Today there is a washing machine in every home. She is an indispensable assistant who helps you wash clothes, linen, etc. quickly and efficiently. Thus, it saves the time of any housewife and protects delicate hands from exposure to water and detergents.
Of course, the question “Is it worth installing and using a washing machine?” not relevant. It has long ceased to be a luxury item. It’s hard to imagine running a household without it.
It, like many other equipment, runs on electricity. Therefore, if you use it, then, of course, the bills for these services will be higher. This shouldn't be surprising. Comfort and convenience come at a cost.
In this case, not your own strength, but monetary strength.
Washing machine water consumption
According to experts, on average a washing machine consumes about 60 liters per wash. When talking about how much water a washing machine consumes, many factors should be taken into account, and the first of them is the brand and model of the unit.
Machines from different manufacturers have declared water consumption from 32 to 90 liters. Of great importance are the design features of the device, the maximum permissible loading volume of the drum, the availability of economical programs and their correct selection, depending on the type of fabric of the items being washed and the quality of the water used.
The instructions supplied with the machines most often indicate the water consumption of the device when using different washing modes, which usually does not correspond to the actual amount of liquid that the washing machine consumes during operation. If more than 80 liters are consumed, then most likely it is an outdated model, or the machine is faulty or the wrong modes are used.
In practice, you can determine water consumption using a meter installed on a cold water pipe. Having recorded its readings, you should run the machine in wash mode, without using the taps in your home at this time. At the end of the process, compare the meter readings and calculate the difference. True, this method can only be used with modern meters that show consumption in liters and not in cubic meters.
If the consumption rates are approximately equal to the stated volumes in the instructions, the operation of the machine is considered within normal limits. If the actual consumption turns out to be 20-25 liters more than the specified characteristics, then you should try to change the washing programs used and select a more economical mode. If changing the mode does not give the desired result, it is necessary to check the unit, and in case of an ambiguous situation, call a specialist, since such an overrun may be caused by an installation failure or breakdown.
Ariston
Ariston washing machines of various modifications have significant differences in the amount of water consumed during washing. For most models of this brand, water consumption ranges from 52 liters to 65. For example, the Hotpoint-Ariston ARSL 85 model spends about 52 liters in one cycle, and the Hotpoint-Ariston AQXF 129 H machine with the same settings - about 65 liters.
An important factor influencing fluid consumption is sufficient pressure in the water supply. At a pressure of less than two atmospheres, the temporary valve installed in the Ariston machine will let less water through and will be forced to turn on again in order to fill the tank with the required amount.
Ardo
In Ardo cars, depending on the selected mode and the inclusion of additional options, the average consumption is from 40 to 50 liters. In addition, the maximum stated volume of loading laundry into the washing drum is also important.
Samsung
All washing units produced under the Samsung brand have high rates of saving resources, and in particular water.
As with machines of other brands, the most economical among Samsung devices are full-size copies. A compact machine, with a depth of 35 centimeters, will fit little laundry, and a minimum of 39 liters of water will be required. If you load a medium-sized car with things, which includes blankets, down jackets, jackets, that is, large things, about 50 liters of liquid can be consumed. Among the Samsung models there are also such as, for example, WF60F1R2F2W, which, despite the average permissible load volume of 5 kg, consume only 39 liters when washing.
Important:
judging by the reviews of owners of Samsung machines, if you save too much on water, the quality of washing suffers.
Atlant
Atlant machines have a built-in “Fuzzy Logic” function, which helps to significantly reduce water consumption and electricity consumption. The device independently weighs the laundry loaded into the drum and determines the optimal proportions of water, detergent and cycle duration. Thus, washing powder is also saved.
Most modern Atlant models belong to energy saving class A+++. When purchasing a machine, it would be a good idea to make sure that this model meets the requirements of this class, if the issue of efficiency is relevant.
Earlier models, as well as some budget ones, belong to A and A+, which means that if you purchase such a unit, you will have to pay about a third more for electricity compared to owners of A+++ class washing machines.
Atlant washing machines compare favorably with many other brands due to their efficient use of water. So, when washing cotton products, water consumption is less than 49 liters for full-size models, about 44 liters for narrow models and no more than 39 liters for compact models.
Bosch
Bosch washing machines consume approximately 40-50 liters of water per five kilograms of dry laundry. Bosch machines have the option of automatically dispensing water, depending on the volume of things loaded into the drum.
Bosch brand washing machines are available in two types, depending on the loading principle - vertical and frontal. The devices belong to classes A+ and A++, have up to twenty programs, including drying, a self-diagnosis function and economical modes of liquid and electricity consumption during operation.
Kandy
Judging by the many positive reviews from users of Kandy washing machines, they cope with their responsibilities with dignity. Among the noted advantages of most Candy models are significant energy savings, high quality washing in any of the available modes, both at medium water temperatures and in delicate washing, thanks to the unique developments of the company's engineers. For example, Candy Aquamatic washing machines of the “T” series have special economical washing modes.
The vast majority of Kandy models belong to energy-saving classes A+++ and A++. In addition, many units have the ability to be remotely controlled using mobile devices, as they are equipped with NFC technology. Compact models in the Kandy line allow you to install devices in places with limited space, while they have an attractive design and a varied range of sizes.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool brand machines belong to the class A+++ and A++ energy saving. At maximum load in the largest models, electricity consumption does not exceed 2.5 kilowatts per hour. When washing at low temperatures - less than 1 kilowatt. If the drum is filled to half of normal (this function is available in vertical models), then, judging by the reviews of the owners, less than 0.7 kilowatts are consumed per hour.
Considering the characteristics of the brand's models in terms of liquid consumption, all models are quite economical and for the maximum possible number of things loaded into full-size models, you will need about 90 liters, and with a half load - half that.
Combustion
Automatic washing machines from Gorenie have earned high consumer praise, thanks to the modern technical original developments used in their design. The energy consumption of Gorenje models has been halved compared to machines produced in the early eighties. Modern Gorenje consumes three times less water. Average consumption is from 39 to 65 liters, depending on the model and operating conditions.
Indesit
Indesit washing appliances are also considered quite economical in terms of water consumption, of course, depending on the model. So, washing five kilograms of dry clothes may require from 42 to 53 liters of water. Many models of Indesit washing machines have an Eco Time function option, which shortens the washing period, while minimizing water consumption.
A model has been released under the Indesit brand, which is called “My time” and allows you to save up to 70% on water, even if few things are loaded into the drum.
The IWSB 5085 model, which allows you to wash up to five kilograms of laundry at a time, has a consumption of about 43 liters, while another representative of the Indesit line, with a load of 5 kilograms, cannot boast of being economical and requires 52 liters.
When purchasing a washing machine of any brand, you should take into account the quality/price ratio and choose the device that suits its characteristics, taking into account the requirements of the future owner.
A high price is not a guarantee of excellent quality of the machine, just as a high-quality washing machine can be purchased at an affordable price. It doesn’t always make sense to spend money, overpaying for a brand promoted by advertising, and even a modest unit can serve for a long time and not upset the user with frequent breakdowns.
How to save money on laundry?
The simplest ways to save water based on working with washing modes:
- Some modern machines are equipped with a partial loading function. By choosing it when washing, you can significantly reduce consumption.
- Nowadays there is a tendency to build a microcomputer and scales into the washing machine, this allows you to calculate the volume of water required for high-quality washing and rinsing. Even budget models have such functions: the Beko WKB 61021 washing machine spends about 30 liters for 5 kg of laundry.
- You should not choose a mode with additional rinsing, as this is an unreasonably high consumption of funds.
Little tricks to save water:
- It is worth purchasing several boxes for dirty laundry (for white, black and colored ones) and collecting clothes by color, filling the drum until it is full. This will pay for the purchase of boxes within a month.
- To give freshness to everyday items or lightly soiled clothes, you should use accelerated wash programs, as they use a minimal amount of water.
- If your washing machine does not wash well on accelerated wash programs, you can do the following to improve the quality of washing. To begin with, the most complex and difficult to remove stains on clothes need to be soaked and washed by hand using simple laundry soap. It is worth trying to use concentrated liquid detergent instead of washing powder. After these simple manipulations, the cleanliness of the linen should be at its best.
Before purchasing an automatic washing machine, many people pay attention to such a criterion as water consumption per wash. It’s not superfluous to think about this, since the costs are sometimes more than decent. It is calculated that a washing machine uses about a quarter of the water consumption for a family of 3 people. In this regard, it is necessary to think about ways to save water and choose an economical washing unit. So, let’s figure out how much water an automatic washing machine consumes in one wash, based on its functionality, the volume of the loading tank and other characteristics.
What determines water consumption?
The following factors influence water consumption:
Model design and functionality
More modern devices are more economical. The latest technologies used by engineers from the world's leading industries make it possible to wash clothes using only 25 liters of water with the same quality as with a consumption of 80 liters. Naturally, each company has its own indicator;
Maximum permissible drum loading volume
The larger the volume of the tank, the more water it needs. When choosing a washing machine, you should not buy a model with obviously too large drums than the owner’s needs require;
terms of Use
If you wash rarely, but at the same time fully load the drum, liquid consumption will be significantly lower than with frequent washing of a small number of items.
Important
: If the inlet valve of the device breaks down, even when the power is turned off, water is pumped into the tank. This also affects water consumption.
Many programs wash at different temperatures, with different cycles using different settings depending on the combination of fabric types and degree of soiling. The number of rinses and the duration of each rinse cycle affects water consumption.
The most economical models
If we talk about manufacturers, the most economical household appliances are produced in Germany.
For example, the small-sized Bosch WLG20265OE model (up to 5 kg), thanks to the use of the latest engineering solutions, has an average water consumption of 40 liters. The minimum wage here is 36 liters when using the quick wash mode. Of course, the price of such a unit is higher than the average position.
Cheaper, but no less economical, are automatic cars made in South Korea. The same Samsung WF60F1R2F2W at 6 kg also consumes almost 40 liters (according to the manufacturer’s technical information). But note that the download volume here will be larger.
The German model Siemens WS 10G240 OE from the same price category also uses up to 40 liters of water per average wash cycle.
Well, let’s add to this list another premium model Hotpoint/Ariston AQS1D29. Here, too, the average is 40 liters. But the Italian manufacturer has also introduced a laundry weighing function. Depending on the weight of the items, the washing machine independently determines the volume of water.
The water consumption of an automatic washing machine is an important factor when choosing a washing machine. If the apartment has water meters installed, then by choosing the correct parameter for this function, you can save the family budget when paying for utilities.
For most automatic washing machines, water consumption per 5 kg of laundry averages from 35 to 80 liters.
How to reduce water consumption
When loading things, you should keep in mind that the concept of “full load” does not mean only a completely filled drum. Each manufacturer has different requirements for such loading, depending on the selected mode.
So, with a machine capacity of 6 kilograms:
- “Quick” and “Delicate” wash – the maximum load volume is about two kilograms;
- 2 Mixed" and "Intensive" - about 3 kilograms;
- “Health Care” and “Cotton” - about 6 kilograms.
To select the most economical mode, devices from most manufacturers have special modes for saving, the names of which may differ between brands:
- “Fast 30”, “Fast”, “Accelerated mode”, etc. In this program, a small amount of laundry that is not too dirty (usually colored) is washed;
- “Daily”, “Everyday” - for fabrics made of acrylic, polyester, polyamide that do not require special care. Duration about half an hour;
- “Economical” - significantly reducing water and energy consumption. At the same time, in order to maintain quality, the cycle duration is set longer;
- “Preliminary” is a less economical, but nevertheless useful mode with soaking for 1.5-2 hours things with stubborn or old stains, which makes their washing more effective;
- Modes that involve active rinsing of things, such as “Health Care”, “Baby Clothes” and similar ones, already require a lot of water consumption and are ineffective for saving.
How can you save water when using a washing machine?
If you sort items by color before washing and collect them to fill the drum completely, the savings will become noticeable after just one month;
The option of automatically weighing items and dosing detergents and water allows you to significantly save on resources. For example, the Beko WKB 61021 model allows you to wash 5 kilograms of laundry with just 30 liters of water consumption;
When dealing with difficult and complex stains, it is better to pre-soak things not in washing powder, but in a concentrate of liquid detergent or wash them by hand with ordinary laundry soap.
How to find out how much resources SMA spends
There are several ways to determine the level of “hydration” of your assistant:
- Instructions. Data on the efficiency of SM are indicated in the instructions. Find the "Consumption Indicators" or "Energy Indicators" section. In the table you will find the average consumption or specific for each mode.
- Image. If you can’t look at the instructions, look for a sticker with parameters on the case. This could be a bright label on the front wall or a modest table on the back.
- Own calculations. It is quite easy to calculate water consumption yourself. There is no need for integrals or complex formulas here. Take meter readings before washing (for example, 625) and after washing (for example, 665). Subtract the previous readings from the latest data: 665−625=40 liters. For the purity of the experiment, use the mode that you turn on most often. Do not open the taps during washing, do not drain from the tank, so as not to distort the result.
If the actual readings are much higher than those stated by the manufacturer, consult a specialist. There may be a technical problem.
What affects consumption?
You need to understand that all automatic washing devices will consume a lot of resources - and there’s certainly nothing you can do about it. But in certain situations and for unknown reasons, the machine consumes an excessive amount of water, which is why the family budget suffers.
Let's look at the factors that influence consumption:
- Device model. New products contain special modes and functions that help save water. When purchasing equipment, attention is often paid to such points.
- Loading laundry. In this case, the following components are taken into account: the maximum possible load of items into the drum and the type of wash. If a person washes a lot of clothes every day, the average liquid consumption will be less than if washing occurs often, but little by little.
- The presence or absence of problems. If the device is malfunctioning or is not connected correctly, there is also a risk of increased water consumption. For example, due to problems with the fill valve, the machine will regularly pump liquid into the tank (even when it is not working).
- Selectable washing modes. In each program, engineers include their own specific algorithm (we are also talking about the volume of liquid entering the tank). If you constantly choose “water-intensive” modes, it means that the average consumption will increase significantly.
Do you wash by hand?Oh yes! No
- Custom requirements for the quality level of the final wash. When some people take clothes out of the drum, they are unhappy with the overall result. Perhaps the wash did not meet expectations due to an incorrectly selected mode or too much soiling that was not washed by hand. As a result, things need to be washed and rinsed again, which means additional water consumption.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with How to get rid of the smell from an automatic washing machine: cleaning mold
Information about the average water consumption of a washing machine is in the device passport. After analyzing a couple of equipment models from different brands, it will be possible to understand that these values are different for everyone, but the average indicator can still be calculated. After analyzing dozens of models, the expert group came to the following conclusion: the minimum volume of liquid that is spent per cycle is 38 liters, while the maximum is 70-80.
Expert opinion
I work in the household appliance repair industry. Extensive experience in restoring washing machines and dishwashers.
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If you do simple calculations, it becomes clear that the average volume of water in an automatic device consumed per wash is approximately 59 liters. Those machines that spend many times more than this value are definitely considered faulty. You definitely need to pay attention to this point.
Model. As a rule, the newer the equipment, the more economical it is. Thanks to innovative technologies, some manufacturers manage to reduce the “appetite” of their machines to 30 liters per cycle, without losing the quality of washing.
Volume. The larger the drum, the more water will be required to fill it. You should not buy a larger machine than you need.
Selected program. The number of operations that the machine will have to perform directly affects how much water and electricity it will spend, which is also important.
Operating mode. If you wash frequently without loading the machine completely, the consumption will be higher than infrequent washes with the drum at maximum load.
Bosch brand cars
Water consumption per wash for a Bosch washing unit averages 40-50 liters per 5 kg of laundry. In Bosch washing machines, water is saved by dosed consumption, depending on the load of the drum.
Regardless of the brand of washing machine, you can significantly reduce water consumption by following these rules:
When making a serious purchase, you should always consider the price and quality that suits you. Some people prefer Samsung household appliances, others prefer Indesit, and others prefer Bosch. But we must not forget that price and quality do not always depend on each other. You can buy an inexpensive brand that will serve you for a long time and will delight you with high-quality washing. You can buy an expensive machine that will wash poorly, but at the same time “eat up” a huge amount of water and electricity. When purchasing a washing machine, it is important to review as much information as possible about the brands and models of this household appliance.
