January 24th, 2024 | 7 min. read
Learn how to find the perfect laundry products with our Washer Buying Guide
Besides a refrigerator and perhaps a stove, a dead washer is the most inconvenient appliance.
Laundry piles up with sweaty clothes from the gym, loungewear, and baby clothing.
I can only imagine how many loads of laundry a family of five or more goes through.
Reliability is a matter of debate, but it shouldn't be.
Your local appliance store will likely push you into buying a top-load washer instead of a front-load because of dependability.
That's a mistake.
In this article, you will learn about the most reliable front and top-load washers based on over 37,000 service calls logged by our service department last year.
You will also learn about common washer problems and how to prevent them.
Let's get started.
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How Washer Reliability is Measured
We calculate appliance reliability by dividing the products we serviced by the products we sold in 12 months.
For this article, we looked at the number of front washers sold and serviced from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023.
It's the fairest measure of initial quality.
Over the years, we have changed laundry brands more than any other category to limit your potential service issues.
Reliability, by our standard, is measured by the percentages of actual service calls versus sales.
We have 35 service technicians on 6-10 service calls daily, five days a week, and 110 on weekends.
Last year, we logged over 37,000 service calls.
To put it into perspective, that number surpasses the entire population of Natick, Massachusetts.
We have logged over 100,000 service calls in the Boston area in the last three years, just about the size of Quincy, MA.
Having an available repair service is an integral part of your purchase.
Unfortunately, many review blogs or websites that don't provide appliance services are rife with false information.
Most are marketing, sales, and advertising pieces. It can lead to some regrettable buying decisions.
Some of their recommendations could not have been worse advice for buying a washer or dryer.
Why We Only Look at Service Rates Within the First Year of Ownership
Customers call us in the first year because we offer a free warranty service.
Tracking what happens after the first year is much more challenging as customers may move or call another service provider.
The Most Reliable Front Load Washer Brands for 2024
The following service rates are based on a minimum of 100 products sold and a total sample of over 2,000 products within 12 months
| Service Rates | |
| Whirlpool | 4.1% |
| LG | 4.9% |
| GE | 7.4% |
| Grand Total | 5.6% |
Whirlpool - 4.1% Service Rate
Whirlpool was sold exclusively to builders. We perform start-up checks on all jobs as per the contract to prevent issues before they arise.
Therefore, we don’t get the service calls after installation so they aren’t reported in our numbers
I would buy a Whirlpool washer for reliability. My folks have a Whirlpool dryer in their home in Florida.
However, you could buy a better set for the money in another brand.
LG - 4.9% Service Rate
Previous Year: 2.1% Service Rate
What's impressive about LG is that they are the second most reliable appliance brand and the most innovative in 2024.
LG washers are among the few places our reliability reports and Consumer Reports match.
Usually, most innovative means most serviced.
In 2024, new LG washers will have AI cycles and automatic dispensers.
Their new WashTower with ventless heat pump drying is exceptional, using sensors to wash your clothes at the correct setting needed.
LG's washers are also the shallowest for easier stacking and fitting into closets.
The washers vary in size and features from 4.5 to 5.8 cubic feet.
Best LG Front Load Washers to Consider:
- LG 4.5 cu. ft. Front Load Washer WM3400CW
- LG 4.5 cu. ft. Front Load Washer WM4000HWA
- LG 5.0 cu. ft. Front Load Washer WM4500HBA
- LG WashTower 4.5 Cu. Ft. Washer, 7.2 Cu. Ft. Dryer WKHC202HBA
GE - 7.4% Service Rate
Previous Year: 6.4% Service Rate
GE's front load washers are newer with unique features. We only sell the premium GE models with more features than most LG models.
GE's front load washers have a 32-ounce detergent dispenser. An automatic detergent dispenser will also lower the need for service in the long term.
Most people, and maybe you, place too much detergent in the dispenser.
You only need a capful of detergent
Excess detergent creates foam and stays in the machine for an expensive future service call.
Auto dispensers prevent that by dispensing the exact amount of detergent needed at the right time.
More importantly, GE is the only company to address mold by having anti-mold Microban surfaces and a fan inside the machine to dry excess moisture.
Pro Tip: Standing water causes mold. Always dry the gasket and leave the door open after every wash to prevent it from being in your front load washer.
Best GE Front Load Washers to Consider:
- GE 5.0 cu. ft. Front Load Washer GFW850SSNWW
- GE 5.0 Cu. Ft. White Front Load Washer GFW655SSVWW
- GE Profile UltraFast Combo Washer & Dryer PFQ97HSPVDS
Front Load vs. Top-Load Washer Reliability
Earlier, we mentioned most appliance stores would most likely push you into buying a top-load laundry set over a front-load laundry set
Buying based on reliability between a front and top load washer is a mistake.
First, you have three choices for top-load washers:
- Base Model: It's less expensive, has less capacity, and has fewer features.
- Hybrid Washer Without an Agitator: This option comes in a much larger size and offers more capacity. We don't sell these at Yale.
- Hybrid Washer With an Agitator: Larger top load washers with an agitator. The agitator performs the cleaning in a top-load design.
Most customers chose the new hybrid top-load washers with an agitator. They have an oversized tub averaging 4.8 cubic feet
Pro Tip: If you prefer a top-load washer, buy a larger top-load washer with an agitator. It will clean your clothes much more thoroughly.
Top-Load Washer Reliability
Let's look at the most reliable top load washers and compare them to the most reliable front load washers.
Top-Load Washer Reliability for 2024
The following service rates are based on a minimum of 100 washers sold and a total sample of over 600 products within 12 months
| Service Rates | |
| LG Electronics | 1.8% |
| GE | 6.3% |
| GE Profile | 6.7% |
| Grand Total | 4.3% |
LG (1.8%)
Like the others on this list, LG, with a service rate of 2.7%, incorporated many of the traditional front-load features
The most popular top load washer, the LG WT7405CW, is enormous at 5.3 cubic feet. It features their TurboWash system, which turns any cycle into 30 minutes.
Unlike their front load washer, you have a deep fill option to soak your clothes with water.
GE (6.3%) and GE Profile (6.7%)
GE Profile's service rate of 6.3% was over the average of 4.3% for all top load washers.
The GE Profile washer has an extra-large capacity of 4.9 cubic feet. They feature custom dispensing in the back of the machine and plenty of cycles.
I used to have an old top-load washer in my apartment and wish I had GE Profile's Knot cycle.
That cycle changes the wash action so the machine won't knot your bed sheets and blankets.
The best GE Profile top load washers to consider are the PTW605BSRWS and the GTW525ACPWB.
Read More: Most Reliable Top Load Washers
Which Is More Reliable, a Top Load or a Front Load Washer?
Front-load washers require more service than top-load washers, with a difference of 1.3%.
However, a one percent difference is not a wide margin nor statistically significant.
Both top-load and front-load washers require fewer repairs than appliances in general, with an average service rate of 8.3%.
Still, front-load washers are more expensive to fix.
Read More: Front Load vs. Top Load Washers
What Are the Most Common Washer Issues?
The most common washer problems are:
- Tub Not Filling With Water
- Clothes Coming Out Wet
- Grinding Noise
How to Prevent Service Calls on Washing Machines
Our service manager, Tim Willis, says you can avoid many problems with simple steps.
Washer Not Draining
- Solution: Check your hoses. Often, you have a small item blocking the water flow. Use a bag for the small stuff.
Clothes Still Wet
- Solution: Before calling service, ensure you are not overloading or underloading the washer.
Door Lock Issues
- Solution: The simple advice is to not force the latch and ensure it's unlocked before opening it.
How Long Does a Washer Last?
I asked Paul MacDonald, the one-time President of the American Servicers Association with 35 years in appliance service.
He said the following:
"Depending on usage, washing machines can last 6-10 years.
To extend their life, clean the lint filter after every use and periodically check the hoses for any signs of wear and tear
Also, don't overload the machine; use the right amount of detergent based on the load size and water hardness."
What Happened to Maytag and Samsung?
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Short supply during the pandemic caused us to stop selling Samsung.
Now, they are back at Yale with new models.
So now I have to devote part of my day to responding to Samsung haters like this:
“I, too am a Samsung appliance survivor. We bought the full set of their high-end crapfest....refrigerator with [a] defective motherboard that leaks and won’t make ice...microwave that comes on by itself and beeps at all hours of the day and night.....dual convection stove with a malfunctioning timer that seems designed specifically to screw up whatever you’re trying to make. And hours spent on the phone with a customer service department whose sole mission, seemingly, is to drive you so completely over the edge with frustration So for all you folks out there pondering the wisdom of purchasing a Samsung appliance, who are you going to believe....Steve ‘Leverage Your Retailer’....I’m not in the tank for Samsung, Honest!’ Sheinkopf, or the multitudes of consumers on here who have ALL shared in virtually identical, awful experiences with this wretched, patently dishonest and corrupt manufacturer?!?! In the immortal words of TV Superdad Mike Brady: Caveat Emptor!”
Whirlpool and Maytag are the same company. I love their people, but their once-famous laundry is not in the same league as the market leaders.
Again, they have focused on alternate channels like box stores and even direct to you.
That won't last long. As Whirlpool, Maytag, and Samsung will discover, delivery and installation are the most challenging part of selling appliances.
Key Takeaways
Front-load washers have a larger capacity and will use less energy and water than a hybrid top-load washer.
A basic top-load washer, or your base model, will be less expensive but have less capacity and use more water and energy.
Top-load washers are less costly to fix without any mold issues.
Hybrid top-load washers have better capacity and decent features without mold problems and are less expensive.
Overall, all three are good options.
Your choice depends on how you wash your clothes.
Additional Resources
Download our Yale Washer Buying Guide with all the features, terms, and brands of laundry. Over 1 million people have already found answers in a Yale guide.
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Looking for answers about Washers?
Choosing a new washer and dryer can be a confusing and time-consuming experience. We've taken the pain out of the decision process with our Washer Buying Guide.
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It seems that every appliance review has nothing but glowing comments about almost every product, yet you read customer reviews and they are almost universally bad.
We are here to fill in the disconnect. We'll give you the best features, and the drawbacks as well, including reliability based on over 37,000 calls performed by our service team just last year. Our goal is to give you ALL the information so you know what's right for you.
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A Note About Pricing
Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
