical controls.
I try to buy mechanical controls.
I know they will eventually wear out but they will be
less expensive to repair and are more immune to power surges.
Mark


I could not find a front load washer with mechanical controls -
- except the $ 3000. Huebsch ..
I settled on an LG and hate ~ everything about it,
except the very-high-speed spin.
John T.

On 12/11/2019 9:26 AM, wrote:





Often the Roper is the same as a Whirlpool, but with out some features.
Such as sound proofing material or they wll leve off some functions
and/or buttons that many may not need or want anyway.

About like buying car. There will be several 'standard' options if it
is a lx,xle,se or what ever letters may be associated with that brand.

What is the consensus here about the reliability and total life cost of electronic vs mechanical controls.

I try to buy mechanical controls.

I know they will eventually wear out but they will be less expensive to repair and are more immune to power surges.

Mark


I've replaced mechanical controls, so far, never had a problem with
electronic. Near impossible to get mechanical anything these days.

I live in one of the most lightning struck areas of the country so my
house has a surge protector on it at the meter. My counter only goes to
999 and has been pegged out for a while now.

In article , says...

I've replaced mechanical controls, so far, never had a problem with
electronic. Near impossible to get mechanical anything these days.

I live in one of the most lightning struck areas of the country so my
house has a surge protector on it at the meter. My counter only goes to
999 and has been pegged out for a while now.



Just think of how many devices with electrical controls you have in the
house. How many times have they been taken out by surges and lightning
? Most likely if there is a surge, it will take out most everything in
the house. I just hope the insurance will cover all that if I ever need
it to.

I don't like the side loader washing machines. I bought a new top
loader a few months ago. Sofar it works well. However it sure does a
lot of what i call funny stuff. It somehow measures what is in the
machine and puts in a small amount of water to match the load. Then it
seems to stop and and start a lot. At first I thought it may be broken.

On Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 11:00:13 AM UTC-5, Ralph Mowery wrote:
In article , says...

I've replaced mechanical controls, so far, never had a problem with
electronic. Near impossible to get mechanical anything these days.

I live in one of the most lightning struck areas of the country so my
house has a surge protector on it at the meter. My counter only goes to
999 and has been pegged out for a while now.



Just think of how many devices with electrical controls you have in the
house. How many times have they been taken out by surges and lightning
? Most likely if there is a surge, it will take out most everything in
the house.

What do you base that on? From personal experience and what I've seen posted
here, a surge that takes out most everything in the house is a rare
occurrence, not the typical surge. I've had one thing fail, and that was
a modem line into my Tivo, which apparently succumbed to a surge during a
lightning storm. I say apparently because there was a storm one day
preceding it's failure, it seems logical, but I can't prove it. Those
kind of events, where one or two things are affected appear to be the
far more common surge damage.



I just hope the insurance will cover all that if I ever need
it to.

I don't like the side loader washing machines. I bought a new top
loader a few months ago. Sofar it works well. However it sure does a
lot of what i call funny stuff. It somehow measures what is in the
machine and puts in a small amount of water to match the load. Then it
seems to stop and and start a lot. At first I thought it may be broken.

The new front loaders are probably worse. Same kind of thing. It puts
in very little water, then starts. Then goes back and forth, then puts in
a little more water. While that's going on, it seems impossible there is
enough water to clean anything. Eventually it gets enough water in it,
but it's still a small amount. The cycle takes twice as long or longer
that an old top loader too. One cool thing, the LG, you can spin the drum
with it not connected to power and the LEDs and controls will light up.
It has some fancy motor that recovers energy as it spins down, so if you
spin it by hand it gets enough power to power up.

On 12/11/2019 11:00 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
In article , says...

I've replaced mechanical controls, so far, never had a problem with
electronic. Near impossible to get mechanical anything these days.

I live in one of the most lightning struck areas of the country so my
house has a surge protector on it at the meter. My counter only goes to
999 and has been pegged out for a while now.



Just think of how many devices with electrical controls you have in the
house. How many times have they been taken out by surges and lightning
? Most likely if there is a surge, it will take out most everything in
the house. I just hope the insurance will cover all that if I ever need
it to.

I don't like the side loader washing machines. I bought a new top
loader a few months ago. Sofar it works well. However it sure does a
lot of what i call funny stuff. It somehow measures what is in the
machine and puts in a small amount of water to match the load. Then it
seems to stop and and start a lot. At first I thought it may be broken.


In the last house we had a hit nearby. I could see where it entered on
an outside light fixture on a detached garage. It burned a receptacle,
the circuit breaker in the main panel, TV, receiver, doorbell. I did
not mind losing the TV as I was looking for an excuse to buy a new one.

The machines sure are strange with cycles. They allow a lot of time for
the soap solution to soak in and loosen. New dishwashers are the same
and cycles are much longer. Never bothered me as I often start it in
the evening after all snacks or drinks are done so it has all night.

On Wed, 11 Dec 2019 10:47:35 -0500, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

On 12/11/2019 9:26 AM, wrote:





Often the Roper is the same as a Whirlpool, but with out some features.
Such as sound proofing material or they wll leve off some functions
and/or buttons that many may not need or want anyway.

About like buying car. There will be several 'standard' options if it
is a lx,xle,se or what ever letters may be associated with that brand.

What is the consensus here about the reliability and total life cost of electronic vs mechanical controls.

I try to buy mechanical controls.

I know they will eventually wear out but they will be less expensive to repair and are more immune to power surges.

Mark


I've replaced mechanical controls, so far, never had a problem with
electronic. Near impossible to get mechanical anything these days.

I live in one of the most lightning struck areas of the country so my
house has a surge protector on it at the meter. My counter only goes to
999 and has been pegged out for a while now.

You probably should also have one on the washer. Down here in
lightning country, the idea of layers of protection is king. When I
was working we had 1000 customers who were not going to turn off their
computers and unplug them every afternoon in the summer so we had to
get pretty good at lightning protection.

BTW how good is your grounding electrode system?

Also, just because your machine has knobs, it doesn't mean it isn't
all electronic behind the panel. If you turn that knob and it is clear
this is just a rotary switch, there is a processor back there.

On Wed, 11 Dec 2019 11:00:00 -0500, Ralph Mowery
wrote:

In article , says...

I've replaced mechanical controls, so far, never had a problem with
electronic. Near impossible to get mechanical anything these days.

I live in one of the most lightning struck areas of the country so my
house has a surge protector on it at the meter. My counter only goes to
999 and has been pegged out for a while now.



Just think of how many devices with electrical controls you have in the
house. How many times have they been taken out by surges and lightning
? Most likely if there is a surge, it will take out most everything in
the house. I just hope the insurance will cover all that if I ever need
it to.

You don't have to lose a thing if you have good surge protection. We
proved that here. We went from a half dozen surge related calls a week
to one or two a year, just by getting our customers to follow our
advice. A am not sure any of the calls were in a customer that
actually had decent surge protection.