bit-tech Shopping: Haier XQG50-11 Front-Load 1.5 cu. ft. Washer/Dryer

Rating: 2

Time with product: 3 Years

Strengths: Dont buy One

Weaknesses: Worst Appliance Ever

Summary: Well mine is finally dead after 3 years of problems and buying parts...My Bearing is shot and is on idefinate backorder, unavailable for ever from Haeir...So i saved a few most needed parts before putting to garbage......I saved the dryer timer, washer timer, dryer water level thingy, washer water level thingy, heater element, thermostat assembly, belt, water-inlet senosr thingys...Parts are expensive, if you need any of these i will sell at cheap price, let me know........Lets see in 3 years, using about 2-3 times a week, iv had to replace the thermastat assembly, heater element, dryer timer, washer timer, no-spin button, power button...iv fixed(rigged) the dryer manifold cover with aluminum tape, and delt with a broken gasket that allowed a few drops of water on floor each time of use, not to mention longer u got it louder it gets, now the bearing went and there is absolutely no where to obtain another one so machine is useless...worst appliance in the world.

Rating: 4

Time with product: 4 Years

Strengths: compact, most inexpensive combo

Weaknesses: frequence of repair

Summary: I've have my XQG50-11 four years. In the first year, the heater/blower unit went out but Haier fixed it under warranty. Currently, it leaks a few drops of water on the floor after a few loads because it needs a new gasket but I just haven't gotten around to fixing it. There was one repair however that I did make myself. When moving it to a new apartment, it slipped off the dolly and although I did my best to break its fall, it still hit the ground. After I got it home and opened it up I found a fan blade had broken. I glued the fan blade back together and reinstalled it. That was a year and a half ago and the machine is still to this day washing and drying. In all fairness, however, I must mention that it only has to wash six loads a week. About two thirds of the loads done in this machine are line dried and washes that would normally take nearly an hour, take about 20 minutes because I advance the timer manually. That reduces wear and tear and that's the only reason why mine has last four years and is still working. I have an accounting background and according to my calculations this machine finished paying for itself in the fourth quarter of 06 and is now actually earning me money because I don't have to pay to use a coin laundry.

Rating: 2

Time with product: 2 Years

Strengths: portable, great size for condo's or appartments

Weaknesses: no service available

Summary: I purchased this item after seeing it in an airline magazine. The price was listed at $899.00. After paying shipping and taxes, I paid over $1100.00 for this piece of junk. After using it once a month for 12 months (laundry for 1 person), the dryer spins but doesn't dry (no heat). I called a service person and was informed that the part needed (the timer) will cost over $300.00 and has to come from China, which means more taxes and shipping fees. Not to mention the fee for the service call. I am totally disgusted and disappointed with the performance of this item. I would not recommend this washer/dryer combo to anyone unless they were receiving it free. I feel that every person that has purchased this maching should be given a portion of the price paid as a refund. We've been had, they saw us coming!

Rating: 2

Time with product: 3 Years

Strengths: Compact, low water usage, easy to fit into small apartments; very gentle on delicate clothing.

Weaknesses: Parts break down and are almost impossible to replace! Clothes line or drying rack needed. Washing and drying items like a couple pairs of jeans or a few bath towels takes HOURS!!!

Summary: My family purchased the XQG50-11 about over three years ago. It was OK, not great, but since we mostly used it for baby clothes or delicates, it worked. After the first year, the cold water solenoid gave out. A certified Haier repair person came out and told us what the problem was, and gingerly told us that we'd have a very hard time finding the part. He said he'd try, and called us a month later saying that the item was on "indefinite backorder." We got online and started searching the Net for a parts dealer. Found a reputable one and the ordered the part, based on what we were told was the problem. When it arrived, it was the wrong voltage for the US. We returned it twice to the same place and they kept sending us the wrong voltage. So we tried another parts dealer, and the same thing kept happening. When the third dealer did the same thing, we didn't know what to do. In order for us to use the washer, we were loading buckets of cold water into the machine's soap dispenser. According to each dealer, the part number we gave them was for the item we needed. So what was the problem??? Finally we found one dealer that had the right voltage, but it was still the wrong part. I spoke with two Haier America representatives and they both stated that there was only one part number associated with this part. I tried every Haier parts dealer in the US, and they all sent us variations of the same wrong part. July of this year, we tried another place that said it sold Haier parts. It is a cold water solenoid, right voltage, but definitely not the right part. My husband just modified it to work, so no more buckets... I finally contacted a distributor IN CHINA and they told me that I was off by one number. Somehow when the parts manufacturer overseas distributed the parts to the US, they put the wrong part number to the correct part name. AAAGGGGH! It took 3 years to get this information. He suggested that we try ordering the part again but changing the last two digits from xxx11 to xxx12. I just can't bring myself to do it. The other day, we went to open the door, and the handle snapped off. No one, so far, knows if there are such things as replacement handles for this model. :(

Rating: 2

Time with product:

Strengths: Only for use in homes where clothes do not need to be washed or dryed, or places with no 220v supply or venting

Weaknesses: Many; will not dry properly, breaks down often, parts hard to get, service support almost non-existant, etc

Summary: I have been a Service Technician for almost 25 years and have worked for Frigidaire, GE, Sears and for a short time for LG (Zenith/Goldstar). This machine compares roughly with a similar LG machine that was pulled from nation-wide distribution a couple of years ago, as it was deemed to be unsuitable for the North American Market. The main difference was that the LG product was far superior in design to this model. I would not recommend this product to anyone that changes their clothes more than twice a week, or has no access to a clothesline.