Thread Number: 81613  /  Tag: Vintage Automatic Washers
Automatic Washer Water Consumption
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Post# 1056334   1/2/2020 at 23:37 (1,575 days old) by potatochips ( )        

What would be the water consumption for all our favorite machines, like Frigidaires, Whirlpools, Kenmores, Maytags, GEs, Hotpoints, on a full load?

 

I know the pre orbital Maytags are around 150-170 litres per cycle, or 40-44 US gallons for a complete cycle.

 

I wonder what a filter flo would do on a complete cycle?





Post# 1056347 , Reply# 1   1/3/2020 at 03:19 (1,575 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
Our 1976 WP LDA7800 (18# capacity) was rated at 27 gals for a full fill (space taken and water absorbed by the clothes presumably not considered).  So, 54 gals for a wash/rinse cycle + the four spray rinses.

IIRC, the four levels were 12 gals, 17 gals, 22 gals, & 27 gals ... may have been detailed on the specifications/feature sticker.


Post# 1056349 , Reply# 2   1/3/2020 at 04:24 (1,575 days old) by toploadloyalist (San Luis Obispo, CA)        

Plus the additional amounts consumed from Permanent Press cool-downs.

Post# 1056364 , Reply# 3   1/3/2020 at 07:10 (1,575 days old) by vacerator (Macomb, Michigan)        
Nominal added water for

cool downs. I know, the DD Whirlpools can add up to a quarter of the basket. Some only spray cold water as the load spins slowly. Some newer models dont even add any, such as my Smsung front loader. It takes longer by a few minutes, but just tumbles the load and the air in the washer cools it down. The rinses follow and it does just fine.

Post# 1056387 , Reply# 4   1/3/2020 at 12:34 (1,574 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)        

dadoes's profile picture
 
The '76 WP had a full program of double cool down on PP, with at least a 1/2 drain (maybe a little more) for each.  Knits cycle was a single cool down.  It also had Super Wash on Normal with a 1/2 drain & refill.


Post# 1056392 , Reply# 5   1/3/2020 at 13:29 (1,574 days old) by LowEfficiency (Iowa)        

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The '66+ Maytags were rated at 20, 27, 34, or 40 gallons for a full wash (all cycles) depending on the load size selected. Maytag specified that using the Permanent Press cycle would add an additional fill, but I'm not aware if they ever specified exactly how much extra water that was in their brochures...

More info:
www.automaticwasher.org/c...



Post# 1056412 , Reply# 6   1/3/2020 at 17:49 (1,574 days old) by bradfordwhite (central U.S.)        

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A full size Whirlpool Duet is 14 to 20 gallons.

As much fun as a GE FF is, it's water hog tendencies makes it merely a museum piece by my standards. I don't think there is any other common TL washer that used more.


Post# 1056418 , Reply# 7   1/3/2020 at 18:48 (1,574 days old) by LowEfficiency (Iowa)        

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I remember a P.O.D. a while back that had a 54 1/2 gallon Norge.
No idea how that compares... but it's up there for sure! :D


Post# 1056440 , Reply# 8   1/3/2020 at 23:39 (1,574 days old) by appnut (TX)        
POD 54 1/2 gallon Norge

appnut's profile picture

Dave, there are actually two Norge PODs that have this figure.  The 1964 push-button DispensoMat Norge that was the same model as we got December 23, 1963 and a similar model that was a few models down from this TOL machine.  The POD versions were both stated 14 pound and ours had the 15 pound insignia on the backsplash.  


Post# 1056471 , Reply# 9   1/4/2020 at 11:08 (1,573 days old) by potatochips ( )        

Maytag texts suggest the perm press consumption is another full fill like LowEffeciency said.

Im still interested to know what the FF consumes.


Post# 1056749 , Reply# 10   1/7/2020 at 03:45 (1,571 days old) by toploadloyalist (San Luis Obispo, CA)        

Maytag's Permanent Press cool-down cycle debuted in 1969, replacing the Wash 'n' Wear cycle with just high agitation and low spin without cool-down.

Whirlpool's single cool-down Knit cycle was from 1972-79.




This post was last edited 01/07/2020 at 04:03
Post# 1056754 , Reply# 11   1/7/2020 at 07:14 (1,571 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

frigilux's profile picture
I wonder how much water my Series 9 Speed Queen top-loader uses when filled to the maximum level on the Heavy Duty cycle?

Does anyone have a chart that tells how many gallons it takes to fill to each water level on a SQ--as Dadoes was mentioning about the large tub Whirlpool BD he referenced?


Post# 1056763 , Reply# 12   1/7/2020 at 11:06 (1,570 days old) by Washerlover (The Big Island, Hawai’i)        

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And I would love to know the water consumption difference between vintage top loaders and today’s top loaders.  I bought a brand new Kenmore washer three years ago with “load sensor” feature that filled the entire tub full no matter what size load (even when there was nothing in the tub).  Not much water savings there...


Post# 1056765 , Reply# 13   1/7/2020 at 12:32 (1,570 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)        

unimatic1140's profile picture
Here are some random water consumption values for a few of our beloved machines:

1953 Apex 24.5 gallons
1958 Frigidaire Unimatic 28.5 gallons
1965 Frigidaire Rollermatic 41.25 gallons
1979 Frigidaire 1/18 49.5 gallons
1947 General Electric AW6 37 gallons
1960 General Electric 42 gallons
1976 General Electric (model WWA8350P ) 48.2 gallons
1976 Lady Kenmore 48.8 gallons (normal) 54.6 gallons (Perm Press)
1976 Whirlpool 51.1 gallons (normal) 66.8 gallons (Perm Press)
1976 Westinghouse Front Loader 28.9 gallons
1976 Westinghouse Top Loader 48.7 gallons
1960 Kelvinator 30 gallons


Post# 1056767 , Reply# 14   1/7/2020 at 12:50 (1,570 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
IIRC

launderess's profile picture
GE FF washers used so much water because space between inner and outer suds container was rather large. Filling that gap used quite a bit of water, so there you are.

Post# 1056826 , Reply# 15   1/8/2020 at 02:44 (1,570 days old) by MattL (Flushing, MI)        

Wow.  To be honest looking at those numbers makes me cringe.  Years ago taking care of my dad I'd do a large load in my Kenmore 90 series almost everyday.  That was a lot of water.  Now I might do 3-6 loads a month in my Duets.


Post# 1056885 , Reply# 16   1/8/2020 at 13:53 (1,569 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There´s a Lady on Stage)        
Now you understand why there is such a hate on

launderess's profile picture
Against top loading washing machines by federal government, tree huggers and others. Old school washers used vast amounts of water.....

Of course this could be mitigated by going back to solid tub automatics, or things like using suds saving devices or semi-automatics. But that is another story....



Post# 1056921 , Reply# 17   1/8/2020 at 19:11 (1,569 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
I dont care how much water my 1984 Maytag 511 uses as I have a well that never runs out of water, 40+ every load and I will never have nor do I ever want any HE crap that doesnt fill to the top, give HOT water from the tap and clean clothes like my mothers Kenmores always did.

Post# 1057083 , Reply# 18   1/9/2020 at 21:08 (1,568 days old) by potatochips ( )        

Wow. I have to say Im actually impressed with how much the GE FF doesnt use. I really thought it was about 60 gallons. 


Post# 1057204 , Reply# 19   1/11/2020 at 00:54 (1,567 days old) by Moonshiner180 (Missouri)        

Honestly as much as I've heard the GE FF are water hogs I was expecting more usage from mine. Unfortunately I do not have a well at the moment but a 1000 gallon cistern. I've been using this washer ALOT since I got it all humming like it should, and haven't had to truck any more water weekly than when we were using a Crosley that was purchased new about 6 years ago.

Post# 1057206 , Reply# 20   1/11/2020 at 00:56 (1,567 days old) by tolivac (greenville nc)        

Not worried about water here-its the lowest cost utility compared to power,and cellphone-internet!

Post# 1057219 , Reply# 21   1/11/2020 at 06:01 (1,567 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie)        

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I keep a close eye on water usage not because there’s a shortage here, but because my Culligan tank (which gets exchanged weekly) will soften only about 600-700 gallons of water. This is why I use the water-saving Normal/Eco cycle whenever feasible. Problem would be solved by purchasing a front-loading machine (the LG 3900 is my current fave) but am now on a fixed income and consequently less inclined to ditch a perfectly fine two year old SQ top-loader.

The SQ set may just be the first laundry pair I keep for its full lifespan. In fact, they will probably outlive me, LOL.

As for bringing back suds-savers, I grew up with one so the concept is perfectly normal to me. However, I’d rather have a modern HE front-loading washer. You get the twin benefits of reduced water consumption with fresh water for each load.



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