Will using slower spin speeds prolog life of washer?
Can you advise as to whether it will in any way prolong the life of a machine if you don't use the maximum possible spin speed...ie if you buy a 1400 but only use it on 1000 will that machine in general last longer than buying one with a max spin of 1000 and using that one at it's highest spin speed of 1000.
Solution Summary
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This thread was marked as solved. Here's a summary of the problem and the fix, generated from the discussion below.
Using a lower spin speed may reduce wear, but build quality is not improved by choosing a higher-rated machine
- The problem
- The question was whether using a 1400rpm washing machine at 1000rpm would help it last longer, and whether that would be any better than buying a 1000rpm machine and always using it at its maximum speed.
- Likely cause
- No appliance fault was reported. The accepted advice was that lower spin speeds generally put less strain on components such as the motor and drum bearings. However, the discussion also stated that many machines in the same range are built to similar quality regardless of maximum spin speed, with top speed often limited by the PCB rather than stronger construction.
- What fixed it
- Recommended advice was to use the slowest spin speed that still suits drying needs. Lower spin can reduce internal strain, but spinning too slowly can leave laundry wetter, increasing drying time, tumble dryer wear and electricity use. A higher maximum spin model used at 1000rpm was not confirmed to last longer than a 1000rpm model purely because of its rating.
- Checks to try
- Accepted reply stated slower spin puts less strain on the motor and drum bearings
- Discussion noted many machines share the same motor across spin-speed variants
- Discussion stated maximum spin speed is often controlled by the PCB
- Original poster reported clothes were already coming out almost dry at 1000rpm on a new Beko 1400rpm machine
- Parts or tools mentioned
- PCB
- motor
- drum bearings
5 Answers
Basically yes, the slower the spin, the less strain is put on everything inside the washing machine, not least the motor and drum bearings.
I have an article on spin speeds here, which looks at whether all these differing spin speed options are really just marketing tactics - Are spin speeds a con?
At the end of the day though spin speeds are only one part of the complicated equation. The problem is (as with everything) you can sometimes save something in one area but lose out somewhere else. One example of this is if you use also a dryer, it will wear that out more, because it will take longer to dry, and it will cost more in electricity too.
Basically the slower the spin the better, but too slow a spin isn't much good. 1200 - 1400 should be fast enough unless you do a lot of tumble drying.
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Not quite answering your question but we all probably use our machines in that way as the maximum spin speed may not be an available option on the programs we use most. Our machine is 1400 max but only available on cotton or express wash the regularly used programs are 1200 or less.
Good point, although a significant amount of people put virtually everything on the cotton wash. I know Mrs. Washerhelp puts almost everything on 40 degree cottons with full spin.
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So in reality if I had bought a machine with a top spin of 1000 and used it on that speed it would in theory last the same time as a 1400 one used only at 1000 is that correct? My husband wanted us to go for a higher speed and use it on the lower option as he believes if we had bought a 1000 model and used it on the 1000 it would have worn out more quickly than using the higher spec on 1000 instead of the 1400! Personally I would have gone for the 1000 option and saved money but as it was we got the 1400 at a lower price anyway as on special offer.
I have a 1400 new Beko and have been using it at 1000 and to be honest the clothes comes out almost dry and I would imagine would be too dry for ironing easily if used any higher!
I suspect your husband's logic is based on an assumption that the 1400 spin machine would be a better build quality than the 1000 spin washing machine to cope with the faster spin speed. That is how it should be but it isn't. Most washing machines are the same quality throughout the range regardless of the spin speed. They even often have exactly the same motor and the final top spin speed is controlled by the pcb.
However, the chances are if you bought a washing machine with a maximum 1000 spin speed it would be a budget washing machine (these days) or at least the most basic washing machine the manufacturer produces. As such it would probably have other features missing too, some of which you may have really wanted.
(Related: Does paying more get you a better quality washing machine?)
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