Connecting To Hot Water Instead Of Cold
My washing machine has only cold water inlet. What if I connect hot water to this cold water inlet? I mean it anyway heats the cold water to (usually) 40C. Wouldn't it be better to supply the hot water directly, less electricity required for heating.
Solution Summary
AI-generated from this discussion
This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Cold-fill washing machine should not be connected to a hot water supply
- The problem
- The question was whether a washing machine with only a cold-water inlet could be fed from the hot supply to save electricity on 40°C washes.
- Likely cause
- The accepted reply says this is unsuitable because the machine is designed to control temperature from a cold fill. Supplying hot water could exceed the intended wash temperature, affect programme operation, and give poor rinsing results.
- What fixed it
- Recommended action was not to connect the hot water supply to the cold-fill inlet. The accepted explanation states this would usually be less economical overall, could expose delicates and woollens to overly hot water, may cause premature completion of the wash programme, and can lead to hot rinses, excess lathering and creasing.
- Checks to try
- Machine identified as having only a cold-water inlet
- Forum discussion considered typical hot water temperatures being at least 60°C
- Accepted reply noted rinsing performance concerns with hot water
- Accepted reply noted wash temperature for a 40°C programme could already be exceeded at fill
4 Answers
Nice thought, and one that a lot of people seem to have, but here are the problems with it -
It would use more energy because every time you use the washing machine it will use gallons of hot water (instead of just a bowlful), which is very uneconomical. For most people (using a hot water tank) all this water will be replaced by cold water which then needs heating up
Most people's hot water is set to at least 60 degrees and some have it much higher, this (as uumode) mentions could damage delicates and woolens
Rinsing in hot water isn't as effective as using cold, hot water tends to cause lathering
The water temperature for 40 degree washes would already be exceeded as soon as it starts washing which is likely to cause premature completion of the wash program
Rinsing in hot water can cause excessive creasing which is difficult to iron out.
I ended up writing an article on my white goods blog on this very subject - Don’t connect the hot water supply to the cold valve on a cold-fill washing machine which has attracted over 30 comments from interested parties so far. Some people are experimenting with mixing the hot and cold water to supply a cold fill washing machine with warm water or even using a thermostatically controlled valve to mix the water to supply the machine at around 40 degrees.
Many people have concerns about the cold fill only washing machines but they should not cost more to use. They should cost less for most people. Most of Europe has had cold fill washing machines for years. Here’s a lengthy look at the pros and cons of cold fill washing machines
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
I think the hot water would be too hot i.e. in excess of 40 degrees? which might damage some of your washes.
Depending on the design of the heater, it may overheat the water slightly as it may assume the water is cold possibly, and automatically kick in the element and then realise that the water is already hot enough when it takes a temperature reading after X minutes when it expects it to have reached say 40 degrees (an assumption).
Other than that I can't think of anything else detrimental, you'd get a hot rinse too
- perhaps someone else can.
my washing machine has hot and cold fill but I only want to connect the cold. the tap end is blocked off but will water escape from the machine end of the hot?
Hello jane. I have an article here about that Washing machine is a hot and cold fill, but I only have a cold water supply
Need Professional Help or Spare Parts?
Your Answer
Sign in to share your expertise and post an answer.
Related Questions
Hotpoint BI WMHG 81484 UK
1 answer • 2 replies
Hotpoint WMFUG942 Door Issue
1 answer • 1 reply
heater element issue
1 answer • 4 replies
Knocking sound in vintage Hotpoint First Editions 1000 - suggestions please!
1 answer • 3 replies
hotpoint wmxtf 842 - Door Interlock screws
1 answer • 1 reply
Hotpoint WM51 motor armature query
1 answer • 3 replies
Hotpoint selling split tubs again?
1 answer • 7 replies
Hotpoint WD21 "Starter Edition" question
1 answer • 5 replies
Samsung ecobubble keeps blowing the heating element.
1 answer • 26 replies
Hotpoint rd966j screen not working
1 answer • 3 replies