Using washing machine economically

Chinkle

Trying to cut the gas bill and while its summer only putting the boiler on when we need hot water for showers etc. This morning I used hubby to switch on so I could put the washing machine on, he said no need as the machine heats the water itself. Is he right? I assumed it drew hot water from the boiler.

tattoed_bum

if you machine has 2 water pipes going to it then it draws hot water in from the boiler this is usually only on older machines ,if it is a newer machine then it wil only be cold water fed and your machine will heat the water ,

hope this helps

miserly_mum

tattoed_bum wrote: »

if you machine has 2 water pipes going to it then it draws hot water in from the boiler this is usually only on older machines ,if it is a newer machine then it wil only be cold water fed and your machine will heat the water ,

hope this helps

Even in the 2 pipe machines .......if the water from the hot pipe isn't at a high enough temperature for the wash the machine will still heat the water to the correct temperature.

Either way you don't need to heat your water before using your washing machine.

exlibris

Are cold-fill machines more economical? My trusty WM is on its last legs and I am saving up for another. I tends to do a load at 30 in just under 1 hour but my son's much newer one takes 2 hours. The thought of all that electricity heating the water when there is always some warm water in the tank frightens me.

bravobeastie

We have an old hot and cold feed machine. The thermostat has gone so if there is any hot water in the tank it takes it straight out and boils the clothes.

Apparently there is an adaptor thingy you can get now that will convert it to cold feed only which we will be getting in the next couple of weeks.

I believe cold feed machines are more economical

Chinkle

Machine is a 5 year old Ariston. It's definately connected to the hot water supply. Even if it did heat internally if there was inadequate hot water from the boiler, maybe its better to use the hot water heated by boiler anyway as this would be cheaper.

ceridwen

I guess this could vary - according to whether your boiler is gas or electric powered?? I would be interested in fuller details myself - as my washing machine probably (certainly!) counts as older. Its a Zanussi and must be about 15 years old I would think. It has the two pipes bit - so I have always run the water hot from my (gas) boiler and then started up the machine. I have assumed that if the water wasnt hot enough - then the machine would heat it for me? As from The Big Switch Off in 1 September 2009 (when I personally plan on switching off the gas to my house at the end of my fixed price contract - unless gas prices have normalised by then) - then my machine will have no option but to heat its own water up - as there simply wont BE any hot water coming from my gas boiler at all.

Viper_7

exlibris wrote: »

Are cold-fill machines more economical? My trusty WM is on its last legs and I am saving up for another. I tends to do a load at 30 in just under 1 hour but my son's much newer one takes 2 hours. The thought of all that electricity heating the water when there is always some warm water in the tank frightens me.

Yes, cold water machines are more economical. you can't get hot/cold feed machines now.

Theory is you only heat the water you need.
also if you put hot water in straight away this can actually seal the dirt in the clothes.
There should be a cold wash cycle first to loosen the dirt and let the powder do the work.

Having said that it sucks for those with Economy 7 when the water is heated up over night - like myself. So for E7 users it's not more economical and costs more - but again it's best to wash in cold water first.

and yes - it takes longer to complete a cycle due to having to heat the water up.

trying-very-trying

ceridwen wrote: »

I guess this could vary - according to whether your boiler is gas or electric powered?? I would be interested in fuller details myself - as my washing machine probably (certainly!) counts as older. Its a Zanussi and must be about 15 years old I would think. It has the two pipes bit - so I have always run the water hot from my (gas) boiler and then started up the machine. I have assumed that if the water wasnt hot enough - then the machine would heat it for me? As from The Big Switch Off in 1 September 2009 (when I personally plan on switching off the gas to my house at the end of my fixed price contract - unless gas prices have normalised by then) - then my machine will have no option but to heat its own water up - as there simply wont BE any hot water coming from my gas boiler at all.

I don't mean to sound smug, but there must be a good few of us on here who have solid fuel heating. The only good thing about it is, you've always got hot water if the fire's been on. Even just lighting it for an hour on the cooler evenings gives me more than enough hot water for the next day. This is only the cheapest method of heating water if you are physically capable of acquiring your own free source of fuel, which last year hubby was not.

trying-very-trying

Viper_7 wrote: »

Yes, cold water machines are more economical. you can't get hot/cold feed machines now. I got my hot & cold fill machine last september, so I would imagine they are still available.
Theory is you only heat the water you need.
also if you put hot water in straight away this can actually seal the dirt in the clothes.
There should be a cold wash cycle first to loosen the dirt and let the powder do the work.
Having said that it sucks for those with Economy 7 when the water is heated up over night - like myself. Can you not put your washing machine on at night? It would still heat the water at the cheap rate. So for E7 users it's not more economical and costs more - but again it's best to wash in cold water first.
and yes - it takes longer to complete a cycle due to having to heat the water up.

I used to be on white meter electric, I used a timer plug, and set the machine to come on so that it was just finishing at about 7o'clock. Hubby gets up at five and I used to get up at about half past six, so it was never really left running with no one around.

belfastgirl23

exlibris wrote: »

Are cold-fill machines more economical? My trusty WM is on its last legs and I am saving up for another. I tends to do a load at 30 in just under 1 hour but my son's much newer one takes 2 hours. The thought of all that electricity heating the water when there is always some warm water in the tank frightens me.

I think what you need to look for is a machine with a good economy cycle esp if your clothes aren't that dirty. Unfortunately my machine's fast wash is at 40 degrees (takes about 45 mins) although I can also do a short 30 degree wash in just over an hour. I have a feeling that not many machines fill from the hot water tank?