Energy Saving Benefits of a Front Load Washing Machine

Choosing a washing machine can be a daunting task. Today there are more and more brands available as well as many different energy efficient options. However, one option, the front loading washer reigns supreme in terms of performance and cost to operate.

A front load washing machine, as the name implies, loads from the front of the machine rather than the top of the machine as most washing machines in the past have. This is a relatively new innovation and one that is sure to stay around. The benefits of a front load washing machine are numerous, while the drawbacks are few.

The most recognizable benefit of a front load washing machine is in the amount of water it uses to clean each load of laundry. A typical front load washer only fills the bottom of the tub with about 3 inches of water. While a top load washing machine may use as much as 18 inches of water. A front load washing machine gets by with so little water because as it turns, the clothes fall down into the water and are cleaned by the friction created by the wet clothes rubbing together. Whereas a top load washing machine relies upon water and an agitator to clean clothing.

Another energy saving benefit of a front load washing machine is also related to water use. Since the front load unit itself uses considerably less water to clean the clothing, the demand placed on the hot water heater is lessened thereby reducing gas bills or electric bills depending upon which type of hot water heater you house is equipped with.

Yet another savings found with using a front load washing machine lies in the speed with which the spins cycle occurs at. On a typical top load washing machine, the spin cycle may reach up to 500 rpm. A front load washing machine can achieve up to 1200 rpm on its spin cycle. The faster spin cycle of a front loader extracts more water from the clothing which in turn shortens drying time and save more gas or electricity depending upon which power source is used for your clothes dryer.

There are still two more benefits to using a front load washing machine and they are both related to the fact that a front load washing machine does not use an agitator like a top load washing machine does. Since a front load washing machine does not have an agitator, it allows you to fit more clothing in per each load. This cuts down on the amount of loads of laundry done per week, which reduces your energy usage. Finally, the lack of an agitator means that a front load washing machine is gentler on clothing than a top load washing machine. This gentle action translates into less wear and tear on your clothing and less money spent or money spent less often replacing worn out clothing.

Though the initial cost of a front load washing machine may be higher than your conventional top load washing machine, the benefits in savings listed above will quickly makes up the difference in initial price. Annual energy and water savings by selecting a front load washing machine can pay back your initial additional expense in as little as 5 years. Furthermore, you will be doing your part to help the environment while saving money at the same time.