hot water for washing machines

[falafael]

hi, strange topic....anyways, our washing machine has only a cold water inlet, they dont seem to make them with hot water inlets anymore, thing is, i ahve a tank of hot water all the time,used for pots and baths...i was thinking of getting an adaptor that fits on the back of the washer, and will let you connect both a hot and cold supply into one, both then feed into the cold water inlet....this is to perhaps save a little electric as the element will not be on as much, my only concern is whether this would be ok when its on the final rinse, although i cant see a problem with that.
I know someone whos says they've done it with the dishwasher as well....
Any suggestions on this one??

 

[jamesb]

Unless they're using non return valves, what's stopping the (probably mains pressure) cold water pushing back into the hot water tank - I suspect the mains pressure is greater than your hot water head pressure.

Either way, I don't see any benefit. The washing machine will use hardly any electric to heat the relatively small amount of water it uses, the motor will take the majority.

Remember, they're designed like that now for a reason!

 

[falafael]

ok, didnt quite think of it like that, just thinking about it, but thanks for the input...that idea put to bed!!!
:thumb:

 

[Aleman]

The washing machine will use hardly any electric to heat the relatively small amount of water it uses, the motor will take the majority.

Errr Like NO! When the motor is running our energy monitor registers something like 17p/Hour (From an average of 10p/Hour) when the motor stops and the Heater Kicks in it is up at something like 39p/Hour . . . . We pay 11.6p/KW.

our washing machine is a good few years old though (Not more than 10) so probably uses more water than modern ones . . . .We did choose an A Rated (at the time) energy efficient one though. . . . Ours does have a Hot water Inlet . . . we just don't have hot water on that side of the kitchen

 

[jamesb]

That's because you're always boil washing your flannel undercrackers

I've got a fairly new one, we wash at 30deg for everything. Can't remember the figures off the top of my head but it's a damn sight less for a wash than our old one with cold+hot inlets.

 

[falafael]

ours is a indesit moon type, theres no 30 wash on it i think?, but the point i was trying to make is that once the element blows, unless is guarnteed, ya knackered, but if u have hot water inlet, you can keep using it, i think its a bit of a con, just to get us to buy another!

 

[jamesb]

You can get the elements as spares you know.

 

[BrewStew]

Idesits are a piece of piss to work on too... just need a star bit and you're off! i've repaired my cheapy indesit 4 times now

 

[Aleman]

That's because you're always boil washing your flannel undercrackers

Oh. Are you supposed to wash them ?? :hmm: :wha: :hmm: :wha: :? :?

We wash everything at 30C as well . . . . The AEG has a 3KW element stuck in it, and it still has to heat the water to 30C, and while it does so it uses a LOT of electricity . . . Ok so it doesn't do it for a long time, but it still has to heat it up.

 

[BrewStew]

and err.... how many kilowatts are you using in your brewery and for how long per month? :lol:

 

[Aleman]

and err.... how many kilowatts are you using in your brewery and for how long per month? :lol:

Errmmmmm . . . None . . . . I'm gas powered remember :lol:

The 20L plant will have 2 3Kw Elements . . . I actually bought the energy monitor to go on the feed to the brewery so that I can see what sort of cost it is . . . not that I intend to stop using it if its too much :lol: