Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Washing clothes is so exciting

I learned a new abbreviation, TLDR:  TOO LONG, DIDN’T READ

it applies to this post, about my washing machine, borrring.  So, please, don't feel obligated.

When I moved in this house I had to buy a washer and a dryer. I went to Sears and picked out a front loader set and included the pedestals, which are very expensive drawers. But it was nice to have such easy access to both the washer and the dryer doors. At that time, I thought a front loader was the best purchase because I am on a well and the front loaders use so much less water.

When they delivered that original set, the installer questioned the setup. The washer was plumbed to go on the right, the dryer on the left. If he had installed it that way, the doors on the machines would have opened back-to-back and transferring the clothes would have been troublesome. His words were "you will not like me if I install these this way". So he suggested that I swap the set up and put the washer on the left, even though it would be further from the plumbing, and put the dryer on the right, even though it would be further from the vent going outside. He had the hoses and the vent tubing to make that all work and I was happy with that arrangement. The downside was that I could not easily reach the main water valve going to the washing machine hoses without standing on my head. But it worked fine that way.


The way it was

About three years ago, that washer self-destructed. I had the Sears insurance plan which covered the cost of a new washing machine, but not the new riser / pedestal. I thought it would be just fine so had it installed. It was fine, but I ddidn't really enjoy standing on my head to make sure I got everything out of the very back of the drum. Recently, I noticed a small leak under the washer. That troubling fact,, combined with my dislike of the no pedestal set up, started me thinking about buying a new washing machine.

I visited my friends at the Rice Lake Sears Home Store and picked out a top loader washing machine. This machine will use at least double the amount of water then the front loader but I only wash about tree loads a week so it won't matter. Did you know that washing machines hook up to Wi-Fi now so that the machine can alert you if there is a problem or when you're cycle is completed?

Yesterday was my installation day of the new Samsung top loader. The window that I was given was between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.. at about 5:10 p.m. the installation team called me to say they were on their way. They were a couple of young men who were very pleasant and chatted a bit. They were hoping that my installation would go easy because most of the rest of their day had been complicated. I thought this would go quite easy as the washing machine is located very near to the front door and it was just a swap out.

I stayed close by while he held the old one out so I could get in to wipe up under the old washing machine. Once he had the new machine in the house I sat on the front porch so that I was available if they needed me for anyting. There was one problem that the cold water hose was corroded onto the faucet. I will have to have a plumber, and do some work for me there but the old hose was in acceptable condition to hook it up to the new machine oh, so not an e.mergency but something I will have to have taken care of later.

After a little bit the younger of the two men came out to the front porch and asked me if I would come in for a minute. I knew that meant trouble. It turns out the drain line on the new washing machine was not long enough to reach the drain in the wall. They didn't have anything in their truck that could remedy that situation and the lead installer was unsure as to what might be available. But he had already come up with a solution. He wondered if it would be all right for him to move the dryer up against the outside wall and put the washer close to the plumbing. The only problem with that idea was that them the door would be on the wrong side on the dryer. But my installer said that it was an easy job to switch that door to the other side.

Ta-da

I was extremely happy with that idea because I've been thinking that's the way it should be but I was concerned about the flexibility of the dryer vent and how it was all going to work. He said he could make it work, he would hook up the dryer vent appropriately and all would be good. I still can't hardly believe it. It probably added an extra 20 to 30 minutes to their installation time and it made me a very happy customer. Now I have easy access to the main shut off to the washer water. The dryer is also invented with a shorter tube to the out-of-doors and I watched him tape the connections which it wasn't before.

I had intended to tip them each $10 just because. But after all this, I knew I wanted to give them more. As they left, I gave them each a $20 bill and thanked them again and again.

I have my first loads running now. I think the cycle is shorter than the front loader but a little noisier. I set up one of my cameras so that I could keep an eye on it during these first loads, without standing right there.

Wyze cam view


So far, no leaks!

I'm a happy customer!

Thank you Sears Homestore in Rice Lake!


See TLDR!

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