Just a few years ago, the main criteria when choosing a new washing machine were its overall dimensions, price and a large selection of washing modes. With the increase in utility tariffs and the mandatory installation of water meters, the cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency of the model also began to be taken into account when deciding to purchase a washing machine. Also, many buyers are interested in how many liters of water a particular washing machine model uses. This article will help deal with this issue.
Washing machine water consumption
Water consumption per wash cycle is one of the main indicators of the efficiency of a particular model, along with the energy efficiency class. To figure out how many liters of water a washing machine uses, you need to figure out how to measure it and what this indicator depends on.
Manufacturers of household appliances indicate water consumption when operating in various washing modes in the technical data sheet of the product. For modern models, these data range from 35 liters to 80 liters, respectively, the average consumption in an automatic machine is about 50-60 liters per wash cycle.
Water in an apartment with a connected main water supply is consumed very actively. It is needed for cooking, hygiene procedures (washing, showering), maintaining cleanliness in the house (flushing the toilet, washing floors and windows, operating household appliances).
The washing machine uses about 25% of all water consumed, it is the most “water-intensive” device in the house.
Several factors influence water consumption when washing in an automatic machine:
- mode of use of the washing machine;
- characteristics of a specific model (functional features, tank size, washing modes);
- serviceability or malfunction of the device.
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 efficient, 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.
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.
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.
Characteristics of the washing machine that affect water consumption
Automatic weighing function
For resource consumption parameters, the age of the equipment and the year of production of the first series are important, since the energy efficiency of models is constantly increasing. Appliance manufacturers are constantly improving their products, increasing their efficiency by reducing energy and water costs.
An example of such an innovation is the function of automatically weighing laundry when loading. Depending on the weight of the clothes, the volume of water supplied to the tank and the duration of the wash are determined. This allows you to reduce resource consumption when the drum is not completely filled.
Drum size
The size of the washing machine’s tank directly affects water consumption, because during operation it must be completely filled. The larger the capacity of the drum, the more liquid you will need to pour into it to wash your clothes from dirt.
For maximum efficiency of use, you should select a machine model depending on the composition of the family.For a family with several children, it is advisable to purchase a model with a load of 6-7 kg of dry laundry in order to minimize the number of washes per day.
For single people, on the contrary, a large drum is not needed, since there are few things to wash; A compact model with a small load will be enough for them.
Washing program
The choice of washing mode also affects the water consumption of the device: the shorter the cycle, the less water it will require. The most water-efficient programs usually have names like “short wash”, “quick wash”, “quick 30”, “super quick wash” and other similar names.
The extra rinse mode, including various programs for washing children's clothes, on the contrary, sharply increases water consumption by filling the drum for repeated rinsing. If there are no infants under 1 year of age in the family or people with allergies to the components of washing powder, it is better not to use such modes constantly. Modern models effectively rinse out detergent residues even during standard washing.
Origin of the brand
The origin of an appliance brand can also have an impact on its water consumption. In Europe, utilities are traditionally expensive, so European manufacturers (Bosch, Philips, Siemens and others) are making every effort to reduce water consumption, since this gives a significant advantage in the fight for buyers.
For example, the Italian Hotpoint/Ariston AQS1D29 washing machine in the “accelerated wash” mode requires only 34 liters per cycle. The minimum consumption of other European manufacturers is slightly higher, approximately 37-40 liters in short modes.
In many other countries, water is not that expensive for the end consumer, so water consumption is not a key point of improvement for Asian and Middle Eastern brands.
The average water consumption in not the most advanced models is about 50-60 liters per wash cycle, and in quick wash modes it is about 40 liters, which, nevertheless, is quite comparable with samples of European brands.
Increased water consumption if the device malfunctions
A working washing machine works as stated in the technical data sheet.
To check the water consumption of the device, it is enough to note the cold water meter readings before and after the end of the washing program. To determine the average resource consumption, it is recommended to take measurements several times when the machine is operating in different modes; in this case, you can experimentally find out the most water-efficient program.
If the measurements taken show that the machine consumes the amount of liquid specified in the operating instructions, then everything is in order. Fluctuations within 10-15 liters in any direction are acceptable.
If in reality the device consumes 20 liters or more of water than it should according to the description, then this is an indirect sign of a malfunction of the unit.For example, a breakdown of the inlet valve leads to constant pumping of liquid into the machine, even if this is not prescribed by the program. In this case, it is better to contact a specialist and not engage in self-diagnosis and repair attempts.
Increased water consumption can be noticed without measurements, since when water is drawn from a pipe, the device produces a characteristic noise. If this sound changes or becomes audible at those stages of washing where it was not previously present and should not be heard (for example, during spinning), you should contact a product service specialist as soon as possible.
Incorrect connection of the device can also cause increased water consumption.
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.
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.
