Fortuitously, I got to use this machine while on vacation this summer and was so impressed by it that I decided it was worth the downsizing when my 10 year old, full-sized front loader gave up the ghost in November. I had to either go with a compact front loader or a full-sized top loader, due to the growth in dimensions of the full-sized front loaders. I wanted to maintain the gentle cleaning and efficient use of water, energy, and laundry products I was used to with front loaders.
The compact GE accommodates a decent sized load, about on par with a traditional top loader with an agitator. I show a pic with 3 sweat pants, 3 sweat shirts, 2 heavy T-shirts, 2 pairs of socks, and 3 knit caps that was loaded per instructions of filling the drum loosely.
So far I have observed superb cleaning and rinsing, a huge improvement over the 10 year old machine. Some cycles employ higher water levels during certain phases of a cycle, with the water level reaching a few inches up the door glass. I had never seen this before in my previous front loaders and was startled to see the water line. See picture for an example of a rinse on the Active Wear cycle with water visible on the door. Heavy Duty similarly uses higher rinse levels. I have not had any issues with cleaning or rinsing in the cycles using lower water levels.
The direct drive system (as opposed to belt drive) makes for quiet operation and more controlled drum motions. It has an aggressive and persistent load balancing algorithm that prevents unbalanced loads from spinning. It does not give up trying to spin between wash and rinse portions of the cycle like my old one. It is able to ramp up progressively to purge water before moving to higher speeds. I also noticed the interim spins are faster than my old machine. The max spin setting, which reaches 1,400 rpm near the end, leaves clothing well wrung out and shortens drying time. If it is unable to balance a load in the final spin, the SPIN light stays on and blinks after the cycle to alert you. I also saw a reduction in spin speed on one load it had trouble balancing to prevent damage to the machine and to reduce floor vibrations. Hopefully the reduction in spin vibrations will translate to longer life of the machine.
Make sure it is level with the legs as close to the body and the lock nuts tightened to minimize vibration. Mine was not installed correctly, and I had to call GE for assistance in identifying the cause of a cabinet rattle. They suggested ensuring the machine was level. It was not, so I leveled it. In doing so, I introduced a vibration. I then turned the legs all the way down to the body and made sure it was level. It worked perfectly afterward. I can't comment on how it would fare on a suspended floor, but on a cement floor it is fine. Kudos to the wonderful GE customer service representatives who were courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable.
Maintenance tasks are fairly simple. The gasket and door are easy to wipe in less than a minute at the end of wash day (important to prevent mold growth and leaks between the door and gasket). The dispenser drawer comes out completely, and the removable covers allow access to clean residues from the various compartments. The manual suggests to do this bimonthly, but I find it easier to do at the end of wash day before residues become dried on. The tub cleaning cycle has very aggressive action. You simply put the cleaning agent in the drum and press START; the machine does the rest. The pump filter compartment has a hose to empty the residual water into something shallow like a pie tin. It retains a surprising amount of water, so be prepared. My previous front loaders did not have an accessible filter. This is a welcome feature to easily remove items that fall into the outer drum and migrate toward the pump. Tub and filter cleaning are suggested monthly.
If you cannot accommodate a full sized front loader, this machine would be a good option if you can stomach the high price tag and live with smaller loads and cycles of about an hour for an 'everyday' load. You will get the performance of a full-sized model and the benefits of low operating costs, gentle, effective cleaning, and excellent water extraction.
