Amen to info on line. When my dryer drive-belt broke I researched it online, bought repair kit at local appliance parts store, installed new belt. A pain but beats a $150.00 service call.
About clothes clothes washers, dryers; Speed Queen, made in Wisconsin by Alliance. Same manufacturer as commercial machines. What we bought five years ago after lots of research.
They still make a basic machine with analog controls, just a few cycle choices.
Consumer Reports doesn't review them anymore because they are not energy efficient.
LOL. The newer washers have control boards that are vulnerable to voltage surges, cost over a hundred to replace, and take too long for a complete wash cycle.
They are efficient because they use less water. But if you interrupt the cycle, they empty and refill!
The newer digital washers without a central agitator are also reported to twist clothes into knots and fail to clean as well as the older design.
When the timing module on my Speed Queen failed last year, I called their tech support line in Wisconsin, and the tech sent me a new timer at no charge. The washer has a stainless steel tub and 5 year warranty on the direct drive motor.
Also has the government-mandated stupid lid lock and water level limit which are easy to bypass.
As for dryers the basic difference in efficiency is whether fueled by electricity or gas. Why I have a clotheline.
BTW, I am a certified residential energy auditor. A device which is "energy efficient" by government mandate often gets labeled that way because you "can't fix stupid" !