washing machines

[cabbyste]

we have just bought a new washing machine, the old one was connected to both the hot and cold taps , the new one is connected to just the cold water pipe, surely this will cost much more in heating the water to required temperature , would it be ok to connect machine to the hot pipe only and leave the cold tap in the off position , thanks

[Whickerman]

only if you fancy having a boil wash every time...

The connection to the cold only allows the machine to regulate the temperature. With our whirlpool washer the manual says that connecting to the hot also will override the temperature and you're basically stuck with the temperature of what's in the hot tank - great if you've a boiler on the go all the time but no use if the tank's cold. Modern washers use a smaller amount of water than ever before - it won't break the bank.

[agamad]

Yeah, Whickerman's right.

Modern machines use less water so heating up from cold is not a big deal. Old machines took in hot and cold, cooling down the water you paid to heat!!!

And hot rinses will do your clothes no good at all...

[mark180]

The washing machine has a heating element which heats the water for the appropriate programme,also some parts of the powder start working at different temperatures so if your feeding in water at say 30 degrees it may wipe out some of the chemicals in the powder,with a cold feed washer you do get a better wash as a rule

[teash]

I`ve always plumbed mine in for cold feed only, by the time its emptied the remainder of water from the hot water supply and the boilers kicked in etc the waters gonna be cold anyway