GalooshGalooshGaloosh

[tugrik]

The stereotypical, front-loading laundry machine seen on any given TV show has a clear window on it; one can see the clothes splashing around inside. When we bought our Maytag Neptune about 7 years ago I was a bit bummed that it didn't have one. Having grown up with top-loaders it was a bit odd to put the clothes in the front but still kind of neat. I was just bummed that it was still just a blank, metal door.

Unlike the misfortunes of 90% of all other Neptune owners, our experience was a good one. We had one minor fault with a logic board in its first six months that was quickly repaired. Most folks had such bad luck with theirs that they had a class action lawsuit over it, resulting in $500-1000 'repayments' to purchase new washers. I kept hoping ours would break before the mid-2005 deadline to get in on that action, but it never did.

A few weeks ago it started behaving oddly. Sometimes it'd get stuck for a little too long on a cycle, or you could hear it failing to 'flip over' for a while before it'd finally catch. Last week one of my housemates caught it endlessly filling and emptying without ever starting the actual wash cycle. Combined with the 'we never saw it happen but always found a damp floor' mystery leaks and we finally had the reason to replace it.

The new one shipped in today. We picked up a last-year's-model LG from the local BestBuy. While the mis-match bothers that little OCD side of my personality, we still only replaced the washer as the old Neptune dryer is as strong as ever. The new washer will be a nice addition to the house, as it's a full 4.5ft^3 capacity, compared to our older one's 3.2ft^3. It's also pretty and blue.



Revar got it on one of those 36-month-no-interest things, just like we got the TV two years ago. We're splitting the cost and will have it paid off by summer. I hate having to spend money on big appliances, but having clean tug-sized clothes is a very good thing that requires decent machinery.

And hey, now there's that cool window to look through, just like the TV people have.

~~~Geek Edit~~~~

So I was reading the PDF manual while nibbling lunch at work. Yeah, I know, I know. In there I saw mention of a 'remote laundry monitor'. Evidently this series of units has a built in powerline modem and can talk to a remote display. Considering the number of times we've forgotten to change laundry over when waiting on each other (yay, large households with lots of laundry) because we can't hear when the machine is done, this little gizmo option rules. And, hey... gadget!



I pick it up from BestBuy on my way home from work tonight. :) I suspect it won't be long before we modify it to update a web page or our iPhones, proper Maker/hack style. Oh, hey, it monitors dryers too, if I upgrade to the same series model. But I don't need a new dryer... I really don't... *fidgets*

Comments

[smackjackal.livejournal.com]

But think of it this way, your purchase of a durable good such as this washer is actually good for the economy as a whole.

[smokepaw.livejournal.com]

Huh... You know, having spent my teenage years in a household that had both a Neptune washer and dryer, we never had problem one with either one of the units. In fact, both units are still going strong as ever in my Father's house right now. This is the first I have heard of issues concerning the Neptune machines, actually. I've always associated quality with Maytag; my stove, microwave and dish washer are all Maytag.

I only have a Frigidaire stack front loading washer and dryer because it is what came with my apartment. No issues with either really, and both perform well enough to get my clothes clean and not tear them up too badly. :)

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my Neptunes were just fine too until this washer give-out. Check out a few web searches on 'maytag neptune washer', though, and put on your asbestos undies. Folks got seriously upset about them. I don't know if it was just a few models or the whole line. Over the years I got multiple snail-mail packets about joining class action lawsuits and the like, but I never did since mine was still working!

[smokepaw.livejournal.com]

Very interesting! Either way, I don't think my father has plans to replace either unit in the near future. Minus the window, they were always (and still are,) awesome machines.

Curious, when do you get home? Me and Angela would like to give you a phone call a little later.

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

Any time after 6:30p! Oh, do please drop by. :) There are prints to pick up, too...

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

I got mega-delayed, home now! I blame work and on-call status >^<

Is it still too late to call?

[smokepaw.livejournal.com]

Right about when you were posting your reply, I was running out the door to an emergency. All in the life of a firefighter! Don't worry about it, though. I figured as much has likely happened and such, actually.

When would you think is a good time to call today instead? The plan is for us to still head down to the Bay come Friday for an arrival sometime after noon.

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

Thanks to vet stuff, I'm working from home the remainder of the day. Call any time.

BLOOOOOOOOOUUUUEEE!

[learnteach.livejournal.com]

Had to be said

[jdarkwulf.livejournal.com]

As gadget-happy as you are, I imagine you've seen this. But if not: The Washing Machine Hack (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkMXpKmRXvU)

[cjthomas.livejournal.com]

I think the washing machine retrofitted to make beer still wins, but this is still interesting };>.

-Deuce

[wingywoof.livejournal.com]

Goodbye microwave kitchen timer!

[ksilebo.livejournal.com]

I bet new washers/dryers have RS232 somewhere on the back.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Oooh, shiny! ^^ Wow, I've never heard of a washing machine with a powerline modem and matching remote unit, either - not that I know anything about washing machines (or any kinds of appliances really), of course. It does sound like a rather useful feature, though.

[rbradakis.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to want to replace my Maytag now, damn your shiny blue LG eyes!


Remote laundry monitor? ... have you seen the SNL digital short "Jizz in my Pants"? Yeah, that's aaaaah... I mean awesome.

[darkwolven.livejournal.com]

Cool gadgets. You know likely the old one just needed a tune up kit, right? These things need belts and rollers replaced or the barrel starts to slowly fail to turn.

[panda-pooka.livejournal.com]

That is exactly the same one I was ogling not too long back. Ooooh, the gadgetry abounds in unexpected places!

[normanrafferty.livejournal.com]

I am positively green-eyed!

[sassinak.livejournal.com]

Nice!

I guess it's probably good that I know that machine would never fit in our undersized laundry closet. Or I'd be lusting...

[oceansedge.livejournal.com]

Much as james_b and I love our LG washers and dryer, I gotta tell ya.. this post kinda touched a nerve.

All hail to the response to over geekering! (http://oceansedge.livejournal.com/700661.html)

[tugrik.livejournal.com]

*snickersnorts*

I just like fussing with things to see what they can do. As it stands the monitor has been of limited use so far; there are issues with how it does its powerline modem work. If I can solve that I'll see about hacking into it, but yeah, it's just laundry. :)

Truth be told, I get much more use out of the remote thermometer/alarm setup on the BBQ grill. Because, y'know.... mmmmmmm, steak!