Kenmore 2629182 Top-Load Washer Review
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Last updated October 31, 2026
The Kenmore 2629182 top-load washer, also sold as model 26-29182, is a good buy for a household that wants a simple, full-size agitator machine with a big stainless drum, a glass lid and controls you work by hand. It is a weaker fit for anyone who wants high-efficiency certification, a fast spin, steam or sanitizing cycles, or app control.
Families replacing an older agitator washer, people who like to watch the load and turn a knob, and anyone washing tough, dirty or greasy clothes get the most from it. The 4.1 cu. ft. stainless drum, the Triple Action Agitator, 10 cycles and a time-remaining display suit a traditional laundry routine.
What the Kenmore 2629182 does well
The machine is built around moving clothes through water rather than spraying a small puddle at them, and that shapes everything it does well.
A full-size stainless drum
The wash basket holds 4.1 cu. ft. and is made of stainless steel, so it takes family laundry, bedding and household fabrics in stride. The capacity is stated as up to 20 bath towels on a full load.
The Triple Action Agitator
Three motions work together. A spraying action hits dirt from every angle with a concentrated detergent mix, the wash basket moves back and forth, and the agitator moves clothes in a circular pattern. This is the core strength of the machine: it agitates the load through the water instead of relying on a low-water impeller.
Ten cycles for real loads
There are 10 wash cycles and 2 options, with named cycles including Heavy Duty, Whites, Soak, Delicates, Express, Bulky, Normal and Quick Wash. That covers everyday laundry, delicate pieces and heavily soiled work clothes without hunting for a setting.
Speed when a load has to be done now
Express Wash finishes in about 28 minutes on a 3 lb load at the default setting. Accela Wash washes full-size loads up to 14% faster. Both suit the morning when a school uniform or a work shirt has to come out clean before you leave.
Everyday usability
A soft-close tempered glass lid lets you watch the wash without a slam. The LED display shows time remaining and cycle status, Delay Start pushes a load to a later hour, and the adjustable leveling legs help settle the machine on an uneven floor. Dispenser drawers take detergent, bleach and fabric softener.
What buyers on Amazon report
Buyers on Amazon most often praise how the machine performs, and one notes it does better than cheaper alternatives. The large majority of ratings are four or five stars.
Where the Kenmore 2629182 disappoints
The trade-offs are those of a traditional agitator washer, and they matter more to some households than others.
No ENERGY STAR certification
The machine is a high-efficiency design, but it does not carry ENERGY STAR certification. A buyer who tracks water and power use should weigh that before ordering.
A 710 RPM spin leaves clothes wetter
The spin speed is 710 RPM, slow by current standards. Clothes come out of the drum holding more water, so the dryer runs longer and uses more energy. This is the least discussed figure on the machine and the one that shows up every wash day.
A traditional cycle list
There is no steam option, no sanitize or allergen cycle, no cold-wash cycle and no extra-water option. The cycle list is the classic one, and a household that relies on steam or a hot sanitizing pass will not find it here.
No smart features
There is no Wi-Fi, no app and no Bluetooth. Every setting is made at the machine, which suits some buyers and frustrates others.
One finish
The washer comes in white only.
Agitator trade-offs
An agitator post takes up usable drum space, and an agitator is rougher on delicate and bulky items than an impeller machine. That is a characteristic of agitator washers in general, not a fault of this one.
Warranty terms
Coverage runs one year from the original sale date for repair, or replacement if the machine cannot be repaired. The drive motor carries lifetime coverage: the part is free after year one, but labor is on the owner. Non-household or commercial use drops to 90 days.
One divided point among buyers
Buyers on Amazon are divided on the drum's usable space, and one buyer wishes the fabric softener compartment were larger. Neither is a reason to pass on the machine, but both are worth knowing.
The product in this review
Kenmore 2629182 top load washer
See on AmazonWhat the 2629182's specs tell you
| Specification | Figure |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 4.1 cu. ft. |
| Configuration | Top load, freestanding, white |
| Agitator | Triple Action Agitator (spraying, wash basket and agitator actions) |
| Cycles | 10 wash cycles, 2 options; Heavy Duty, Whites, Soak, Delicates, Express, Bulky, Normal, Quick Wash |
| Wash temperatures | 4 settings |
| Dispensers | Detergent, bleach, fabric softener |
| Controls | Knob controls with LED display showing time remaining and cycle status |
| Special features | Delay Start, adjustable leveling legs, high efficiency, time-remaining display |
| Spin speed | 710 RPM |
| Drum | Stainless steel wash basket |
| Lid | Soft-close tempered glass |
| Dimensions | 27 in deep, 25.5 in wide, 42.1 in high |
| Included | Power cord |
| Certification | Not ENERGY STAR certified |
| Warranty | 1 year; lifetime drive-motor part coverage |
| Recommended use | Residential |
The 25.5 in width is narrower than that of many full-size top-loaders, so the machine can suit a tighter alcove. Measure your doorway and laundry space before you buy, including the clearance the lid needs to swing open, and check the figures against the machine's own spec sheet.
How it behaves in use
Several normal behaviors look like faults to a new owner, and knowing them saves a service call.
The dry churn at the start
The machine agitates the dry load for up to a minute before filling to sense the load size. That is normal, not a broken valve.
Clothes above the water line
Clothes sitting above the water are normal on a low-water, high-efficiency fill. The drum is not underfilled.
Control Lock and power failures
Control Lock clears when you hold the Water Level and Wash Temp buttons together for about three seconds. After a power failure, the lid unlocks, the machine waits about three minutes and then finishes the cycle.
Drain and installation
The drain standpipe height should be between 39 and 96 inches. Remove the shipping bolts, level the machine on its adjustable legs and give it a firm, even floor: most vibration and banging complaints trace back to an unlevel install.
Error codes at a glance
- E1: water level not reached
- E2: drain taking too long
- E3: lid open
- E4: repeated out-of-balance in spin
- E5: machine not level
- E7: Hall sensor
- F5: load sensing
- F8: water level sensor
- Fd: lid lock
- C9: control board
- CL: control lock active
There is no CPSC recall on this model.
The Kenmore 2629182 is a solid, simple, full-size agitator top-loader with a stainless drum, a big glass lid, useful speed cycles and controls you work by hand. Buy it if you want traditional washing and do not need efficiency certification, a fast spin, steam or smart features. Skip it if any of those matter to you.
Before ordering, measure your laundry space and doorway against the 27 in depth, 25.5 in width and 42.1 in height, and confirm what comes in the box. The product card shows the current price.
Frequently asked questions
Most of the confusion around this washer comes from its model numbers, and the plate number on the machine is the one a technician needs.
Can the Kenmore 2629182 finish a load quickly when a school uniform or work shirt is needed in a hurry?
Express Wash on the Kenmore 2629182 runs a 3 lb load in roughly 28 minutes at the default setting, and Accela Wash shortens a full-size cycle by up to 14 percent. Both give you a clean load without a long wait on a busy morning.
Does the Kenmore 2629182 offer a steam setting or a sanitizing cycle?
No. The Kenmore 2629182 offers 10 wash cycles and 2 options, and none of them adds steam or a sanitizing pass. A household that depends on a hot sanitizing pass would need a different machine.
Why do clothes come out of the Kenmore 2629182 wetter than expected?
The Kenmore 2629182 spins at 710 RPM, which is slow by current standards, so laundry leaves the drum holding more water. That extra moisture means the dryer has to run longer and uses more energy on every wash day.
How much laundry, including bedding or towels, does the Kenmore 2629182 hold in one load?
The Kenmore 2629182 holds 4.1 cu. ft. in a stainless steel basket, which is enough for a family load of bedding or towels. Buyers on Amazon often describe the drum as roomy, though opinion is split on how much usable space the agitator post leaves inside.
What comes with the Kenmore 2629182, and what else do I need to have ready before installation?
The Kenmore 2629182 comes with its power cord. Before installation, you need a firm, even floor and a drain standpipe that is between 39 and 96 inches high, and you should be ready to remove the shipping bolts and level the machine on its adjustable legs. You should also measure your laundry space and doorway against the 27 in depth, 25.5 in width and 42.1 in height.