Why does economy wash take longer than normal wash?
I was relieved to find this site earlier in the year - even though I've been using washing machines for decades, making a choice is something of a minefield. The site is excellent, really helpful and helped me to decide on the John Lewis JLWM 1202. I'm happy with it though initially was a bit overwhelmed with the programmes. I tend to avoid the synthetics cycle because that gives a lower spin speed, I don't think you can override that.
Can anyone explain to me how it is that the 'Economy' cycles take twice as long as the regular wash. How is that economical, I would have thought that would use more electricity? Forgive me if this is obvious, I just don't understand!
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.
Economy wash runs longer because it heats less and washes for longer
- The problem
- The owner of a John Lewis JLWM 1202 asked why the Economy programmes take much longer than a normal wash and whether that would use more electricity.
- Likely cause
- This was explained as normal programme design rather than a fault. The main electricity use in a washing machine is heating the water. Economy cycles reduce energy use by heating to a lower temperature and compensating with a longer wash time.
- What fixed it
- No repair was required. The accepted explanation was that longer Economy cycles are intended to save electricity because less energy is used on water heating, even though the drum turns for longer.
- Checks to try
- Model mentioned: John Lewis JLWM 1202
- Accepted reply explained that water heating is the major energy cost
- Original poster confirmed the explanation answered the question
2 Answers
Hello, I'm pleased you liked the John Lewis washing machine.
Your question is very common and not "obvious" at all because it appears to go against logic. However, one simple fact makes it much clearer. Heating the water in a washing machnine is what costs money, just washing - with the heater off - hardly uses any electricity.
Therefore a washing machine washing laundry (with the heater on) for 15 minutes could use considerably more electricity than a washing machine just washing the clothes with the heater off - for hours.
The economy wash programs need to use less electricity so they use lower temperatures, and to compensate for this they physically wash the clothes for longer.
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Thanks very much for the reply - now I understand!
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