Community Forums

Ted DuPuis · 10-27-2020, 03:20 PM

Our 2000 H.R. Endeavor had a Splendide 7100 washer installed at some point. I'm not clear whether it was original or not, but it appears probably not. It worked fine until the last trip where on the last couple of days it started seeming to become less responsive - first the drum not spinning, and now it's pretty much entirely unresponsive and won't even unlock the door.

I've read that Splendide supposedly has great customer support. So far I've been hung up on while on hold and hoping I get an eMail response We have another trip in a few weeks and I'm wondering if I shouldn't just order a replacement washer/dryer. If so, what brand/model has worked well for people?

bddadles · 10-28-2020, 01:46 PM

Have you been contacting Westland Sales? I have never had anything but excellent service from them.

JFXG · 10-28-2020, 07:57 PM

Ted...
Splendide is pretty much the best in the business for RV laundry, and Westland Sales has been stellar whenever I’ve called them- which actually hasn’t been too often.
Let me make one point with you. The unit you have is described as a 7100. Is it that, or 7100XC? I don’t think it makes a huge difference, but the XC I think has slightly larger drum and a couple of other advantages. But I digress! The important point is that the 7100 and 7100XC are *ventless* combo models. They have washer and dryer combined in one machine, but no external duct to expel the very moist air from the machine as the clothes are drying. They rely on the magic of condensation and evaporation to mystically draw moisture out of the clothes. It actually sprays water onto the clothes as part of the process of drying. Your clothes never actually dry. When “finished” the clothes are still a bit damp, and you have to let them dry. And all the moisture that used to be in your clothes is now still inside your RV!
I suggest you switch to the Splendide 2100XC. It is the vented combo model, in all other ways identical to the 7100, but it has a standard dryer duct and vent system, and when the cycle ends your clothes are dry. Amazing!! And.... I think it’s 1 or 2 hundred cheaper! If you don’t already have a vent outlet you will have to have one installed. Or DIY. Not hard.
When we bought our coach in 2012 it was 10 years old, and had a 4 y/o Splendide 2100XC already installed. It ran very well for the next seven years but then started suffering several electronic control problems. We figured 11 years of constant use in a motorhome was a pretty good life. So we replaced it with another Splendide 2100XC. This one has been fine for the last year.
Anyway, Ted, a very long post, but that’s my advice to you. Stick with Splendide but switch to the vented combo 2100XC.

docj · 10-28-2020, 08:44 PM

I'm sure that the OP's MH didn't have a Splendide 7100 when it was new. No doubt it had a "200 series" Splendide which is what ours did also. That original one lasted ~10 years as did its replacement. We used the 7100 several times a week for the 10 years we full-timed in it. When its bearings failed we didn't hesitate to buy a new one.

With all due respect, the advice you have been given on the Splendide 7100 is not entirely correct. We now have a 6 month old one that replaced a 10-year old one on which the drum bearings had failed. I can attest to the fact that with a new unvented 7100 the clothes need not be damp when they are taken out of the drum contrary to popular belief.

Today I washed and dried a queen sheet set with pillowcases and they came out of the dryer hot and dry as did the towels I washed yesterday. Unvented combos are used throughout Europe and Asia, it's only in the US that they are relatively rare.

The key to keeping any of the Splendide combos running well is to periodically perform the flush procedure recommended by Westland Sales. It takes a couple of hours and I do it once a month as a preventative measure. IMO they are well made machines and the folks at Westland Sales provide excellent support.

Joel (AKA docj)

Ted DuPuis · 12-29-2020, 07:30 PM

While I'm following up on threads I thought I'd follow up on this one.

It took a couple of tries of getting in touch with the tech support fellow, but once I did he was very helpful in identifying the problem, which was the control board. Ordered a new one (about $350), swapped it in, and the washer/dryer works just fine now. It isn't original with the RV - it was installed in 2010 as was confirmed when diagnosing things. So I'll agree that the Splendide tech support is very good, and I'm a happy customer.