LG WM4000 Front-Load Washer Review

The LG WM4000 is one of the most popular front load washers you can buy.

It’s not bad considering LG is known for their laundry. In fact, the first modern front load was originally styled by LG.

In this article you’ll learn its best features including a few that have nothing to do with the machine, as well as cycles and reliability based on 40,000 plus service calls performed by a service department just last year.

We’ll also compare this LG versus its main competitors like GE, Whirlpool, as well as other LG machines, along with a few problems this machine has as well.

In the end, you’ll know whether the WM4000, another brand or another LG machine might be right for you.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Best Features

First, you have 12 cycles, as well as 14 options and 5 spin speed combinations. They also have 5 wash rinse temperatures as well, so there isn’t a major cycle this machine doesn’t have for any type of fabric.

Steam functionality is also part of the WM4000, with the ability to loosen tough stains like wine, grass or blood.

With Smart functionality, you could see the time remaining and receive a push notification when the cycle is over.

Smart works for longer, you don’t have to trudge your basement to see if the cycle is over. The machine will actually tell you.

The capacity is average for a front load at 4.5 cubic feet. That’s still huge compared to the average top loader at about 2.5-2.7 cubic.

Reliability

Reliability is the other reason. LG’s reliability is the best at 3.3% service within the first year, according to a internal service data of over 40,000+ service calls.

That’s almost half the average of front load washers at 6.3% as a category.

Part of the reason for reliability is that LG manufacturers most of the key components, like their inverter motors with fewer parts, so they have fewer problems.

By manufacturing more of their appliances, the availability has also been better than any other manufacturer throughout the pandemic. Their best feature may be that you can buy one without having to wait a prolonged period of time.

So it’s a good reliable machine with decent features.

Problems

Now, a few problems. The LG WM4000 does not have an automatic detergent dispenser.

Automatic dispensing has become a popular feature in front loads because most people still will add too much detergent.

You only the cap full, too much detergent causes oversudsing and can eat away at the internals of the machine causing complicated and expensive repair years later.

GE, Maytag and Whirlpool offer automatic dispensing. You can have up to 40 loads worth in a Whirlpool and 32 in the GE.

It’s more convenient for you not loading detergent every time as well, plus it’s better for machine.

LG does have an 18 load dispenser in their larger and more expensive WM4500 for $400 more.

Also GE has their anti-mold features. Front loads can develop mold if you leave standing water most commonly in the gasket or in the back of the machine.

GE had a micro antimicrobial coating on the gasket, the hoses and the dispenser as well.

The microband combined with odorblock, which is a fancy term for ‘fan’, activated to dry the inside of the machine and GE greatly diminishes the possibility of mold.

LG does not offer mold protection per se, they do have the tub clean feature. Drying the gasket after the wash and leaving the door open will help as well.

Conclusion

This is a really good unit with every possible feature plus the ability to wash faster with steam functionality.

You don’t have the mold protection so you’ll have to be aware of drying this gasket and keeping the door open and running a clean cycle.

The only missing feature is auto dispenser which is available in similar priced GE’s and more expensive Whirlpools and higher end LG models.