Washing Machine Cycles - least electricity?

Guardiandame

Hello,

Is there a way to work out which washing machine cycle uses the least amount of electricity?

I've been using the 30 degree cycle for most washes (takes 1.5 hrs) but there is a 50 degree cycle which only takes 32 minutes.

The instruction manual doesn't list wash times or energy use except for the special 40 degree 'mix and wash' cycle - this takes three hours but uses less than 1kw electricity (892w).

Would assume the longer the cycle the more electricity it uses but not sure how much electricity is being used to heat the water in the machine!

The washing machine is a Candy CWB 1206

I emailed Candy to ask some weeks ago but no reply

Many thanks

rogerblack

Get an energy meter.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Energenie-ENERGY-SAVING-POWER-METER-SAVE-MONEY-/221075149387?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item33791b124b or similar.

Trying to work it out is almost impossible - other than if cycles use the same amount of heated water - hotter will use more energy.

An energy meter will tell you how much electricity it uses on each program, and on standby.
Getting an idea of what all appliances you own use is a good plan, so as to see what might be worth replacing a little sooner than otherwise.

Guardiandame

Thanks - will do - excellent idea!

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

The majority of electrical consumption in a washing machine is for heating water. Bear in mind that the cold water can be as low as 3C in a cold winter, and 20C in summer; and is also dependant on the length of the pipe run. So there can be a wide variation on the same washing cycle.

You can buy for £10 or less a 'plug in' power monitor that will tell exactly the power consumption of any given cycle - as well as any other plug in appliance. Try Maplins.

There is a thread currently running about monitors.

Guardiandame

Ah, thank you - that makes a lot of sense. Partly explains higher electric bill in colder months too I expect.

Will contact library to see if I can borrow an energy meter.

Many thanks again to both replies

good_advice

Hiya, It might help if I say with my Bosch washer it costs me 40 pence for a 1.5 hr wash at 30C.
For a 40C wash I think it is 70 pence and my monthly "high clean the machine with nothing in" at 90C is 81 pence.

Remember that is on my lower 2nd rate tariff. The machine is a 1200 spin. A higher spin speed may cost more.

Yes, I have a Energenie monitor.
I think, the less you heat the water the less you pay.

tlh858

good_advice wrote: »

Hiya, It might help if I say with my Bosch washer it costs me 40 pence for a 1.5 hr wash at 30C.
For a 40C wash I think it is 70 pence and my monthly "high clean the machine with nothing in" at 90C is 81 pence.

If those are correct, either you are paying a vast amount for your electricity, or your machine is the most wasteful model ever made.

Most washers use about 1 unit of electricity for a normal wash.

good_advice

I cannot see a washing machine doing a full load for just 10p.
Can you name some?

Richie-from-the-Boro

good_advice wrote: »

I cannot see a washing machine doing a full load for just 10p.
Can you name some?

Yes - an original [old] dual fill using an E7 tariff on a short quick cycle might get close, there's only one brand of new dual fill in the UK and the starting price is around £1000 per machine similar to the better Bosch machines. An E7 tariff supply helps not because of a limitless supply of hot water which an older dual fill can make use of, but because the cost of electricity can be as low as 30% of the normal cost..

Cardew

good_advice wrote: »

I cannot see a washing machine doing a full load for just 10p.
Can you name some?

Yes, my cold fill Bosch(WFF 1401) about 6 years old uses 0.4kWh for a 'easy care' 40C wash, 2.5kg - so about 5p.
Most other programmes are 0.6kWh.(7P) e.g.Coloureds 5.0kg 40C.

There is a 60C 5.0kg wash that takes 1.1kWh(13p)

These are stated in the handbook, which I am reading from, and confirmed with an energy monitor. - consumption data according t0 AS2040 - 1990

The latest machines use even less.

tlh858

Some, from several manufacturers and various prices:

Indesit 7145K, 1.316kWh per cycle, £245
LG F1456QD 1.19kWh per cycle, £375
Panasonic NA147VB4, 0.8kWh per cycle, £399
Hotpoint Futura, 1.09kWh per cycle, £399
Bosch Exxcel 8, 0.82kWh per cycle, £449
Logik L612WM12, 1.14kWh per cycle, £199
Samsung WF112XAU, 1.32kWh per cycle, £949

Loads of other makes and models with similar figures.

The standard cycle is usually a 40C normal length wash. 30C and shorter washing times would obviously use less energy.
60 and 90 washes would use more, but in reality there is very little which can or should be washed at those temperatures.