Kenmore 400 Top Load Washer

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Kenmore 400 Top Load Washer

Product Overview

The Kenmore 400 is towards the bottom of the Kenmore range of washing machines, and has a capacity of 3.2cu ft, which is equal to washing 14 bath towel (based on approximately 24in by 44in).

It has a dual action agitator and uses 28% less water and 40% less energy (based on using the normal cycle and compared to a conventional machine built before 2004), meaning that it will both save you money and cut your impact on the environment.

It is available only in white, and the unit has an overall depth of 26in and is 27in wide, with a maximum height of 43 1/8 in. There is also a Kenmore 400 dryer and many people them as a combination.

This washing machine is ideal for smaller households, and works through small loads quickly using the Express Wash feature. It has Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) so that it can deliver reliable, consistent cleaning.

There are 4 water level settings and, with Automatic Temperature Control, 4 temperature settings. It has a bleach dispenser which allows you to safely add bleach to the wash. While it does not have many additional features it does have ergonomic, soft touch controls that don’t slip when wet, and an end of cycle signal. Users report that the machine gives great results time and time again.

Pros	Cons
• Great for smaller households • Works through small loads quickly • good for those on a budget	• Not energy star compliant • Lacks advanced features • Noisy • Poor spin cycle • Some reports of unreliablity

Final Thought

As with other Kenmore washing machines, the 400 is designed for reliability and long life, having the option of a white porcelain wash basket that is intended to resist scratches and minimize odors. It comes with a load balancer and has leveling legs so that it can be installed in a position to minimize vibration when it spins, which will help to prolong its working life.

Even though it is more energy and water efficient than previous washing machines the Kenmore 400 is not Energy Star compliant. It does not have noise reduction features, and while users report that it is not particularly quiet, they are also satisfied that it is not exceptionally noisy.

This is a budget washing machine and does not come with many of the features associated with more expensive models, such as special cycles for hand wash, silk or wool, although there are two delicates cycles. There are no delay wash or pre-wash settings, and it lacks convenience features such as ‘add a garment’, cycle status lights or an estimated running time delay.

The Kenmore 400 is practical washing machine designed with smaller households in mind. If you are running on a tight budget and you are looking for a washing machine that gets the job done, that is reliable, and if you don’t need advanced features, you should take a serious look at the Kenmore 400. There are plenty of very satisfied users of this machine because it’s inexpensive and gets the laundry done to a high standard – which is what you want.

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Comments for
Kenmore 400 Top Load Washer

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Nov 03, 2009
Rating

broke after one year
by: Irene

This washer sucks. it just passed 1 year and broke down... no warranty that expired 3 weeks ago.... DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT UNLESS YOU WANT THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!!

Mar 18, 2009
Rating

Good for those on a budget
by: Suzy

I have a Kenmore 400 top loading washer from Sears. The capacity is 3.2 cubic feet, which is certainly enough for two adults. I do laundry a couple of times a week, so I’ve never had a problem with not having enough room in the washer. Although they’re a bit tough to squeeze in because of their bulk, I’m able to clean heavy bed quilts and bulky drapes without any problems.

This is not a top-of-the-line washer. It’s a basic, economy model, and it only costs a little over $300, so you get what you pay for. However, since I don’t have kids in the house and am not washing clothes with embedded dirt, this unit works fine for me.

I did checking at major appliance stores and considered Whirlpool and Maytag machines, but in the end, bought the Kenmore because I really didn’t need all the bells and whistles that were on competitor’s machines or on some of the more expensive Kenmores. I considered getting a front-loading washer, but I didn’t think it warranted the higher prices. In addition, I have a friend who had this same machine and she is happy with it.

A few things to note about this Kenmore 400: It’s a bit noisy, but in all honesty, that doesn’t bother me too much (although it seems to drive my husband nuts). The machine also vibrates a bit quite a bit when on the spin cycle, but I think that is a problem with leveling the machine on the floor.

There are four water levels, from extra small to extra large loads, so you don’t waste water. There are also four settings for water temperature control, from tap cold to hot. I usually wash my clothes in warm water, so I rarely change that setting. There are also the usual settings you’d expect for wash cycles, including heavy duty and delicates. Each cycle has an “express mode” which launders your clothing in the shortest amount of time possible.

This machine is not Energy Star compliant, which is important to some people, but not to me. I was more interested in getting a basic washing machine at an affordable price and I think that is exactly what I did. I’m very happy with my Kenmore 400.

I don’t know if they are still selling this unit, but I’d recommend it to anyone considering a budget purchase that does what it’s supposed to do: clean my clothes! The Kenmore 400 top loading washer is nothing fancy, but does the job!

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Mar 18, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Suzy

Title

Comment
I have a Kenmore 400 top loading washer from Sears. The capacity is 3.2 cubic feet, which is certainly enough for two adults. I do laundry a couple of times a week, so I’ve never had a problem with not having enough room in the washer. Although they’re a bit tough to squeeze in because of their bulk, I’m able to clean heavy bed quilts and bulky drapes without any problems. This is not a top-of-the-line washer. It’s a basic, economy model, and it only costs a little over $300, so you get what you pay for. However, since I don’t have kids in the house and am not washing clothes with embedded dirt, this unit works fine for me. I did checking at major appliance stores and considered Whirlpool and Maytag machines, but in the end, bought the Kenmore because I really didn’t need all the bells and whistles that were on competitor’s machines or on some of the more expensive Kenmores. I considered getting a front-loading washer, but I didn’t think it warranted the higher prices. In addition, I have a friend who had this same machine and she is happy with it. A few things to note about this Kenmore 400: It’s a bit noisy, but in all honesty, that doesn’t bother me too much (although it seems to drive my husband nuts). The machine also vibrates a bit quite a bit when on the spin cycle, but I think that is a problem with leveling the machine on the floor. There are four water levels, from extra small to extra large loads, so you don’t waste water. There are also four settings for water temperature control, from tap cold to hot. I usually wash my clothes in warm water, so I rarely change that setting. There are also the usual settings you’d expect for wash cycles, including heavy duty and delicates. Each cycle has an “express mode” which launders your clothing in the shortest amount of time possible. This machine is not Energy Star compliant, which is important to some people, but not to me. I was more interested in getting a basic washing machine at an affordable price and I think that is exactly what I did. I’m very happy with my Kenmore 400. I don’t know if they are still selling this unit, but I’d recommend it to anyone considering a budget purchase that does what it’s supposed to do: clean my clothes! The Kenmore 400 top loading washer is nothing fancy, but does the job!

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Mar 18, 2009
Rating

Rather spend more money on better product
by: Katye

We purchased our Kenmore 400 3.2 cu. ft. Capacity Top-Load Washer along with the matching Kenmore 400 5.9 cu. ft. Capacity Electric Dryer from Sears about five years ago. We had just purchased our home and the previous owners were taking their washer and dryer with them, so we had to purchase new.

Although our laundry room was a pretty large room, the space for the washer and dryer units was limited, so size became a big factor, along with price and capacity. We chose this combination because not only were they the perfect size, but they were in our budget as well. When we first purchased them, it was only my husband and I. We now have a toddler (thus increasing our laundry frequency), but these appliances are still going strong and do a wonderful job.

The washer has a white porcelain wash basket, which resists scratches and odors (another plus when you have a toddler), and can hold a large amount of clothing per wash. My only complaint is that although there is a bleach dispenser, it does not automatically add the bleach to the wash at the right time. You have to catch the washer at the right point in the wash cycle to add the bleach to the dispenser, making it a bit inconvenient.

The dryer has been a little less reliable than the washer. Although it has never stopped working, it can't handle the same kind of wash load that the washer can, leaving us having to run the dryer twice, sometimes three times in order to get all the clothes completely dry. When I have to do two loads of colors, one bleach load, a towel load, and a bed sheet load, this can take me two days to get it done, because of the time consumed by having to run the dryer twice.

I try to make the wash loads smaller in order to not over-work the dryer, but the majority of the time I still find the clothes a bit damp after one run through the dryer. For the price, no major complaints, but we'll probably spend a bit more the next time around to get a better product.

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Mar 18, 2009
Rating

Submitted by: Katye

Title

Comment
We purchased our Kenmore 400 3.2 cu. ft. Capacity Top-Load Washer along with the matching Kenmore 400 5.9 cu. ft. Capacity Electric Dryer from Sears about five years ago. We had just purchased our home and the previous owners were taking their washer and dryer with them, so we had to purchase new. Although our laundry room was a pretty large room, the space for the washer and dryer units was limited, so size became a big factor, along with price and capacity. We chose this combination because not only were they the perfect size, but they were in our budget as well. When we first purchased them, it was only my husband and I. We now have a toddler (thus increasing our laundry frequency), but these appliances are still going strong and do a wonderful job. The washer has a white porcelain wash basket, which resists scratches and odors (another plus when you have a toddler), and can hold a large amount of clothing per wash. My only complaint is that although there is a bleach dispenser, it does not automatically add the bleach to the wash at the right time. You have to catch the washer at the right point in the wash cycle to add the bleach to the dispenser, making it a bit inconvenient. The dryer has been a little less reliable than the washer. Although it has never stopped working, it can't handle the same kind of wash load that the washer can, leaving us having to run the dryer twice, sometimes three times in order to get all the clothes completely dry. When I have to do two loads of colors, one bleach load, a towel load, and a bed sheet load, this can take me two days to get it done, because of the time consumed by having to run the dryer twice. I try to make the wash loads smaller in order to not over-work the dryer, but the majority of the time I still find the clothes a bit damp after one run through the dryer. For the price, no major complaints, but we'll probably spend a bit more the next time around to get a better product.

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Kenmore 400 Top Load Washer

Product Overview

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Kenmore 400 Top Load Washer