Considering one of the new "super capacity" clothes washer/dryer sets? Wondering how they perform, and whether or not they really live up to the hype of being a breakthrough in home laundry care? Here's the good and the bad of my experience with the Sears-brand Kenmore Elite Oasis HE series.

I had the option of paying over $1400 per unit for the name-brand (i.e., Maytag, et al) washer and dryer with a storage pedestal below it and fancifully-named colors like Sierra and Ocean Blue, or I could pay less than $700 per unit for the basic white Kenmore set with identical specs, minus the pedestal.  (Actually, I think the washer I ended up ordering has a slightly higher capacity than the highest name brand I could find).  Kenmore calls it the "Canyon Capacity" washer, and oh my!  It is that!

Think of the Canyon Capacity washer as the triple-capacity washing machine you've only previously been able to find in select laundromats.  A king size comforter is NOTHING to this bad boy.  Go ahead and toss the sheets in, too.  They will all come out beautifully clean. It's not the cool front-loading washer I had intended to buy, but you simply cannot get this capacity in a front-loader.

The machine's controls are push-button and digital, but extremely easy to understand and operate. I hate having to read manuals before I can use a basic household product, and I was not disappointed with the ease of use of the Oasis HE series.  You have complete control over the cycle time, spin speed, number of rinses and pre-soaks, etc.  If you don't want to mess with settings, you simply set the dial to the type of fabrics you are washing, and the machine sets itself.

Even more amazing to me was owning a dryer that actually dries and fluffs properly in equal or less time than the washing cycle! I used to have to wait almost an hour between cycles while the dryer finished its work. Now the clothes are ready to come out of the dryer as quickly as they are ready to come out of the washer. Anyone who has ever faced a mountain of dirty laundry can appreciate that this is arguably the greatest feature of the Oasis HE series.  What used to take me two solid days to launder can now be completed in less than six hours. It's literally being able to wash and dry three normal-size loads at one time.

Another surprise was the fact that the bleach and fabric softener reservoirs actually function as they should when they should - even if you use the ultra-concentrated fabric softener.  The receptacles don't gum up, and the machine has a self-cleaning cycle as well.

It's not all sunshine and roses, however -- at least not in my experience.  The "bad" in my machines was that initial installation was performed incorrectly, leaving exposed wires at the back of the machine.  (Sears allots precisely 19 minutes to installers to do their job and leave your home -- you're out of luck if you need any services done on the spot - a VERY poor customer service strategy in my humble opinion.)  Sears Customer Service did take my complaint very seriously, but it took a week to get a serviceman out to look at the machine.  He fixed the improper wiring, tested the machine, and left. 

I still had trouble with the dryer. It would run for about half a cycle, then trip the electrical circuit breaker. Again I called customer service, and it was another week before a second repairman could come check it out.  New dryer.  Two weeks without being able to use it so far.  Not good.

The second repairman reset the breaker and told me I should have my vent cleaned with one of those lawn blowers.  Long story short, the problem continued, and a third repairman arrived.  This one didn't even know how to reset the breaker and told me I needed to call an electrician to come fix my "faulty wiring".  The electrician tested everything in sight (and mentioned the dryer was pulling 22 amps on a 30 amp breaker -- pretty energy efficient for a dryer!).  The conclusion: not a problem with my home's wiring (which I already knew). 

I contacted Sears again when the machine AGAIN tripped the breaker and said, "I can't be going outside for the next ten years to flip the breaker every time I do a load of laundry.  You've sent out three repairmen who didn't fix the problem, and my electrician says the problem is with the machine.  I need it replaced."  Sears gave me the happy customer-service-shuffle, and basically left it at that.  Fortunately, the problem seems to have corrected itself. After I reset the breaker that last time, I haven't had a moment's difficulty with either machine.

If you are fortunate enough to come across the Kenmore Elite Oasis HE series washer and dryer set on eBay, I highly recommend it. Despite my issues with Sears In-Home Repair, I have no issues whatsoever with the machines themselves, and cannot imagine ever having to go back to smaller, slower machines.  On top of all the savings of time and work - and I kid you not on this - my electric bill went down by $100 a month  once I started using the new machines. (This is in Austin, Texas in the dead-heat of summer, folks.  To actually have an electric bill DROP during this season is nearly unheard of!)

There are also some noteworthy safety features for you parents out there -- especially those whose children or teens like to do their own laundry.  The washer lid locks once the washing cycle begins.  No chance of getting curious hands slammed around a spinning drum.  An alert light comes on and the dryer will not start if the lint trap has not been cleaned and properly replaced, eliminating a serious fire hazard.  There is no agitator arm in the washer, which is part of how it can handle the incredible capacity it does.  I have no idea how it works, but it REALLY works!

I give this product my highest recommendation without hesitation. With or without the storage pedestal, this is far and away the best washer and dryer set I have ever owned, and it was worth every penny.

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IMPORTANT UPDATE: June 11, 2009...

I have owned these machines for about two years now, and my opinion has changed dramatically based on my experience with the machines. I DO NOT RECOMMEND purchasing this make and model washer/dryer set. Beside the odd (and dangerous) problems I had when the machines first arrived... and the fact that I asked Sears to replace the defective machines... there have been endless problems with the set. I mentioned that the dryer was beeping incessently, but that I could deal with that if the machines were working well otherwise. We're two years down the road and I have one completely dead washing machine! This is a DANGEROUS machine! Among my complaints: (1) the "stainless steel" hardware that acts as a hinge inside the lid rusted and broke off just after the first year of use. NOTHING inside the tub area should ever be vulnerable to rust - let alone break clean off! (2) the machine stopped working and started flashing a code that indicated the automatic lid lock was failing. Sears wanted $150 just to come out, and the one part they already KNEW would have to be replaced would cost me another $250 or so. We opened up the machine ourselves and found that the lid lock mechanism had MELTED! The hard plastic case was intact on the outside, but inside, the plastic had melted onto the spring. Again... this is clearly a dangerous electrical defect. A search on the Internet confirmed that there are hundreds of complaints about this make and model washer/dryer set, and the electrical issues I've described as well as others. (3) I filed a complaint through the Better Business Bureau requesting replacement of the machine since Sears had refused to do so when the product was new and under warranty. Sears' response? "You should have purchased the extended warranty. We don't owe you anything, but as a "gesture of good faith," if you will call x phone number, we will give you a discount on the service call." The VERY NEXT DAY, I received a recall notice in the mail from Sears stating that the control panel on this model was defective and would be replaced free of charge by calling x phone number. I did this. A contracted repairman arrived TWO WEEKS later... but Sears hasn't mailed me the control panel he needed to make the repair. He called Sears; they said the part was on back-order. That was two months ago, and the part is STILL "on back-order".  (4) Bottom line: I had to go buy another washing machine while this one sat in my entryway awaiting repair. When I first got the machines new, I was furious about having to go almost two months without a working machine while a brand-new one was sitting dead in my lunadry room. Now - once again - I have been over two months without my washer. (5) We thought we'd go ahead and fix the problem ourselves since Sears can't sem to manage to get it together. We went online and ordered a replacement lid lock mechanism and a replacement hinge for the broken on inside the lid. We're talking MAYBE $20-worth of parts, for which Sears charged $160. Additionally, basic shipping was a flat $30... for two little parts that would fit in ANY mailer envelope! I needed them in a hurry, so I paid the extra $15 for "rush" delivery. ("Rush" in Sears language means 5-7 business days.)  (6) The lid lock arrived, but the door hinge was put on back-order. So much for paying for rush delivery. When the part finally arrived, it was the wrong part. Sears had just charged me $10+$30 shipping... and I received ONE SMALL SCREW in an envelope.

Sorry for the rant, but this barely scratches the surface of the problems with this model washer/dryer. I was so excited to get them, and I am so bitterly disappointed now. Sears' utter failure to honor the original warranty or make any effort to so much as admit to knowing their product is defective is reason enough to look elsewhere. I do still highly recommend the new high-capacity machines that don't have agitators in them. They are awesome! Just don't buy a Kenmore set, and don't buy from Sears. I'd for anyone else to regret their purchase as much as I do, but five minutes on Google will tell you all you need to know about the reliability of these machines.