6 Easy Energy-Efficient Tips for Your Washer
Your washer uses up a lot of your home’s energy, and while a lot of that energy is consu
med just heating up the water, another high-energy consumption culprit is the number of loads you do. But can that really be helped?
You have to separate your laundry into loads to make sure that different colours and materials get cleaned properly. So how can you change your laundry routine to save energy, but make sure everything gets clean at the same time? The team at Paramount Appliance Repair has put together a list of energy-efficient tips for your washer that will help you save on energy, and make sure your laundry comes out clean.
If you apply these tips and are underwhelmed by the energy savings, you may have a bigger problem on your hands. It might be time to call Paramount Appliance Repair to schedule an inspection and possible repair. We service the Sherwood Park area, and have years of experience repairing all major brands of washers. With that said, let’s dive into some easy energy-saving tips for your washer.
Energy-Efficient Tips for Washers
Use Cold Water: Did you know that the most amount of energy used by your washer (almost 90%) is to just heat up the water? That’s crazy! You can save a tonne of energy just by washing your clothing in cold water.
Many clothing types can be washed in cold water, including darks, brights, dedicates silks and wool. Washing your clothing in cold water will also help reduce the amount of wrinkles, keep colours brighter, and stop stains from setting in the wash. Cold water washes also prevent clothes from shrinking, and reduces the risk of colours fading or bleeding, which is common with hot-water cycles.
Wash Full Loads: Your washer will use the same amount of energy no matter how full or empty it is. If you can, hold off doing your laundry until you have to fill the washer. Don’t overload though, as this can damage your appliance. Running a full load saves both energy and water, since you’ll be doing fewer cycles.
Turn Down Water Heater: Some of your loads will require hot water, such as materials that are really dirty or bedding. Also, if you or more members in your household are sick, washing in hot water will help kill some of those germs left on their clothing. To save energy when using hot water, turn down the temperature on your water heater. It should usually be set at 140 degrees F, but turning it down to 120 degrees F will save energy without hindering your washer’s cleaning capabilities.
Energy-Saving settings: Some newer models of washer will come with energy-saving settings, so try and remember to use them. For washers that lack these features, there are ways you can save energy just by playing around with the settings. Try to avoid using the sanitary cycle, as it uses unnecessarily hot water. Also, try choosing the high spin cycle, which finishes the cycle off with high speed spins; this setting will get rid of extra moisture left in the load, and cut down on your drying time.
Cold-Water Detergent: Many detergent brands have cold-water options that are made to work better in colder temperatures. While most regular detergents will probably do the job, try using the cold-water variety to keep your laundry cleaner when you wash in lower temperatures.
Regular Maintenance and Repair: If your washer is not working properly, it will have to work harder, consuming more energy to produce the same clean. Also, if your washer isn’t working properly, it may not even be cleaning your laundry at all, which means you’re wasting both water and energy. Clean your washer regularly, and get it repaired as soon as you start noticing problems to ensure you get the best use out of it.
