Having a trusted washing machine at home is a necessary convenience for many, especially in bigger households. It stops bringing clothes back and forth to the laundry, and it sure is way better than going down to the nearest stream with a washboard. But the question most you ask is, how many watts does a washing machine use? Well, depending on the kind of washing machine and how you use it, the energy consumption may be significant. Read on to know more.
How Many Watts does a Washing Machine Use per Hour?
The wattage alone can give you a pretty accurate assessment of its actual energy consumption with many appliances. It’s not quite so simple with washing machines, but we’ll get to that in a moment. Washing machine wattages include a huge range, from below 300 watts per hour for the most economical and efficient models to over 1,500 watts for those real energy hogs. The washing machine’s age is also a big factor as the modern ones are overall more efficient and energy-saving than older models. The washing machine’s energy efficiency standards are also tightened every few years. You can refer to the original documentation or the “UL” label located somewhere in the machine to know how many watts does a washing machine use. It can be a sticker or a metal plate that is usually located at the back of the washing machine. If you have its model number, you can also search for its information online. To calculate a rough estimate of the cost when running the washing machine per hour, convert the machine’s wattage to kilowatts. The electric company bills you by kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is the number of kilowatts used per hour. Divide the washer’s wattage by 1,000 to convert it to kilowatt-hours. The result is the amount of energy your machine uses in kilowatts each hour. You can check your bill to determine your kWh rate, and multiply the figure by your washing machine’s hourly kilowatt consumption. This is just a ballpark of the cost to run your washing machine.
Water Efficiency and Hot Water
So, how many watts does a washing machine use when running with hot water? When you run the washing machine with only cold water, the greatest electricity demand is from the agitator that agitates and spins the drum. Other components, like the digital control panels, automatic valves, and pumps, only use a little bit of energy. But when you use hot water, the energy skyrockets.
Heating the water can eat up to 90 percent of your total energy use in a hot water wash cycle. There are two various ways for the machine to use hot water. If there’s a hookup of hot water near your machine, you can attach a hose to pump in hot water directly. This means that the energy consumption of having a load of wash is dependent on your water heater’s energy efficiency.
Some washers also have internal heaters, which may come in handy if there’s only a cold water supply in the laundry room. With these machines, the water heater is not a factor, but its age and efficiency can make a really huge difference in your operating costs.
So, if you want to save money and energy, the easiest way is to wash in cold water. But, if you prefer to wash in hot water, make sure to upgrade to an energy-efficient, front-loading washer. And if a hot water hookup is possible, ensure an energy-efficient and well-maintained water heater.
When to Decide to Upgrade Your Washer
No two models of a washing machine are exactly alike. However, there are two rules on washing machine upgrades: newer ones are much more efficient, and front-loading ones are more energy-saving than top-loading washers. It applies both water-efficiency and electrical.
But since a washing machine’s average lifespan is about 11 years, it might be a little too soon to justify an upgrade. That is, except your washer has a wattage near 1,000 watts. If you are within this range, the energy savings from an upgrade can really go a long way in offsetting the cost of a new one that will be better not only for your clothes or pocket but for the environment as well. Know more about power usage.
Conclusion
The washing machine is, without a doubt, one of the most convenient and efficient appliances in anyone’s home. It saves us time, energy, and even money from going back and forth to laundry houses. However, it is also important to be aware of how many watts does a washing machine use. Knowing the efficiency, energy, and money-saving capacity of your current washer is also vital in deciding whether to upgrade or not.