oil versus cheap rate electric

firbyfred

we changed our washing machine (HOTPOINT , always breaking down) for a CANDY which was given to us. the HOTPOINT was switched to come on at night and the hot water supply was turned off to make use of the cheap rate electric. now we have realised the CANDY needs to have the hot water turned on to work. which machine was using the cheapest energy?

trafalgar_2

"the hot water supply was turned off to make use of the cheap rate electric"


I'm a bit confused,cheap electric is normally at night ,so why would you turn it off then

Cardew

trafalgar wrote:

"the hot water supply was turned off to make use of the cheap rate electric"


I'm a bit confused,cheap electric is normally at night ,so why would you turn it off then

I take it he means that the Hotpoint machine is cold water fill only - the heater in the machine heats the water to the required temperature; at cheap rate if run at night of course.

The Candy has both hot and cold water fill. It takes in hot water from the domestic supply for the wash cycle and further heats it up if required. The cold water fill is for the rinse cycles.

Some years ago I had a new hot and cold water fill washing machine delivered. I was abroad and a relative connected it up for my wife.

Some weeks later I emptied the machine(a rare event) and noticed that the washing was warm. On checking I discovered that he had connected the cold fill to the hot water supply and vice versa. So the machine got cold water which had to be heated by the machine for the wash cycle and then of course several rinses in warm water - thus using all domestic hot water!!

I ofter wonder if some people have their machines similarly connected and are oblivious to the fact.

FirstClassMale

Hi firbyfred. taking what Cardew has said a little bit further. The machine does take in hot water and heat it to suitbut it will also take in cold water if that is all you give it.

You can buy a Y shaped adapter which will allow you to only connect the cold feed but will mean it goes into the cold and the hot inputs in the machine.

Cardew

Generally cheap rate electricity is cheaper per KwH than a oil fired boiler will be at current prices - bearing in mind the typical efficiency of oil boilers.

The suggestion above will work exactly as described but the cost savings will be minimal - probably considerably less than 1p a wash. My cold fill machine uses 0.6KwH for a typical wash at 40 degrees and only some of this is for water heating. A disadvantage will be if you do need to use the machine during the day - you will then be using electricty to heat water at daytime rates.

I think many people overestimate the power consumption of washing machines - particularly modern machines - even the maximum load of cottons at 90 degrees on mine uses 1.9KwH.