Appliances Made to BREAK! What Should You Buy Built to LAST?

I've been asked hundreds of times "What appliance should I buy if I want it to last longer than what I already have?" Well, here you go. I decided to discuss this if you'd like to take 20 minutes to get some ideas.

DISCLAIMER: Everyone has different experiences with different brands and models. This list isn't exhaustive, nor perfect. I tried to list models that, in my OPINION are going to last longer than others, while not being unfathomably expensive like machines you'd only find at a laundromat that require hardmounts or really oddball requirements.

Models mentioned or referenced in the video that I'd buy if I needed new appliances. I am having trouble linking to most Appliance Connection products, so here are links through AJ Madison:

Washing Machines:

Dryers:

Stoves (not that I called them out extensively):

Refrigerators:

Top-Mount

Side-by-Side

French Door / Bottom Mount Freezer

Dishwashers:

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Video Timeline:

Intro: 00:00
What Washing Machines to Buy or Avoid (Top Loaders): 02:04
Front Load Washers to Consider: 07:43
A Discussion About Dryers: 11:18
What's the Deal with Stoves: 13:00
Refrigerator Styles and Brands to AVOID: 15:06
Really Only One Brand to Discuss for Dishwashers 19:01

[bopete]

You saved me. My 22 yr old GE refig broke and I didn’t have the money for a repair man or a new frig so I took to utube and WOW I took my freezer apart. Check the reset switches, compressor fan, inside the freezer panel and it was frozen up. I checked the defrost thermostat and found the culprit. I was able to defrost it and cleaned the coils. Bam it was up and running. But an hour or so it stopped again. So back to utube and I found how to reset the light switch’s that control the reset board by pushing it three times and it’s been running great now for two weeks while I await the defrost thermostat part. I was so proud of myself for fixing it. I’m a 60+ yr old single woman with no one to help me so I can’t thank you enough. I thank GOD for what you do and to find someone honest willing to help people is rare in this day and age. You have a follower for life now. Thank u so very much.

[BaltimoreAndOhioRR]

I'd love to see a teardown comparison of the old versus new! 👍

[RoseKindred]

I have had almost no positive "major purchases" in the last decade. Even if the machine is designed and almost perfect the store or shippers can mishandle it or damage the internals. I've had more safety failures than mechanical failures. Meanwhile, I think my electric oven is from the '70s and only has 1 issue, a broken countdown timer for the small oven section.

[geraldpolmateer]

A few years ago my wife and I sold our house. The buyers wanted the Maytag washer. At that time it was 32 years old and we had never had a problem. Recently we built a house and bought a Speed Queen. My wife said it is just like the older Maytag we had.

[coolbluelights]

We bought a fancy LG front loader washer dryer combo in like 2008ish. That thing lasted roughly 8 years and the suspension for the basket broke rendering it complete trash. I replaced it with a 1987 Kenmore top loader that a friend had gotten from a house purchase, which was left outside for a week. I got it home, cleaned it up and that thing is still chugging along today.

[aipot]

In the early 60’s my dad worked for GE and bought a GE washer and dryer. They lasted just past the warranty. He then bought a Maytag washer and dryer. Almost 60 years later my brother is still using them The ONLY repair was replacing a drive belt on the dryer a few years ago. They still work perfect and clean better than anything you can get today.

[ProfaneVestige]

I've been in the kitchen selling industry for roughly 4 years now and everything you said is not only a great insight on what I thought and told customers, but a great relief to hear from a repairman. Consider this a thank you and a new subscriber!

[stevennevins]

My first washing machine was a Whirlpool bought in NY in 1976. Moved it to California in 1978. Shipped it to England in 1981, where it sat in a damp unseated garage for a year, then was converted to run on European current. Brought it back to Texas in 1984, then back to California, back to Texas, then Mississippi, finally back to Texas, where it finally died in 1998. Never had a service call on it.

[briangpz]

Still using my Kenmore dryer that I believe is from the mid 1980's. My parents used it for close to ten years before they gave it to me. I just recently replaced the heating element, and about 7 years ago I had to replace the motor. The only other thing I've changed is the belt. I don't consider that too bad considering how old it is. The best part is how easy it is to service. All it really takes is a couple of nutdrivers, a phillips screwdriver, and a little know how. Parts are still readily available.

[robertwoody]

As an appliance salesman your videos have lead my customers to be very happy with their purchases. I use you as a refernce point when talking about their ROI when buying appliances. KEEP IT UP!

[deejayimm]

I delivered appliances off and on from 2001 to 2014, I always recommended Speed Queen commercial washers and dryers to people who were looking for longevity and didn't buy in the the BS of features, usually after they had spent a crap-ton of money on some pretty garbage.
Nice to see they are still making reliable units.
It's so hard to trust any brand names nowadays.

[mototaco]

My family owned an appliance repair shop in late 80s, we hardly saw Maytag or Speed Queen washer/dryer. We saw may whirlpools, they were easy to repair, my guess is that most likely due to popularity. Looking back, it was sort of satisfying to clean out a dryer when in serviced in the shop, the lint that some customers let it accumulate was astounding

[Accountdeactivated_]

As a renter in San Francisco for 31 years, I have always lived in places with old appliances. Often these appliances have been 20-30 years old. The stoves far older than that. And I can attest they last and work well.

This year my husband and I are buying a condo with new appliances, meaning we will have to replace them ourselves when they break, and I am terrified. Thank you for making this video. It’s extremely helpful!

[stephensams]

I'm still using a 90 series Kenmore washer and dryer that I purchased new in 1990. Except for a few minor normal wear items that I repaired myself, they are still going strong. I dread having to buy something new : )

[teckfire]

Working at Best Buy for a few years, this video was very validating because it means I’ve been telling people all the right things when I was there. Thanks for the information!

[michaelfiguly]

Back in the day the machines will build better and were much simpler to work on, now they're made of plastic and parts snap and break easier, the computerized and much more complicated with many sensors. I've worked on quite a few machines myself and saw this first hand, so what you're saying is very true. This is a great post thanks for letting us all know what's happening

[chrisbosley]

Great comment about keeping the dryer ducts clean. I had a Whirlpool dryer from about 2005 that worked great for years. Moved to a new house in 2012 and it worked like crap on the first load. Took apart the dryer duct (which was only about 8 foot long) and pulled out gobs of lint. Once clean, it worked great again. In addition to being a fire hazard, a dirty dryer duct overworks your appliance and shortens its life. I pull the lint filter on every load and clean it like your advice as well.

[pat]

Before my house burned down two years ago, I was using a 65 year old Westinghouse refrigerator that worked just fine. It was manual defrost, but I had that down to a science. I appreciated the reliability.

[RobBates]

Subscribed! I'm so glad to meet a pro that actually shares my values when it comes to machines.
I'm a computer programmer, and I HATE almost all computerized appliances. I love hearing which models minimize that usage and are analog machines.

[patmo]

By the way, we has a Speed Queen set, sold to us by our next door neighbor who owned an appliance store. They were THE best major appliances we’ve ever had. The only reason we longer own them is because we moved and stupidly left them with the new owners and no longer know an appliance dealer to give us the “friends and family discount.”