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Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1. What are the benefits of WashWise machines?
- They wash clothes cleaner - Your clothes will be cleaner (and softer!) because these machines rinse the clothes better and get our more of the detergent. Also, the tumble-action of the front loaders cleans better than conventional agitators that stir up your clothes to get them clean. New generation agitators often offer slower speeds and advanced design to improve performance.
- They use less detergent - Because WashWise machines use less water, you need up to 2/3 less detergent to get the same concentration than in conventional deep water washers. With front-loaders, It's important not to oversuds the machine. Too much suds will reduce the cleaning action and make rinsing out all the detergent much more difficult. Be sure to follow manufacturer directions and measure carefully.
- They wash more gently - Front loaders tumble clothes rather than stir them up. This washing action results in less friction between the clothes, and less chance of damage by getting caught around the agitator. You'll find you can machine-wash delicate items such as lingerie and wool sweaters you would normally wash by hand. You will also notice less pilling and lint buildup in your dryer filter.
- They run more quietly - Forget about turning up the volume on your radio when you do laundry. Tumble-action machines run so quietly that some new users thought their machine wasn't running at all. The feature is particularly valuable if your laundry facility is in your living space rather than in the basement.
- They handle large and bulky items with ease - Now you don't have to go to the Laundromat to wash your quilt, pillows or sleeping bag. You can wash these items in a standard-size tumble-action machine. These machines actually wash better when you stuff them full when loading.
- They are friendlier to the environment - These high efficiency machines use about 60% less energy and 40% less water than conventional machines. That means less stress on our nature resources and a cleaner conscience for you along with cleaner clothes.
- They shorten dryer time - Most WashWise clothes washers have very high spin cycles which means clothes come out of the washer much less wet. (This is known in the industry as remaining moisture content or RMC.) With much lower RMC, dryer time can be cut up to half.
- They save you money - Not only will you be able to run your dryer less, you'll also spend less money on detergent, less money on clothes (they'll last longer), and less money at the dry cleaners (now you can machine-wash items you used to have dry cleaned).
Q.2. How much do WashWise machines cost and will buying one save me money?
When thinking about costs you need to consider the purchase and the operating costs. These 2 elements combine to make what we can the Life-Cycle Cost, or the amount you would expect to pay to buy the machine and to run it over the life of the unit, typically between 10 and 15 years.
Qualifying tumble-action clothes washers cost typically between $700 and $1100 (before available rebates) compared to conventional machines which typically cost around $400 - $500. That makes for an incremental cost (the additional cost of buying a WashWise machine) of between $300 and $600 before rebates.
But WashWise machines cost considerable less to operate than conventional washers. Typical users can expect to save between $50 and $90 a year for electricity, water and sewer charges. That means the incremental cost can be recovered in as little as 3 years when you figure in operating cost savings alone.
The assumptions for this calculation are 4.8 loads per week, $.09 per kWh for electricity, current water and wastewater rates for Seattle, and about 1 kWh per load savings for shorter dryer times. These figures do not take into account savings on detergent (average $15 per year) and possible dry-cleaning savings.
Q.3. How do European front-loading WashWise machines compare with U.S. WashWise front-loading machines?
Washing Time - In general U.S.-made front-loading clothes washers take a few minutes longer to wash a load than conventional machines. And European-made machines take an hour to wash a load. But both European and U.S.-made front-loaders yield finished loads with much lower remaining moisture content (RMC), so dryer time is shorter by up to half. So, with both types, the combined wash/dry cycle is less than for conventional wash/dry cycles. Anyone who has to wash several loads of laundry in succession using an agitator-type machine knows they spend lots of time waiting for the dryer to dry the previous load. If you replace only your washer, the dryer will probably never again hold up your washing process.
Size of Drum and Amount of Load - European-made front-loading machines tend to be smaller (1.6 cubic feet) than U.S.-made front-loaders (3 cubic feet). If you do a lot of laundry (families of 4 or more), you may want to look at U.S.-made models. Even though European-made machines look smaller, they hold and effectively wash a surprising volume of clothes. Studies show that the average size load in both the U.S. and Europe is seven pounds. The European machines will comfortably handle that and more. Also, the smaller size is well suited for undercounters or in closets.
Water Heating - Most European machines require only a cold-water hook-up because they heat their own wash water. This allows for a ultra-hot wash that people with allergies or who wash lots of diapers may prefer.
Electrical Hook-up - Almost all European-made machines require a 220-volt electric hook-up as compared with the standard 110-volt requirement of U.S.-made machines. Replacing a U.S.-made agitator-type machine with a European-made front-loader will almost certainly require rewiring the circuit to the laundry room.
Purchase Price - European-made machines are more expensive, starting at around $1000 and going up from there.
Q.4. How does using a front-loading machine compare with a conventional top-loading machine?
Loading the Machine - Unlike conventional machines, packing the drum full of clothes actually improves the quality of the wash. So feel free to stuff it full. Once the clothes are wet, they shrink in volume and no longer completely fill the drum. And there is no agitator to get in the way of washing large or bulky items like pillows, quilts, blankets and sleeping bags.
Adding Clothes during the Wash Cycle - Unlike a conventional machine, front-loaders have a door that locks when the wash cycle starts. This prevents the door from accidentally opening and causing water to splash out. So to add clothes, you must wait until the drum stops turning. Remember that when the machine is washing, the level of the water in the drum will be below the bottom of the door opening so water will not spill out when you open the door.
Q.5. How does a clothes washer qualify to be a WashWise machine?
All WashWise qualifying clothes washers must have a modified energy factor (MEF) of at least 1.8 and a water factor (WF) of no more than 7.5. 2 Star qualifying machines have an MEF of 2.0 or greater and a WF of 6.0 or less and receive a $75 rebate. 3 Star machines have an MEF of 2.2 or higher and a WF of 4.5 of less and receive a rebate of $100.
Keep in mind that energy savings from clothes washers alone vary considerably with different laundry behavior. A person who has always washed and rinsed clothes in cold water can expect relatively small energy savings from a WashWise machine. Most of the energy savings will come from reduced dryer time. For those who usually wash/rinse in hot or warm water, the bulk of the energy savings will come from the reduced amount of water required.
Washing in cooler water still makes sense when using a resource efficient clothes washer. However, the total savings from this behavior will be less than with a conventional washer. The most important behavioral efficiencies include washing full loads and using one-third to one-quarter less detergent.
Q.6. Do all front-loading clothes washers qualify as WashWise machines?
No. WashWise qualifying machines must meet the minimum efficiency level set by Consortium for Energy Efficiency . The machines must be tested by a reputable laboratory under a specific set of conditions and satisfy an exact standard for energy and water efficiency. Some front-loaders can't meet the minimum standard.
Q.7. Are there any top-loading clothes washers that qualify as WashWise machines?
There are a few agitator-type machines that qualify for WashWise rebates.
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For more information from Seattle City Light on WashWise, please e-mail rescons.scl@seattle.gov or call 206.684.3800.
For detailed information about claiming a WashWise rebate or to check on the status of your rebate, please email washwiserebate@peci.org or call 1.866.632.4636.
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