washing machine

[purplehair]

can anyone help me understand why my new beko washing machine only has cold water connection, does it heat the water up itself?

[BillyNoMates]

I questioned this when I bought a new machine a couple of years ago. Apparently it is all to do with energy efficiency (mine is 'A' rated) under new(ish) European rules.

I personally can't see that it can be much more efficient to have the machine heat its own water up.

[purplehair]

i know cos your hot water will be on anyway and then there is more hot water being made in the washer.(?????)

unless its all a con and it washes your clothes in cold water!

[Ethel]

It really does heat your water up!

The energy efficiency bit is simple:

The hot water in your tank is very hot - it needs a lot of cold water to bring it down to the right temperature. Or not hot enough for boil washes and needs to be heated up.

When this hot water comes out of your tank it is replaced with cold water so it needs to be heated up again.

Your new washing machine uses only enough water to do the job and heats it up to no more than the required temperature.

I was very surprised when I bought my new machine that the washing time was a lot less than my old dual fill.

[xanderma]

If you have a machine with a hot fill, the hot water coming in will probably be around 50 - 60 degrees. If you're doing a 40 degree wash, for example, the machine has to cool the water down, which is less efficient than heating cold water to the required temperature.

Well, that's how it was explained to me anyway, and I believed it - it makes a certain kind of sense.

Perhaps someone with better knowledge can explain better than I can?!

[xanderma]

Sorry, Ethel, I took so long composing my reply, you beat me to it - and your explanation is much better than mine!

[purplehair]

thanks everyone i was very confused! i will take better care of this washing machine seeing as its so clever.

[BillyNoMates]

I agree with what you say Ethel, however, this doesn't really add up if you have a new super-efficient condensing boiler rather than a hot water tank.

[purplehair]

eh! why? whats that?

[xanderma]

BillyNM, wouldn't a condensing boiler still supply water to the machine at a temperature too high for most washes?

Just interested, as we have just had a new boiler installed which took over a week to get working, so I've become a bit of a "Boiler Anorak" (not a boiler IN AN anorak, which is quite different!!!)

[markja]

xanderma, wouldn't putting an anorak on a boiler make it blow-up? bit of a dangerous thing to do if you ask me. be carefull not to do many toogles up so it doesn't overheat.

[xanderma]

markja, you don't need to worry, my boiler safety record is exemplary!

Obviously in the summer months, a bikini is the order of the day, the anorak is for autumn and winter use ONLY - perhaps I didn't make that clear - I hope there have been no anorak-related boiler incidents this week, I won't live with the guilt.

**trots back to corner **

[jas1002]

I thought it was all down to the washing powder. It works better if it's cold then heated up!!!