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#1
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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. |
#2
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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 |
#3
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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" |
#4
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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 |
#6
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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 |
#7
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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. |
#8
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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#9
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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#10
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Shopping for a new washer: Whirlpool vs Roper
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. |
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