Saving Energy While Using Your Washing Machine – A Guide

Your washing machine is designed to be an efficient and speedy way of getting your clothes washed and ready to be dried and worn again. However, it’s a little-known fact that the bulk of our energy bills can come from household appliances such as the washer. In an uncertain economy, it’s always wise to save energy here and there, so we’re going to be exploring some of the different ways you can do just that.

Avoid Half-Loads

When there’s only half a load of washing to go on, it can seem like an easy task to put the machine on and get that little handful of clothes cleaned and dried. However, half-loads are inefficient, and will only serve to kick up your bills even higher. Now, that doesn’t mean for a minute that you shouldn’t wash your clothes, but instead that there are benefits to waiting until you have enough for a full load, and then doing everything at once.

Consider a Modern Machine

Here at Repair Aid, we’re always helping out customers who are experiencing problems with their washing machine. However, a large portion of our clients are all facing the same problem – their washer is old and past it’s prime. In many instances, they’re facing issues which could be easily avoided by upgrading to a modern washing machine. There’s no doubt that a contemporary device will be far more energy-efficient, and will aid in keeping the bills down and lessening the impact on the environment.

Cold, Cold Washes

Temperature is one of the most important factors when assessing the energy efficiency of your washing machine. Naturally, you will find the amount of energy needed to heat the water is much less than the energy required to wash at a lower temperature. When trying to wash your clothes, it’s a great idea to think about setting the system at a more moderate heat, thus avoiding massive energy expenditure.

As a side note, the EU has made a 20-degree wash option mandatory on all machines made since 2013, in an attempt to reduce the amount of energy needed and lessen the impact on the environment. This rule means that you’ll have the lower temperatures available to you with more ease should you consider a newer model.

Machine Maintenance

Like any piece of technology, your washing machine will need maintenance. Things can go wrong, and this will impact the energy efficiency of your device, so it is crucial that you provide it with the support it needs. Whether you choose to bring it to a professional like us, or you opt for the DIY approach on smaller issues, it’s imperative that you restore the washer to as close to new as you can on a regular basis.

Consider Usage

The thing to remember when considering the use of your washer is that the more you work it, the more energy that you use. This principle can be the opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish in many situations so it can be in your best interest to stop and think about how often you’re using your machine, and how this will affect your overall energy costs. It can have a significant impact on your energy bills, and you’re trying to bring those down, so it is vital to make sure that you are watching how often you use the machine.

To summarise, these are just a few of the different ways in which you can protect yourself from the problems of a higher energy bill. The washing machine is, of course, a very useful piece of technology, but one should consider that it can rack up a considerable amount of bills. Whether your main concern is financial or environmental, the fundamental principles remain the same. While it can be something of a challenge to lower the cost of your bill and reduce energy output, there’s also no doubt that it can be exceptionally gratifying to accomplish this task.

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Here at Repair Aid, we’re always showing people how best to avoid the problems and pitfalls which come from higher energy usage. In some instances, it involves taking a long look at yourself and your machine – does it need to be improved or repaired? Does it need to be replaced entirely? While it’s not a happy thought sometimes by any means, it can be a much-needed one. You have to make sure that you’re making the smart choices because they’ll make all the difference when trying to bring the bill costs down.