When purchasing a washing machine, people think about how many resources it will consume. As utility prices increase year after year, home appliance owners want them to be economical. There are models that can be washed in economical modes. You need to know not only their name, but also understand what the water consumption of an automatic washing machine will be. This indicator is calculated based on several criteria.
What does water consumption depend on?
After purchasing a washing machine, utility bills can increase several times. Several factors influence this. If they are not taken into account, owners of household appliances face significant waste every month.
Let's determine the main factors influencing water consumption:
- amount of loaded laundry;
- washing programs;
- machine malfunction.
Modern types of machines can wash clothes in economical modes. Each brand offers its own solutions. When the drum is fully loaded, the average consumption will be less. If a person washes a little, but does it often, the equipment consumes more resources. Consumption may increase if the washing machine is connected incorrectly or if it malfunctions. For example, if the inlet valve breaks down, liquid enters the tank when it is not needed, and the machine wastes a large amount of water daily.
conclusions
When choosing a washing machine model, you should pay attention to such a parameter as water consumption per wash cycle. A normal figure is considered to be from 35 liters to 80 liters (on average 50-60 liters) depending on the washing program.
The monthly water consumption of a washing machine is influenced by the mode of use of the device, the number of drum loads per day/week, the size of the tank, the washing programs used, the serviceability or malfunction of the mechanism.
To reduce water consumption, it is recommended to wash less often, but with a larger tank load; select a washing program in accordance with the degree of soiling and composition of the items; Use a washing machine model that is suitable for the load volume. If there is a clear increase in water consumption, you should contact a repairman to check the technical condition of the device.
Water consumption indicators for one cycle
How much water does a washing machine use on average? This figure is indicated in the passport document. The volume of water consumption per wash can be 38-80 liters. The average figure is approximately 60 liters. If you're spending a lot, think about whether you're choosing too much water and whether your appliances are working properly.
If you suspect that increased utility bills are related to the operation of the machine, open its passport and look at the average water consumption figures. Next, carry out simple calculations based on the indicators of water meters. Remember that the larger the unit, the more resources it needs. If you have an old model, it is not always correct to rely on the volume of consumption indicated in the passport. The older the equipment, the higher its wear and tear and resource consumption.
Washing machine usage mode
Washing frequency
There are two opposing points of view on the rational way to use a washing machine in a family.
Some housewives are sure that cleaning clothes manually is much more profitable and effective, and therefore they try to use an automatic device to a minimum, washing only the largest items. They wash everyday items with soap in a sink or basin and demand the same from the rest of the household.
In this case, the water consumption of the washing machine will be minimal due to the rare start of the unit in principle. This approach is typical for representatives of the older generation, who are accustomed to hand washing and saving on everything.
Young people, on the contrary, try to eliminate manual labor in everyday life and make maximum use of technology as a household assistant. A robot vacuum cleaner is purchased for cleaning the floor, a dishwasher for washing dishes, and a multicooker for cooking. To clean things from dirt, only a washing machine is used.
In such families, any item of clothing, from socks and panties to outerwear, is washed in an automatic machine. Up to 3-5 washes per day, 5-10 items at a time, can be carried out. In this case, the water consumption will be much higher than average, this is an inefficient use of the device.
As mentioned above, water consumption is calculated per wash cycle, so the more such cycles are carried out, the more liquid is required. The habit of taking off all your clothes in the evening and immediately running even the shortest wash cycle increases your monthly water bill.
The more often clothes are washed, no matter how much, the more water is consumed. Therefore, to save water consumption, it is recommended to load the drum at least 50% -70% of its volume.
To do this, you should collect dirty or worn clothes in a separate tank, sort them by color and degree of soiling, and only then start the washing machine.
Selecting a washing program
An incorrectly selected program affects the final result in the form of remaining stains or a feeling of soapiness in the fabric, which leads to the need for repeated washing and a resulting increase in water consumption by the device due to double work done.
A common mistake is to select a short wash program with the drum at maximum load. This mode is intended for everyday clothes with barely noticeable signs of wear without visible dirt. It restores freshness to clothes by rinsing with a minimum amount of detergent. Using such a program to wash a large number of soiled items will not live up to expectations.
The use of multi-stage washing with pre-soaking and additional rinsing is justified only for dealing with really strong and difficult to remove stains. In this case, to achieve the best effect, you will need to use additional cleaning products (stain remover, laundry detergent enhancer). In other cases, turning on this mode will only lead to an increase in water consumption.
Water consumption for different models
Lg machines have 8 water flow levels.
For them it can be 7.5-43 liters. How much water does an Lg washing machine use? If we assume that we wash 5 kg of laundry, this figure will be from 48 to 56 liters per cycle. When calculating the average water consumption for “washing machines” of this type, you need to take into account different types of fabrics. The main “counting mode” is “Clap”. When loading 5 kg of cotton items, the water consumption will be approximately 45 liters. To wash 2 kg of synthetic fabrics you need approximately 40 liters, and if the fabric is thinner, the machine takes 50 liters.
Lg models have “Steam Wash”. When this program is activated, water is sprayed onto items and mixed with washing powder. Using this mode allows you to use resources more economically.
The features of Indesit machines allow them to use and consume water economically when washing. 5 kg of things takes 43-52 liters. All models are equipped with the Eco Time option. This smart option uses resources sparingly.
Anyone who uses a full-size machine from Samsung will appreciate it for its efficiency and reliability. Compact models are not suitable for washing double bed linen sets. Large items are difficult to fit into the drum, but the amount of water will be decent - about 40 liters per cycle. It’s better to buy a full-size “washing machine” from this company, which can fit anything you want.
How many liters of water does a Bosch machine use for one wash? The standard figure does not differ from the figures typical for other companies. When loading 5 kg of things into the drum, the consumption will be from 40 to 50 liters.
Maximum and minimum flow
The technical data sheet of any washing machine contains test results.
They are carried out in laboratory conditions, with various loads on household appliances.
Testing allows you to set minimum and maximum water flow rates. The smallest volume is 38 liters, the largest is 80 liters.
Based on these data, it is possible to calculate the average amount of water resources consumed. It is equal to 59 liters. Many manufacturers cite these numbers in their documents.
You can check their accuracy on your own. To do this you need:
- Record the readings of the meter that is connected to the cold water pipe.
- Turn on the machine on the longest mode.
- Check the meter again by calculating the cold water consumption. The resulting figure is the maximum water consumption of the washing machine.
- Wash the clothes again on the fastest cycle.
- Note the counter indicator. This is the minimum cost.
- Calculate the average value and compare it with the numbers given in the washing machine data sheet.
Conclusion! The coincidence of actual consumption with the data in the passport, as well as a discrepancy of 15 liters or less are considered normal.
Economy modes and programs
Savings largely depend on what temperature setting you choose for your washing machine. The choice of temperature for all models ranges from 30 to 95C and depends on how dirty the laundry is. The following factors also affect water consumption:
- types of fabric and their combinations;
- duration of one cycle;
- number of rinses.
There are several modes that can be called economical. They can be found in almost any washing machine:
- fast. Sometimes it is designated as "accelerated". Time - from 15 to 40 minutes. Suitable for washing items that have not been heavily soiled and do not require pre-treatment;
- casual or daily. Designed for washing acrylic, polyester and polyamide fabrics. They are undemanding to care and wash quickly;
- economical (or economical) - the machine washes in the range of reduced consumption of water and electrical resources. At the same time, the cycle time is significantly longer.
What affects energy consumption
One of the indicators of economical operation is energy consumption. Electricity consumption is influenced by various factors:
- Power of the installed electric motor.
- Operating modes that provide optimal conditions for washing clothes.
- The amount of dirty raw materials deposited at a time.
- How dirty the laundry is loaded into the drum.
- Supply water temperature. The colder it is, the more electrical energy is required to heat it.
The energy consumption of the washing machine is indicated in the passport. During the washing process, the power varies from 300 W to 2 kW. Depends on the brand of the car and the selected mode. For one full cycle, electricity consumption ranges from 0.8 to 2 kW.
How much electricity is consumed to heat water depends on the heating elements installed in the unit. Thus, consumption is determined by the washing mode and engine power.
It should be taken into account that the passport contains data from laboratory tests, which differ significantly from the real ones. The discrepancy can be up to 20% upward.
The most economical brands
Experts identify the four most economical brands of washing machines:
- Hotpoint/Ariston AQS1D29. Italian made model. Its water consumption is 40 liters per 1 wash cycle. When the accelerated mode is activated, the consumption will be reduced to 34 l;
- Samsung WF60F1R2F2W. The average consumption of a Korean washing machine is 39 liters, with a drum volume of 6 kg. In super-fast wash mode, consumption can be reduced to 35 liters;
- Bosch WLG20265OE. A German machine, the average consumption of which is about 40 liters. When activating one of the programs, you can reduce water consumption to 36 liters;
- Siemens WS 10G240 OE. Resource consumption - 40 liters per cycle. If the unit is working well, you can use the fast mode, washing things efficiently.
Helpful advice! Thoughtless use of economical and fast modes can lead to damage to the laundry and the washing machine.
