I want to purchase a clothes washer that will work reliably for at
least 10 years - a machine that uses less water per load than my 15
year old Sears Kenmore top-loader.  I've read the Consumer Reports
information, however they don't test machines to failure.  Ideally I
would like to obtain "test to failure" data for leading brands sold
since the year 2000.  I'll wash 200 loads per year, so the machine
must wash 2,000 - 3,000 loads reliably before failure.

If "test to failure" data isn't available, I'd like to obtain data in
the form "This manufacture's washer design is essentially unchanged
for the past 10 years, and 10 year old machines are still in use and
have proven to be reliable".

I really would like a good answer to this question, and I'll be glad
to raise the price as needed to obtain this data.  Thank you!

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Request for Question Clarification by czh-ga on 23 Aug 2005 14:37 PDT

Hello larryg999-ga,

My preliminary research shows that ?test to failure? data for washing
machines is not available. I?ve also discovered that there have been
some significant changes in washing machine designs in the past 10
years. Consequently, your criterion of "This manufacture's washer
design is essentially unchanged for the past 10 years, and 10 year old
machines are still in use and have proven to be reliable" is not going
to work.

The problem is that new designs don?t have the necessary track record
for individual models. Part of the issues involved with evaluating new
appliances is that instead of looking at mostly mechanical reliability
newer appliances all incorporate lots of electronic components and the
reliability of the ?computer? elements is more critical.

Here are some articles to help you with thinking through your
evaluation criteria and how you want to define reliability.

http://www.muswell-hill.com/foxandco/pages/wmbuyingguide.htm
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg0812521127041.html
http://listserv.repp.org/pipermail/greenbuilding/1997-November/007121.html

Please let me know what research will meet your needs for finding the
best new washing machine for you. Thanks.

~ czh ~

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Clarification of Question by larryg999-ga on 23 Aug 2005 16:48 PDT

A satisfactory answer would be:  Provide contact information so that I
can speak to or email the technicians (or service managers) who
repair, under warrantee, the washers made by the leading manufacturers
-- for the models that have been out for long enough to have proven
themselves in the field.  My objective is to purchase, used, a
low-water-use machine to replace my old reliable Sears Kenmore.

Thank you.