Washing machine question

lucystardust

Hi,

I didn't know where to put this so thought I'd try Old Style as I've seen lots of laundry tips on here!

My new place has electric heating (storage heaters), electric oven and an electric shower, so no boiler.

There's an immersion heater for hot water. When using the washing machine, do I need to put the immersion heater on for a bit, or will the washing machine heat up the water itself? Sorry if that seems like a stupid question!

Thanks!

Auntie-Dolly

Most washing machines are 'cold fill' these days.

-taff

Yep, check to see how many pipes you have going in to your washing machine..one means it's cold fill, two means it's hot fill and you'll have to put the heater on.
They are usually colour coded too, red and blue, either the taps on the connections or the coloured hoses going into the machine.

lucystardust

Super, thanks!

Badrick

Even the "hot fill" washers usually have a heating element in them and it will be cheaper to let the machine heat just the water it needs, rather than heating a whole tankful.
Also as the pipes to washer will be cold, you'll only get a tiny bit of hot water in washer before it's filled, and the washers water heater will still be used.

Norman_Castle

Yes, the washing machine will heat the water itself. The cost of heating the water will be identical however you will waste heated water by allowing the washing machine draw heated water from the immersion tank. If the immersion tank is normally off leave it off and let the washing machine heat the water. If it has two pipes you can fit a Y connector to draw from the cold pipe only.