Washing Machine energy consumption

Hereforshire

I have a new LG washing machine.  With my previous machine the washing cycles were shorter and I usually washed on a quick 30, as I believed it was better for the environment and saved energy.  My present machine is an A rating and the dealer, who we bought it from, advised that the ECO 40-60 C wash was more energy efficient that a quick wash. The ECO wash will not run at 30 C (only 40 - 60) and takes a whopping 3 hours and 48 minutes.  A quick speed wash on 30 C takes 30 mins and gets the washing clean. I can't get my head around how 3 hours 48 minutes is cheaper.  The dealer insists that the long ECO wash is the way to go, but cannot provide any written details to confirm this.  Any insight on this would be appreciated.

EssexHebridean

The usual theory with longer programmes being cheaper is that they rely more on soaking the items being washed, than on agitating them. Less agitation = lower costs. Your 30 minute wash will be "on the move" pretty much all the time, I'd sugget.

Does the user manual not give energy and water consumption for each wash setting? 

MattMattMattUK

I also suspect that the 30 minute wash is not nearly as clean as you think it is. There was a feature on the BBC some years back that whilst the 30@30 washes got clothes visibily clean they did not remove bacteria or the build up of skin oils. 

Hereforshire

EssexHebridean, the user manual does give energy and water consumption for each programme.  The water consumption does not differ greatly but the energy is difficult to compare. Eco is 1.011 kWh for full load and 0.500 for half but the quick wash quotes figures for 20 c, only 14 mins wash and the slowest spin, which is 0.046 kWh.  Because I manually alter this to a 30 c wash, longer wash and spin, it is difficult to compare.

ic

Quick wash programmes use more water, which takes more energy to heat.  Eco programmes use less water, so less energy to heat that smaller quantity of water.  The motors in new machines are highly efficient, so they can agitate the load, sploshing it around in that small amount of water for a long time.

Quick programmes also tend to have a very short spin cycle - they might get up to full speed, but won't necessarily stay there for long.  The outcome being the washing is damper - so if you then use a dryer, the dryer has more work to do drying the clothes.

As mentioned above, quick washes are only suited to very small loads, and won't result in a particularly good clean.

Mstty

Hereforshire said:

EssexHebridean, the user manual does give energy and water consumption for each programme.  The water consumption does not differ greatly but the energy is difficult to compare. Eco is 1.011 kWh for full load and 0.500 for half but the quick wash quotes figures for 20 c, only 14 mins wash and the slowest spin, which is 0.046 kWh.  Because I manually alter this to a 30 c wash, longer wash and spin, it is difficult to compare.

If you have access to the plug and it's not hard wired into a fused switch then you could attach a Tapo P110 to monitor usage.

If that's not possible turn as much off in the house as possible and take a meter reading before and after each type of wash. If you know your background electricity usage this would be helpful.

macman

Given the few pence difference between the options, I suspect this is an instance where convenience will probably win out over economy. The default ECO cycles are a requirement of EU legislation, but the manufacturers know very well that most people will override them and use a hotter or faster programme for the sake of convenience.
And, of course, if you stick the resulting washing into a tumble drier, the cost of running for an hour of more that will dwarf any savings you might make on the washing cycle.

pensionpawn

We bought this Samsung wash / dryer (https://www.samsung.com/uk/washers-and-dryers/washer-dryer-combo/washer-wd80ta046be-wd80ta046be-eu/#specs) a couple of years ago and it's very good as well as very economical. 0.6 kWhrs for a wash only.

Hereforshire

Thank you for all your helpful comments.  I don't use a tumble dryer so don't have to factor in that cost.  Fortunately we live in a remote part of the country that is usually pretty windy - good for drying washing.

pensionpawn

Hereforshire said:

Thank you for all your helpful comments.  I don't use a tumble dryer so don't have to factor in that cost.  Fortunately we live in a remote part of the country that is usually pretty windy - good for drying washing.

...unless it's raining...?

Raxiel

pensionpawn said:

Hereforshire said:

Thank you for all your helpful comments.  I don't use a tumble dryer so don't have to factor in that cost.  Fortunately we live in a remote part of the country that is usually pretty windy - good for drying washing.

...unless it's raining...?

Free second rinse?