Thread Number: 27942
Miele washer -- setting higher water level? 		[Down to Last]

automaticwasher.org's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate automaticwasher.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 427805   4/9/2010 at 17:26 (5,122 days old) by hcj1440 ()        

I thought I read from another user that you could program the Miele w1215 washer to use a higher water level. I just called Miele tech support and the rep said the default setting is already at the highest water level -- that I could program it to use LESS water but not MORE water. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I'm pretty sad that I can't program it to use more water as I'm having to run my cloth diapers, husband's work clothes and other heavily soiled items through two cycles to get it clean (delicates cycle first to rinse out the gunk and then a custom cycle for the real cleaning).




Post# 427806 , Reply# 1   4/9/2010 at 17:36 (5,122 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        
Changing the Sensitive option

 pulsator's profile picture
There is a way to set the sensitive option to change the way it works. I have a W1215 myself and decided to get the Sensitive option changed.

Option 1 (the factory setting)-One extra low level rinse

Option 2 -Change the wash and rinse water levels to high. (This high water level is not as high as the delicates level, but it does fill a little bit onto the door boot.

Option 3 (the one I opted for) -Changes the wash and rinse water levels to high (same as option 2) but also adds a third rinse.

I can't remember how the tech walked me through how to change the sensitive option, but it can be done and Miele walked me through it. If you call them and say you want the Sensitive option changed because things aren't getting rinsed well enough with the extra low level rinse and you mention that you know there is a way to raise the water levels on all water changes aside from the soak, they should walk you through how to do it.

Hope this helps!!! :)

Post# 427812 , Reply# 2   4/9/2010 at 17:58 (5,122 days old) by eddy1210 (Burnaby BC Canada)        
email me

 eddy1210's profile picture
And I can send you a pdf file how to change the settings.

Post# 427813 , Reply# 3   4/9/2010 at 18:10 (5,122 days old) by favorit ()        

there's also "maximum rinse level" option : the load sensed level is used just in the prewash and main wash, while rinses are carried with a "delicate" like level no matter you use sensitive or not. The W 4840/2 have it so guess also the W1215 does have it, cause it's older.

Just can catch why you at a point weren't no more allowed to know. Older american Mieles had all these tricks written on the user manual as we still have here today

Post# 427819 , Reply# 4   4/9/2010 at 18:32 (5,122 days old) by eddy1210 (Burnaby BC Canada)        

eddy1210's profile picture
Over here it's called the "soft water high rinse level" option and yes, it's separate from the sensitive button which has it's own changes like Jamie was saying.

Post# 427826 , Reply# 5   4/9/2010 at 19:11 (5,122 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

pulsator's profile picture
If there is a way to raise the water levels in addition to the sensitive option on a W1215, I'd be VERY interested in learning how!!!!

Post# 427862 , Reply# 6   4/9/2010 at 23:32 (5,122 days old) by hcj1440 ()        

Eddy -- thank you for offering to send me that PDF -- I have emailed you. Can't wait to get it!

General update -- I called Miele again and got a different rep who was able to talk me through something (I guess the first guy was just new and didn't know how?). I did what he said, it went into programming mode, he adjusted it to "P3" and said it should use a higher water level now. But I am not seeing anything different??? I have tried different cycles, sensitive on, sensitive off, and it looks like the exact same amount of water to me (no water line visible). Hopefully I can sort this out with Eddy's PDF... wish Miele would just unclassify the top secret instructions!

And for future searching fun... I am documenting the button sequence I pressed here (on a Miele W1215):

1. Start with washer "off" with no lights on display
2. Hold down start button
3. With start button held down, press the on/off button once.
4. Keep start button down until you see a small dot appear in the display.
5. Immediately let go of the start button, then press the start button 5 times. On the 5th time, keep it held down until the green light next to it flashes, then let go. You should now be in programming mode.
6. Display should flash "P" and "0" alternately.
(Here's where the memory is a bit fuzzy... but this is what I recall)
7. Press buzzer button once -- display moves to P1
8. Press buzzer button again -- display moves to P2
9. Press start button once -- display moves to P3
10. Press on/off switch to turn off the washer and save the setting.

Post# 427881 , Reply# 7   4/10/2010 at 02:06 (5,122 days old) by favorit ()        

Hcj1440,
no matter you set the machine you'll never see a water level like delicates during the prewash and main wash on cotton/normal cycles : the "sensitive" raises from "min" to "med" level during those two steps, while during rinses you may see "delicate" style water levels

I know what i'm about to say may seem odd : frontloaders to tumble (then wash) effectively have to use low water levels, otherwise laundry would roll rather than tumble. Roll is desired just on delicate cycles

BTW : have you tried to wash diapers with the sanitize setting (boilwash) plus "heavy soil" (prewash) plus "sensitive" engaged ?
Basically in vintage Mieles the "windeln" (diapers) cycle was somewhat like that.

To have a clue, this is the stoneage Miele 420 manual. Check waterlevel during main wash (pages=seiten 39-40) :

CLICK HERE TO GO TO favorit's LINK
Post# 427923 , Reply# 8   4/10/2010 at 12:51 (5,121 days old) by hcj1440 ()        

The thing is it doesn't look any different than it used to, and I'm thinking I did something wrong and no change has been made. I thought I would at least see a small puddle of water going up to the level of the bottom of the rubber ring? (So sorry I do not know the right terms -- I'm talking about the big grey rubber ring that goes around the whole door.) Right now it looks exactly the same as it used to which is that I can't see any water at all.

Eddy1210 sent me instructions to raise the rinse water level on all cycles regardless of "sensitive" button selection, so I will try that next. That should be a more obvious test -- if I get that one right I should see delicates-like level of rinse water, right?

If I don't see anything different in the rinse cycle after doing the new programming, I think I will call Miele back and see if they can figure out whether I did it right or not.

Favorit: what you're saying about tumbling vs. rolling makes sense. I have tried the cycle you described, but on hot instead of sanitize ("modern" cloth diapers have elastic so cannot be routinely exposed to boil wash temps). I think the problem is that they are so saturated with pee and a pre-wash that doesn't use much water doesn't get enough pee out for the wash part of the cycle to do its work. I guess my dream cycle is delicates-level water for the pre-wash and rinse, and the "mid" level of water for the wash then?

Post# 427935 , Reply# 9   4/10/2010 at 14:55 (5,121 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        
Soft water rinse option...

 pulsator's profile picture
WOW!!! I LOVE this soft water rinse option!!! I turned that on and did a load consisting of 1 bath towel, 2 hand towels, and 5 wash cloths. Look at how much water it used for only 2 rinses! I know the water looks murky and sudsy, but the 2nd rinse was without a doubt the clearest rinse I have ever seen on a front load washer. The only machine comparable in my experience would be my double rinse Unimatic and only if I had used both a very small amount of HE detergent and a very large dosage of fabric softener. The rinse came up about 1/3 of the way up the window in the washer, the same level as the delicate cycle! I can't even begin to imagine how fabulous it would rinse if I turned on the sensitive option!!!!

Post# 427938 , Reply# 10   4/10/2010 at 15:33 (5,121 days old) by favorit ()        

@ JAMIE - to have "4 vintage Miele rinses" try also the "sensitive" (adds a 3rd rinse) and also on "low"/600rpm spin speed (spin speeds lower than 700 rpm add a further rinse). Once the machine is running the 1st rinse, you can raise to max spin and no matter she will make 4 hi level rinses

HCJ1440 - now I know what you mean .... commercial mieles in special diaper cycles make 3 prerinses + prewash + rinse + main wash + 3/4/5 rinses [link to old thread]

CLICK HERE TO GO TO favorit's LINK
Post# 427961 , Reply# 11   4/10/2010 at 17:31 (5,121 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        
Just LOOK at the rinse level!

 pulsator's profile picture
FANTASTIC!!! (Mind this is the first rinse, thus the suds.)

Post# 427979 , Reply# 12   4/10/2010 at 20:59 (5,121 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Big Deal! *LOL*

 launderess's profile picture
The default rinse level on my Miele 1070 is about or more than that, and there are five, count them, five of them! *LOL*

Post# 427982 , Reply# 13   4/10/2010 at 21:21 (5,121 days old) by Pulsator (Saint Joseph, MI)        

pulsator's profile picture
IMHO, there is such a thing as too much rinsing. I do still like to be able to smell the detergent's lasting scent after the cycle is complete! I have switched to scent free Downy due to lack of pleasant scents and now rely on the detergent's scent! :)

Post# 427992 , Reply# 14   4/10/2010 at 22:48 (5,121 days old) by eddy1210 (Burnaby BC Canada)        
So it worked for you

 eddy1210's profile picture
Glad you found the settings helpful! Did you change anything else, like add a cool down after the main wash?

Post# 427996 , Reply# 15   4/10/2010 at 23:15 (5,121 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Eddy gave me the special steps to get three high level rinses in my W1986. The owner's manual gave the programming steps to get extra rinses and high water levels in the rinses with the W1918, but not the 1986. Eddy is a hero in my book.

Post# 427999 , Reply# 16   4/10/2010 at 23:35 (5,121 days old) by eddy1210 (Burnaby BC Canada)        
Tom, I'm blushing now

 eddy1210's profile picture
I think you nicknamed me clean rinse Eddy. I should change my handle to that LOL. It helps when I have a friend who's a Miele tech to get ahold of these "secret" documents. Miele's continue to fascinate me how flexible and programmable they are, especially when it comes to the rinsing options.

Post# 428007 , Reply# 17   4/11/2010 at 00:04 (5,121 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Oh I Don't Know How "Secret" They Are

 launderess's profile picture
Have a Miele service manual that covers (IIRC) the 1100 and 1200 series, and gives all manner and sort of codes for programming. It is on a Zip disk somewhere, but remember looking at all the differnt codes and regions of the world each Miele washer had different settings.

L.

Post# 428078 , Reply# 18   4/11/2010 at 13:16 (5,120 days old) by hcj1440 ()        
What other options do you like?

 New question: now that I have had a taste of the different options I could change -- wondering if there are any others that you recommend, or liked yourself? I'm curious to know what the special allergy setting does... or what would happen if I changed it to EU or Sweden country setting... or why it's good to have a cool down after the main wash...

Eddy -- I tried setting the higher rinse level and succeeded -- my rinse level looks like Pulsator's photo. So I guess the higher wash water setting is also working (I checked it on the way to setting the soft water rinse level) and it's just that I couldn't see the difference between the "mid" level of water and the old "minimum" level of water. Hopefully it will now wash out the old dried on bits of rice on my kid's clothes... the muck on husband's work clothes... etc. For diapers I guess I will still have to run two cycles -- delicates to rinse out the pee first and then a hot wash to do the real cleaning work. Ah well kiddos will be out of dipes pretty soon.

Favorit -- interesting thread on the diapers/laundromat. After reading that I am glad I wash my own, I would not want to be responsible for all that water and energy and chemicals. No wonder anti-cloth diaperers are always saying cloth diapers aren't necessarily environmentally friendly -- if you use a commercial service it seems like it really isn't.

Post# 428086 , Reply# 19   4/11/2010 at 14:59 (5,120 days old) by eddy1210 (Burnaby BC Canada)        
other options

 eddy1210's profile picture
Hi Holly, apparently some of the other settings will "screw up" for lack of a better word the operation of your machine (according to my sources) ie, country settings change the voltage/amp ratings and you wouldn't want to do that. And the heater ratings/ unbalance parameters should be left as they are set from the factory. But things you could change like soak time and buzzer loudness may be helpful. Some like to add the water cooling after the main wash to cool and also dilute the suds. That's one I choose. I've never tried enabling the allergy sufferers program so I don't know what that would do. Glad to hear you succeeded raising the rinse levels, I think you'll be very happy with the results, especially if you use the sensitive for an extra rinse and slightly higher water levels in the prewash and main wash.


Post# 428104 , Reply# 20   4/11/2010 at 16:38 (5,120 days old) by mrboilwash (Munich,Germany)        
W 435 plus?

 mrboilwash's profile picture
could somebody guide me through the "soft water option", please ?

I have a German Miele W 435. It has been set to "soft water mode" by a service tech via a laptop computer. So far I am very happy with those high level rinses, but would love to have more control about it. (Going back to factory settings just for fun). However, the ownwers manual does not give any directions as to change the maximum rinse level.


Post# 428134 , Reply# 21   4/11/2010 at 19:05 (5,120 days old) by favorit ()        
Programmable functions Novotronic III - W800 W900

 Stefan,
you have to look for the proper service manual like this one in the linked old thread. Note that the german service manual doesn't say "soft water mode" but "niveau III aktiv/level 3 active" during rinses of Colors/Boilwash, Minimum Iron, Mini , Mixed fabrics.
The default factory setting is named "spuelautomatik/automatic rinse level"

I'm afraid the Novotronic III instructions don't fit your machine : e.g, they make the wasserplus adjustment on "extraspuelen", while in your machine is made on "oeko-kochwaesche 75°C"

CLICK HERE TO GO TO favorit's LINK
Post# 428182 , Reply# 22   4/12/2010 at 00:53 (5,120 days old) by vintagesearch ()        

wooooooooooooooooow that miele is impressive a bit more water is better IMHO

Post# 428183 , Reply# 23   4/12/2010 at 01:08 (5,120 days old) by hcj1440 ()        
Water type option?

 Eddy -- first, just want to say a big Thank You for all your help and info. For now I have the sensitive option set at more water, but no extra rinse. Since I now have the soft water rinse level set, I feel too guilty about the extra rinse. Also, I am going to try the suds cool down next, which is a bit of a rinse in a way too, right?

After looking everything over, I think the only other one I might try is the water type option. The default is "hot water" but other options are "cold mains water", "soft water" and "rain water". I have very soft water here (water from yosemite/hetch hetchy with almost no mineral content). Would love any info you have on that one!

Post# 428191 , Reply# 24   4/12/2010 at 03:31 (5,120 days old) by favorit ()        

Holly,
the "suds cool down" is normally done on the "wrinkle free"/easy care/minimum iron/perma press" cycle (I mean that one named in german as "pflegeleicht") when you choose "warm 105°F" or higher temps. It is not a rinse : suds are gradually cooled down by dilution with cold water at the end of the main wash to reduce creasing due to thermal shock

Modern Mieles don't make anymore the cooldown on cottons/normal cycle as old machine did.
However *** the option you mean **** when enabled performs the cooldown when "normal" is set on "very hot 75°C" or boilwash/sanitize 95°C" to prevent scalding hazard in case the hose drains into a laundry tub

You have such a soft water ... you haven't to feel guilty to use sensitive extrarinse too. Anyway high spin speeds help a lot tto improve rinses

As for the "cold mains water/rain water/well water/hot water" settings don't mess with them.
All Miele machines with two fill hoses can be programmed to use "hot and cold fill" OR "cold hard water and cold soft water" OR "cold rain water and pipeline cold water" OR "well water and pipeline water". In North America they are just marketed as hot and cold fill machines.
Check this link to have a clue about double fill hose Mieles (aka Allwater models) in Europe :

CLICK HERE TO GO TO favorit's LINK
Post# 428192 , Reply# 25   4/12/2010 at 03:58 (5,120 days old) by favorit ()        
water type options

 I just realized I haven't explained WHY you have no worth to deal with water type options

First of all, if you change setting, you won't have the hot fill available anymore

The "soft water + hard water" is for those households that, having hard water fom pipelines, have a whole house water softener installed. The hard water hose is hooked to a waterline that bypasses the water softener, while the soft water one to the water softener pipeline. Soft water is used in prewash and mainwash to save detergents, while hard water is used to rinse, cause, as you know very well, it rinses much better

"Rain water + pipeline water". Rainwater is used in prew/mainw, pipeline water for rinses

Post# 428194 , Reply# 26   4/12/2010 at 04:44 (5,120 days old) by mrboilwash (Munich,Germany)        
Favorit

mrboilwash's profile picture
You`re right it doesn`t fit. But thanks anyway !

Post# 428227 , Reply# 27   4/12/2010 at 08:48 (5,119 days old) by rayjay (Carteret, New Jersey)        
Miele Model 4842

 Hi. I think it was posted before, but I copied it and cannot find it. I am looling to buy the 4842 and I think someone posted on how to make the water level higher in all cycyles on this model.

Can you help or post again?

Thanks so much

Ray

Post# 428231 , Reply# 28   4/12/2010 at 09:41 (5,119 days old) by mieleforme ()        
Miele Model 4842

Rayjay I sent you a copy of the service manual.

Post# 428246 , Reply# 29   4/12/2010 at 12:11 (5,119 days old) by eddy1210 (Burnaby BC Canada)        
Hi Holly

 eddy1210's profile picture
I think your machine will only allow you to toggle between hot mains intake and cold mains intake, I think the other 2 are disabled on the North American machines (see Favorit's comment about the Allwater machine made but only available in Europe) If you choose the cold, you will end up with a longer wash time as it stops to heat the water to the correct temp. Don't feel guilty about adding a third rinse, especially for heavy fabrics and those diapers, you want them rinsed very well. Glad you're happy with the results!

Post# 428342 , Reply# 30   4/13/2010 at 00:42 (5,119 days old) by hcj1440 ()        
Favorit and Eddy

 You are both an absolute wealth of information. Thank you so much for helping me. Now that you tell me what the "cold water main", "hot water", "soft water" etc. notations stand for, it makes perfect sense. The tech manual is pretty cryptic but I guess they don't need to write out every detail for their own internal use.

P.S. I am going to try the suds cool down thing and see if it makes my sheets and cloth napkins less wrinkly! Guess I will have to use the Normal or Wrinkle free cycle to do it. I haven't used those two much because they look so short that mentally I've been thinking how can the load get clean -- I've been washing almost exclusively on the custom settings option. I've also been resisting the high spin on most things because of the wrinkle factor... which I am now learning from you does not do me any favors in the rinsing clean department. You are really changing the way I use my Miele (for the better, of course!).




Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      


Comes to the Rescue!

The Discuss-o-Mat has stopped, buzzer is sounding!!!
If you would like to reply to this thread please log-in...

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members Click Here To Sign Up.



                     

automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
 Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals 		Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy