Description
What the Amana NTW4519JW Is
The NTW4519JW is a straightforward top load washer with an agitator, knob controls and 3.8 cubic feet of capacity. There is no touchscreen, no WiFi, no steam and no app. It is the least complicated washing machine in this catalog, and for a particular kind of buyer that is the entire appeal.
Amana is Whirlpool’s value brand, and this machine is built the way domestic washers were built before front loaders became the default. A stainless steel wash basket, a central agitator, a knob to pick a cycle, and a power cord and drain hose in the box. At 126 pounds it is roughly half the weight of the front load machines covered here, which also makes it far easier to deliver and position.
Deep Water Wash Is The Feature That Matters
High efficiency top load washers use much less water than the machines they replaced, which is good for utility bills and is the reason they exist. It also means that on a normal cycle the tub does not fill the way older washers did, and heavily soiled or bulky items can come out disappointing.
The Deep Water Wash option addresses that directly by filling the tub properly. It uses more water by design, and it is the right choice for muddy work clothes, heavily soiled bedding or anything that genuinely needs to soak. Having it as a selectable option rather than a permanent setting is the sensible arrangement, because it means the machine is efficient by default and capable when it needs to be.
The agitator itself is the other point of difference. Agitator machines are generally harder on fabric than the impeller designs used in most modern high efficiency top loaders, and they are also more effective on ground in dirt. Households washing delicate clothing may prefer a front loader such as the GE GFW550SSNWW, while households washing work clothes will often prefer this.
Electrical And Installation
The specification sheet lists 120 volts, written in the source data as 1.2E plus 2, which is scientific notation rather than an unusual figure. That is a standard household outlet, and the machine ships with a power cord fitted, so no electrical work is involved.
A drain hose is included. Hot and cold supply hoses are not listed among the included components, so those may need buying separately, and it is worth confirming with the retailer before delivery day. As with any washer, the installation needs hot and cold supply valves and a drain standpipe or laundry tub within the height range given in Amana’s installation instructions.
One practical advantage of a top loader is worth noting: there is no door swing to plan for, because the lid opens upward. The listing gives a maximum depth with the door open of 27 inches, which is the same as the cabinet depth. What does need checking is the clearance above the machine, since the lid needs room to open, which rules out installing it under a low shelf or a wall cabinet.
A top loader also cannot be stacked, which is the trade against a front load pair. In a laundry closet where a stacked arrangement is the only way two machines fit, this format is simply not an option, and buyers in that situation should be looking at a single unit such as the LG WashTower or a stackable front load pair. Where floor space exists, a top loader is easier to load, easier to service and cheaper to buy.
Highlights
- 3.8 cubic feet of capacity in a simple 27 inch class cabinet.
- Deep Water Wash option for heavily soiled or bulky loads.
- Stainless steel wash basket rather than porcelain or plastic.
- Twelve cycles selected by knob, with no screen to fail.
- Automatic fabric softener dispenser.
- 120 volt operation with a power cord and drain hose supplied.
- 126 pounds, the lightest full size washer in this catalog.
Things To Consider
The specification table lists a maximum rotational speed of 1200 revolutions per minute. That figure is out of character for an agitator top loader, which typically spins far more slowly than a front loader, and it should be treated as unverified. Spin speed determines how wet clothes are when they come out and therefore how long they take to dry, so anyone comparing running costs should confirm the real figure with Amana rather than relying on this listing.
Capacity is modest at 3.8 cubic feet, and the central agitator takes up part of the tub, so usable space is less than the number suggests. Large comforters will not wash properly in this machine, and forcing one in is a reliable way to unbalance the tub and shorten the life of the suspension.
There is no published efficiency figure, no energy certification statement beyond a vague line about meeting multiple industry standards, and no water consumption number. The specification met field in particular is marketing text rather than data, reading as a sentence about industry standards instead of naming one. The listing also carries only three customer ratings at 2.9 out of 5, which is not a usable sample.
Households needing more capacity or a gentler action have plenty of alternatives in the washers category, including large front loaders such as the LG WM3400CW. Those wanting a matching dryer should note that a top load washer pairs with any dryer, since there is no stacking involved, and the dryers category covers both electric and gas options.
Who Should Buy It, And Who Should Not
It suits a rental property, a small household, a laundry room with limited plumbing, or anyone who wants a washing machine with no screen, no connectivity and nothing that can become unsupported in five years. The Deep Water Wash option makes it genuinely capable on dirty laundry.
It is the wrong purchase for large loads, for households washing delicate clothing regularly, or for anyone who wants documented efficiency figures. Those buyers should be shopping front loaders with published data instead.
