The Most Reliable Washer Today! But is There an Issue? Speed Queen TC5 Review

The Speed Queen TC5 washing machine is often called America's top-rated washer by consumers. It has a small but very loyal group of users who often praise it. This article looks into whether the TC5 lives up to its reputation, especially when compared to other washing machines on the market. We'll cover its features, performance, and overall value to help you decide if it's the right choice for your home.

What Makes the Speed Queen TC5 Stand Out?

At around $1,329, the Speed Queen TC5 is one of the more expensive top-load washing machines available. Its sibling, the TR7 series, is similar in price and operation. What makes this machine so popular? Speed Queen has a long history of making very durable washing machines. While many other brands have seen their quality drop, Speed Queen has tried to go the other way. This machine feels and works like washing machines from the 1990s.

One thing to note is its size. Most other top-load washers are about 26 and three-quarter inches wide, but the TC5 is 25 and five-eighths inches wide. This means it's about an inch narrower than most other units. This smaller size also means a smaller tub, which is only about 3.24 cubic feet. A big question is whether this tub size is enough for most people's laundry needs.

Even though people like the simple turn-style knobs, what really sets this machine apart is its reliability. These units are made and put together in Ripon, Wisconsin, with reliability as the main goal. It's easily the highest quality top-loader on the American market. Speed Queen aims for their washing machines to last 20 to 25 years, while many other manufacturers' machines are lucky to last 10 years. In reality, many machines last even less than that because of poor designs and cheap parts.

Controls and Features

The TC5 has three physical knobs, which might remind you of older machines. However, behind these knobs is an electronic control system. The option selector includes settings for extra rinse, pre-soak with an extra rinse, and a heavy soil modifier. The heavy soil modifier adds between 3 and 8 minutes of agitation and soaking, depending on the mode you pick. There's also a deep fill option, which adds about 10 gallons of extra water to fill the tub completely.

Unlike many modern washers, the TC5 does not have a lid lock. It has a lid switch, like older washers, that simply stops the unit from running when you lift the lid. This lets you add detergent easily without stopping the machine or causing problems if you lift the lid during a spin cycle.

Performance Testing: Wash Quality

To test the TC5's cleaning ability, we compared it to other units like the LG WT845 and Samsung WA40A305, as well as Speed Queen's FF7. We used a Swiss AATCC 135 stain strip, which is what the government requires companies to use to prove a washing machine cleans well. Each test shirt had the same stains: coffee, ketchup, red wine, motor oil, cranberry juice, tomato sauce, mustard, lipstick, barbecue sauce, and chocolate. These stains were left to set for at least two days. For detergent, we used two Tide Pods, placed on top of the clothes, even though Speed Queen suggests putting them at the bottom.

Normal Eco Mode

The normal Eco mode on the TC5 performed very poorly. It got a score of 431, which is the worst score we've ever seen on any wash test. For comparison, other units usually score in the low 300s even with normal or quick wash cycles. The stain strips showed only about 20% of the soil was removed, also the lowest score. This mode exists because around 2011, the US government required manufacturers to limit water and energy use based on the amount of clothes. This doesn't work well with the TC5's tub size.

Heavy Duty Mode

The TC5 really shines in its 40-minute heavy duty mode. This is what most owners will tell you to use. We tested it with and without the deep water fill mode, using warm water. This is a very fast wash for a top-loader. Without deep wash, it had the best stain removal score at 205.13. With deep wash and heavy soil, the stain removal score was 27.87, and the test strip score was 28.89. These scores are quite good for a 40-minute wash.

Comforter Test

One big question about the TC5 is whether it can handle comforters. Our tests showed that no, you cannot wash a queen-sized or king-sized comforter in a TC5. This was one of the poorest tests. Even with deep wash, the agitator failed to mix the comforter properly, and parts of it never got wet. The LG WT845, with the same comforter and three extra blankets, scored 29.5, outperforming the TC5. Unless you have a twin-sized comforter or smaller, this machine is not recommended for comforters.

Max Pack Test

Many people say you can pack the TC5 full of clothes and it will still wash great, despite its small tub. However, the manual states the maximum fill is 16 pounds of clothes. While you might fit 20 pounds, we suggest not going over 14 or 15 pounds. The drum size can be limiting. For most families, 12 pounds of clothes is plenty, but if you need to wash more at once or large comforters, the TC5 is not the machine for you.

For a 12-pound load, the TC5 did a great job cleaning clothes, better than the LG WT845 and as good as the Samsung WA40A305. The TC5 cleans well as long as you use the heavy duty, extra soil, and deep wash settings. It also has pre-soak and extra rinse options for tougher stains.

Inside the Speed Queen TC5: Reliability Features

Speed Queen offers a 5-year warranty that covers everything, and some parts, like the wash drum, have a lifetime guarantee. The transmission has a 15-year parts warranty, but it's likely to last even longer.

To access the controls, you remove three screws on the top cover. Inside, you'll find an interface board with few components, similar to the FF7. The interface is made by Ego, a good company in appliance repair. All components behind the knobs are digital, meaning no physical switches.

The main computer board is also made by Ego. The relays on the machine are mostly Omron and Panasonic, which are good quality. While there are better manufacturers, there are also many cheaper, lower-quality options that other companies use. Overall, this is one of the best main boards we've seen in washing machines recently.

Physical Components

This is where the Speed Queen truly shines. Its design has been around for decades, similar to older machines found in laundromats. It has a basic water valve and pressure switch, a porcelain tub with a stainless steel wash basket, and an agitator. The transmission assembly is behind the motor, with a simple capacitor system. Many internal components are marked with the RSPc label (Robert Shaw Parts Company), a legacy company known for quality parts.

The motor is a half-horsepower motor, peaking at about 8 amps, making it one of the stronger motors on the market. The pump bolts directly to the motor. The belt assembly transfers power from the motor to the transmission. The belt is a wear item and will need replacing eventually, but it's affordable and not too hard to do.

Another great part of this machine is its balancing system. It has six large main springs to keep it balanced, a style popular in older systems. This makes it much less likely to go off balance compared to modern high-efficiency washers that use less durable suspension rods.

The transmission case is made of durable cast metal, similar to old Maytag systems. It's designed to be rebuilt if needed, but it's so well-built that you likely won't need to. The physical components of the Speed Queen TC5 are nearly perfect. While some parts like the lid lock, water valves, and belt assembly might wear down, they are cheap and easy to replace.

The Verdict: Is the TC5 the Best Washer for You?

Initially, we had concerns about the board and interface, but their build quality is impressive. Our only minor complaint is the plastic control knobs on a machine that prides itself on stainless steel.

So, what's the final word on the TC5? It can be the best washing machine for many people, but not everyone. This review is based on extensive testing, comparing the TC5 to several other machines.

There's no doubt that the Speed Queen TC5 is the most reliable washing machine on the American market, by a wide margin. We expect it to last 20 years or more with proper care. However, after testing, we found ourselves preferring the FF7 front-loader in some ways. This comes down to personal preferences for capacity and cost of ownership.

If you use this machine six times a week for 20 years, you'll get about 6,240 washes, making it very cheap to own at about 21 cents per load based on the retail price. However, if you pay for water and electricity, the costs change. The TC5 uses about 33 to 35 gallons of water per wash (excluding the Eco cycle), which means about 50 cents of water and waste per load. The FF7, by comparison, uses about 20.5 gallons per load and even outperformed the TC5 in stain removal on heavy duty settings. The FF7 also handled the comforter test much better.

Another point of concern is the TC5's spin speed. It runs at about 71 RPM, which is very slow compared to other top-loaders (750-800 RPM) and front-loaders (900-950 RPM). The FF7's 1200 RPM spin speed makes a big difference because it extracts more water from each load. This means clothes dry faster, saving time and electricity. When you factor in the additional drying costs with the TC5, the FF7 actually becomes more economical despite its higher purchase price.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities. Do you value reliability and simplicity above all else? Or do you also need efficiency and capacity? The main drawback of the TC5 is its drum size. It's a major hurdle for widespread adoption. Speed Queen would need to invest in changing the chassis to a standard 27-inch format and widening the drum to appeal to a broader market.

Key Takeaways

• Reliability: The Speed Queen TC5 is incredibly reliable, designed to last 20-25 years, far longer than most competitors.
• Build Quality: It features robust, high-quality physical components and a well-made control board.
• Wash Performance: Excellent in heavy duty mode, especially with deep fill. However, the normal Eco mode is very ineffective.
• Capacity Limitations: The smaller tub size (3.24 cubic feet) means it cannot handle large items like queen or king-sized comforters and has a practical load limit of about 14-15 pounds.
• Water Usage: Uses significantly more water per load (33-35 gallons) compared to more efficient machines like the FF7.
• Spin Speed: Very slow spin speed (71 RPM) leaves more water in clothes, leading to longer and more expensive drying times.
• Cost of Ownership: While the machine itself is durable, higher water and electricity costs for drying can make its overall lifetime cost less favorable than more efficient models like the FF7, despite the FF7's higher purchase price.

This review aims to provide clarity on the TC5's strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision. If reliability and simplicity are your top priorities, the TC5 might be perfect. However, if capacity, water efficiency, and faster drying times are important, you might want to consider other options.