Cold fill only washing machines

wilcock1

apples1 wrote:

I used powder in drawer of previous machine (switched from liquid to save money as when I worked out cost big box powder worked out by far the cheapest per wash). Will I now need to use liquid again?

Also do the plumbers out there have any tips on plumbing new cold fill machine machine in? When we tipped old machine we kept the hoses attached ready to re-use rather than use new ones as Mr Apples said they always leak so easier just to connect old hoses to new machine. How will it work with cold fill only?

Your not really supposed to use the old hoses as they are more likely to by worn/cracked. Just use the new one supplied.

The washing machine we have got is cold feed only. We've noticed that the results are much better than the previous make. its true that the powder doesnt always dissolve, but we just leave it in the drawer for next time. I think that it is more of a case that the machine only takes what it needs to rather than dissolving all of it. So it is more cost effective on powder.

Also, one point not mentioned is that most new machines now allow you to wash a normal wash on 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees. This is also more efficient.

Wig

You don't get a hot fill for a 40 degree wash, only for 60 degrees and 90 degree washes anyway.

95% of my washes are done on 40degrees so I hardly ever use the hot fill function (which I do have because it's an old machine) anyway.

I'd like to ask why you are apparantly so keen to use 60 degrees & 90 degrees washes?

If its that important then run down the hot water into the nearest tap before you switch the w/m/c on then have a length of pipe attatched to your (hopefully round taps) feed the pipe into the powder drawer on the m/c and then turn on the m/c and turn on the hot tap. at the same time, if you want to go one step further turn off the mains stopcock before you do this so that your machine doesn't fill with cold.....or have an accessible stopcock in the cold feed line which you can turn off.

Wig

flea72 wrote:

the manual with my boiler states it must only be connected to cold fill washing machines.

and i think the manual with the washing machine says that if you have a combi boiler, only connect to the cold fill

Then it wouldn't be connected.

i dont think it will blow up your boiler if you have it connected to hot and cold fill, but there is obviously some reason why they suggest not to connect to a twin fill washing machine

it may be similar reasons to why you shouldnt connect a power shower to a combi boiler. im not a plumber so cant define the logic, but am just going with the warnings that are given for my system.

Flea

Combi boilers run on mains pressure that's the shower issue. The washing m/c must also have a problem with hot mains water they have no problem with cold mains water though.

Mikeyorks

Wig wrote:

they have no problem with cold mains water though.

It's a bit academic to this thread - but most machines specify a min (e.g 50 kpa) and max (e.g 800kpa) mains pressure.

You're unlikely to hit the lower end (unless you're on a farm bore hole and wash when milking is in progress - from experience) - but could hit the upper end. Which is why it's always a good idea to have an isolator in the washer supply pipe. As you can also use it as a regulator, if the mains pressure sounds to be blowing the back off the machine.

apples1

Since starting this thread on Tuesday afternoon I am pleased to report that the new (cold fill!) machine was fitted in by Mr Apples in no time & its running perfectly. No problems with it taking and disolving all powder from the drawer, no problems at all in fact. Having been without a machine for a few days I have done many loads of washing in the last 48 hours and have no complaint whatsoever. A good buy at £230.

The only difference I noticed is how wonderfully dry the washing comes out having had a 1600 spin (previous machine 1000)!

Thanks to all who posted.

Mikeyorks

Hope he used the new feed pipe that came with it !!;)

how wonderfully dry the washing comes out having had a 1600 spin

.....my wife tells me ours is equally dry (well it is when I put it on:p ). And even I notice it's so much quieter - even at that speed?

calleyw

Wig wrote:

You don't get a hot fill for a 40 degree wash, only for 60 degrees and 90 degree washes anyway.

95% of my washes are done on 40degrees so I hardly ever use the hot fill function (which I do have because it's an old machine) anyway.

I assume you are talking about old machines with both hot and cold fill. As my machine is about 9 years old. And when I do a 40 degree wash which is 95% of the time it draws hot water from my combi as I have turned off the economy button. So it does not heat the water itself.

As I can draw water to wash up after the machine as its drawn hot water.

Yours


Calley

Wig

calleyw wrote:

I assume you are talking about old machines with both hot and cold fill. As my machine is about 9 years old. And when I do a 40 degree wash which is 95% of the time it draws hot water from my combi as I have turned off the economy button. So it does not heat the water itself.

As I can draw water to wash up after the machine as its drawn hot water.

Yours


Calley

I refer you to post #22, most machines are not like yours, assuming you're not mistaken.