View Full Version : Speed Queen vs Dexter
I am about to open a new laundromat but can not decide on a machine company. I have narrowed my search down to two companies Speed Queen or Dexter. Can anyone give me any advise on ether Speed Queen or Dexter. I am really trying to find out which machines are better.
Thank You
Coinwash
07-22-2008, 05:04 PM
http://www.coinwash.com/mb/showthread.php?t=167
http://www.coinwash.com/mb/showthread.php?t=696
Use the search engine it will help you in your decision
While other chime in...
Welcome to coinwash ;)
pete f
07-22-2008, 05:52 PM
They both have thier problems. SQ has weak bearings, and drain valve gets stuck open more frequently becuase of the design. Dexters tend to leak becuase of poor customer loading and door design, also the water valve goes bad and the water runs untill shut off. I would go with Dexter just becuase they have the red bvutton to shut the thing off when there is trouble. Just keep a mop bucket handy for the door leaks, and the extra water no problem.
Now, tell us more. You are about to open a new mat? You mean you are a year away from opening a new mat? You can't even permit untill engineering done, and most distribs help with this. Have you called the water, sewer, gas company? Impact fees, lines available? It will take twice as a long and 3 x what you think to build a new mat. If you are wrong you need 1m back up to ride out the years. Honestly, If I was looking to place money longer term I would probably buy bank stocks or some short sale houses before I built a new laundromat right now.
I have one laundromat already and my company has built several others. I am almost ready to go in one of my own buildings. Its going to be about 4700 sqft and there will be nothing cheep in this place. I am also going green to make it as efficient as possible. One move I am going to make is installing solar panels one the roof. My next step is choosing the right machine. I want to best machine I can buy. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
Thank You
laundryman79
07-23-2008, 09:54 AM
SQ washers will use less water. The bearing issue has been greatly improved and the warranty is better on SQ. The SQ dryers are much better than Dexter. I own both and do not like Dexter dryers. They look nice but there will be lint everywhere with the Dexter and the lint drawer is too small. All of the stainless is thinner on the Dexters too.
How was the SQ bearing design improved? It looks the same to me.
I have Dexter that are 12 years old now and I have others 4 years or younger. I can't tell the difference with them - with the exception of the obvious. Dexter dryers do have lint issue but it is not an issue if you clean regularly(as is with any other dryers) - I have both dexters and wascomat. The newer washers are much better in design with the everything electronic and 1ph or 3 ph choice inverter drive. Gasket to gasket seal on the washer is an issue but since they put a stop button, with those washers, I can walk customers over the phone when we are not attendant.
Bottom line - Dexter washers look preety regardless of their age. They are more reliable in comparison to SQ. Two main flaws if you can live with are 1) leak issues, 2) valve.
SQ - Although they are not bad machines, I wouldn't go with them.
Perception is reality!!
If you're still evaluating why not add Wascomat to the list?
Do you have local distributor support with all brands? That will also make a difference!
laundryman79
07-23-2008, 07:02 PM
Dexter dryers do have lint issue but it is not an issue if you clean regularly(as is with any other dryers)
Bottom line - Dexter washers look preety regardless of their age. They are more reliable in comparison to SQ. Two main flaws if you can live with are 1) leak issues, 2) valve.
Even if you clean the Dexter lint compartment daily as recommended, you will still have a lint problem. From lint in the electronics, to lint in the coin drop. I replace the switched often in the coin drop because of the lint.
The SQ warranty is longer, can be as long as 5 years, vs 2 or 3 years I believe for Dexter.
Everyone has their opinion, I don't care if something looks pretty or not. Pretty doesn't help my bottom line.
pete f
07-24-2008, 12:30 AM
SQ washers will use less water. The bearing issue has been greatly improved and the warranty is better on SQ. The SQ dryers are much better than Dexter. I own both and do not like Dexter dryers. They look nice but there will be lint everywhere with the Dexter and the lint drawer is too small. All of the stainless is thinner on the Dexters too.
And we are off!
I have 2 mats with equipment about the same age. One is a Dexter store, the other Sq. Well, nopt reallt SQ, the dryers yes, but has onl;y 2 washers, 50#.
The dexter store in 7 years I have rebuilt many water valves, and replaced 1 motor bearings on a washer. The dryers I have replaced a couple ignitors, and had to clean lint out of a few coin drops and door switches. I think I have replaced a CPU board also. One or two need new lint screens.
My SQ store, also 7 years old machines, one of the 2 50# washers had a bearing job this year, almost all the upper dryers I had to replace the belt, rear felt and rollers in the last couple years. And a few coils. Now I got one the basket is not secured good, the bolts are comming loose. Did I mention the vibrating blower motor that need cleaning every so often? I forgot, I have replaced 2 blower motors also, and had 1 CPU board rebuilt.. I have had the mat for 2 1/2 years, so not sure what the last owner had to do. I also need to replace several lint screens there. One of the SQ washers has 3 rinses and I can not get rid of one. Dexter washers come programed with 1 wash, 2 rinse and are very easy to add pre wash, rinse or a combo. I do agree about the sheet metel, seems thinner than the older ones. The dain problem and the dryer failures are the big reason I would stay away from SQ. Sure, Dexters have more lint, but that can be easily and cheaply cleaned from time to time.
laundryman79
07-25-2008, 01:46 AM
Hi Pete,
You have been saying that about your SQ equipment for at least three years and I think the stuff was 7 years old at least back then.
I am about to open a new laundromat but can not decide on a machine company. I have narrowed my search down to two companies Speed Queen or Dexter. Can anyone give me any advise on ether Speed Queen or Dexter. I am really trying to find out which machines are better.
Thank You
Why not Wascomat ?
the best in my opinion,
They didn't even make your final cut ??
I want to know what this big improvement with the speedqueen/huebsch bearings have been? I dont see it. I have even had motors get ruined when the seals go and water drips on the motor. Wascomat uses the same motor except they have a shield above it that will keep any leaking water off the motor. That cheap little shield can save you a $1000 when a motor gets ruined.
pete f
07-26-2008, 09:55 PM
Hi Pete,
You have been saying that about your SQ equipment for at least three years and I think the stuff was 7 years old at least back then.
Depends on which of the 5 stores I am talking about. I do dislike SQ product, but for a reason. Compared to other products they have not performed as well. The example I gave are real, I put ( moved) the one store in 2000, the other, which I bought 2 years ago, was put in ( moved) at the same time by another owner, we used the same contractor. I added more dryers same age. Those dryers, plus the ones the original owner bought, have all failed as I mentioned. If you want to talk about cars I can tell you ones that fall apart quicker then others from my experiance running a garage. I am big on function. I had other stores with SQ equipment that had problems also, more so than other brands in the same store or others I owned. I have nothig to gain if someone buys or does not buy a certain brand of equipment becuse of what I say. I also know most will ignore what I say and buy it anyway.
I have been in a position to test and own a number of different brands and machines over many years and simply share my experiances with those who ask.
laundryman79
07-27-2008, 03:40 AM
Depends on which of the 5 stores I am talking about. I do dislike SQ product, but for a reason. Compared to other products they have not performed as well. The example I gave are real, I put ( moved) the one store in 2000, the other, which I bought 2 years ago, was put in ( moved) at the same time by another owner, we used the same contractor. I added more dryers same age. Those dryers, plus the ones the original owner bought, have all failed as I mentioned. If you want to talk about cars I can tell you ones that fall apart quicker then others from my experiance running a garage. I am big on function. I had other stores with SQ equipment that had problems also, more so than other brands in the same store or others I owned. I have nothig to gain if someone buys or does not buy a certain brand of equipment becuse of what I say. I also know most will ignore what I say and buy it anyway.
I have been in a position to test and own a number of different brands and machines over many years and simply share my experiances with those who ask.
You are talking about an Alliance dryer that was a first or near first run of a newly designed dryer. The dryer of that vintage (2000) did have some problems, as do all new model products. This is why you will hear people saying to not buy a first run of a new products, like the first TD3030 dryers. The Alliance dryers of that vintage are not the new ones for sale now or in the last several years. Simply the Alliance dryers have had the bugs worked out for several years at least.
The other thing is that no one has a 100% failure rate or any brand of equipment like you say. It also sounds like you bought an existing store with Speed Queen dryers and perhaps the previous owner did not maintain the equipment very well.
I also have had a chance to operate a number of brands of equipment in real world situations, like my own laundries. I've had Wascomat, Huebsch, Maytag, Dexter, Speed Queen. All of various ages, but when I retooled my stores I was into Dexter for everything, except my small chassis machines, which I bought Neptunes. I later bought Speed Queen since 2005. I like my Speed Queen much better. Now don't get me started on the Neptunes!
laundryman79
07-27-2008, 03:45 AM
I want to know what this big improvement with the speedqueen/huebsch bearings have been? I dont see it. I have even had motors get ruined when the seals go and water drips on the motor. Wascomat uses the same motor except they have a shield above it that will keep any leaking water off the motor. That cheap little shield can save you a $1000 when a motor gets ruined.
How old are your washers?
I don't know what you want said? I was at the factory one time and had a tour and they talked about an improvement that was made. They showed an old and new bearing.
Well what was the improvement? I have machines that are from 93 and from 2005. The only change I have seen since the 93 design was they the collar on the drum shaft was changed from stainless to a black oxide. I think they changed them because the black oxide is cheaper. I have seen no improvement. I wonder what they told you the improvement was.
pete f
07-27-2008, 02:21 PM
You are talking about an Alliance dryer ..snip snip
The other thing is that no one has a 100% failure rate or any brand of equipment like you say. It also sounds like you bought an existing store with Speed Queen dryers and perhaps the previous owner did not maintain the equipment very well.
... I like my Speed Queen much better. Now don't get me started on the Neptunes!
Ipso hf-55 100% failure rate on computor boards. 2002.
The STO stacks were existing, as were 2 HC50MD washers. I bought more stacks to match and replaced all the other washers with Maytag hard mount. The new Maytags have had thier share of trouble also, still not sure on them yet, to early to tell. I did not buy Dexter becuase every other mat has them and I wanted a different brand. I did not buy SQ washers mostly becuase of the drain problem as the mat is unattended. I had a few SQ hard mount at 2 other mats and the constant problem was stuff getting caught in the drain and washer running forever, until you got there to shut it off. That was the deal breaker for me.
Suds King
07-27-2008, 03:39 PM
Speed Queen is definetly the better dryer, not by much but the difference in maint. is there. The dexter will at age two or three statrt to have computer board problems, but it's still under warrantee so you really don't statrt spending $$ until the warrantee on the baord is over(4 years) just your time to replace it. second the rubber gasket that holds the door glass in becomes weak and the glass falls out on the floor, forth or fifth year. thirdly the bearings start to go on the tumbler shaft, this is dependent on use, a medium use store will get about five years until change time. the coin drop switch will need to be replaced every two to three years. the drive belts are good for three or four years of Medium use. there ignigtors are an other replacement problem.
Speed Queen are better on bearings, door glass rubber and ignitors.
I have purchased 386 dexter stack dryers and 294 speed queen stack dryers, i stock parts for my dexters at the ware house in bulk, for the speed queen dryers we just order it when it fails. that alone speaks volumes, for we go through 4 times as many dexter dryer parts as we do speed queen.
Washers are an other story..................
Suds King
Suds King,
I agree with what you say about the dryers. Lets hear your washer experiences.
I heard wascos are made very cheep. If anyones know different please post. Also please post which brand of washers and dryers you think are the best. The best meaning that you would not hesitate to put them in your brand new store.
motor_guy
07-29-2008, 01:04 PM
From a motor repair or failiure standpoint, we see alot less Dexter motors and alot more Wascomat motors. I would say Speed Queen is the median. Hardly ever have to work on Ipso motors. They all have their issues, its just a matter of which brand is more appealing to you. Good luck!
Motorguy,
Doesn't wasco and speedqueen both use Elmo motors? Maybe people just toss out the Dexter motors because they are cheaper to buy? Elmos are very expensive.
fishmanz
08-02-2008, 05:48 PM
I recently had to replace a bearing and a drum in a SQ 40 lb. machine. The machine was almost 2 years old. The gap between the drum and the front rim of the shroud is the same in all of my machines, about 1/4 of an inch.
For some reason the drum began rubbing against the shroud and caused so much heat durring extraction that it broke the glass. When the new drum was installed the gap was almost a half inch. I believe they re-engenerred the basket because of this problem. However, now it is easier for things to get pulled down there and there is no way to clean between the basket and this shroud.
Perhaps folks are replacing bearings when the real problem is being caused by their basket.
Motorguy,
Doesn't wasco and speedqueen both use Elmo motors? Maybe people just toss out the Dexter motors because they are cheaper to buy? Elmos are very expensive.
Or perhaps people repair wascomat motors because they want to KEEP their machines and not replace them.
I have had about 80 wascomats during 20 years, one or two motors only replaced.
Joseph Baran
08-12-2008, 08:18 PM
When the new drum was installed the gap was almost a half inch. I believe they re-engenerred the basket because of this problem. However, now it is easier for things to get pulled down there and there is no way to clean between the basket and this shroud.
Oh yes...I just love the humongous gap left with the new drums...I was told it was from sitting on a pallet. I was then told to whack it with a rubber mallet until the gap was closed. Just what a customer who just shelled out $1500 for a drum, labor, bearings etc... wants to see. Me whaling away on his new drum with a 4 pound rubber mallet.
Joe
I have new drums and old drums that have the big gap. Unless you are putting the same drum in the same machine its a crap shoot if you get a gap. I hit with my rubber deadblow hammer until the gap is the proper size. The last thing you want is a giant gap that lets more crap get stuck in your drain valve.
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