Connecting To Hot Water Instead Of Cold

[t_marat]

My washing machine has only cold water inlet. What if I connect hot water to this cold water inlet? I mean it anyway heats the cold water to (usually) 40C. Wouldn't it be better to supply the hot water directly, less electricity required for heating.

[uumode]

My washing machine has only cold water inlet. What if I connect hot water to this cold water inlet? I mean it anyway heats the cold water to (usually) 40C. Wouldn't it be better to supply the hot water directly, less electricity required for heating.

I think the hot water would be too hot i.e. in excess of 40 degrees? which might damage some of your washes.

Depending on the design of the heater, it may overheat the water slightly as it may assume the water is cold possibly, and automatically kick in the element and then realise that the water is already hot enough when it takes a temperature reading after X minutes when it expects it to have reached say 40 degrees (an assumption).

Other than that I can't think of anything else detrimental, you'd get a hot rinse too

- perhaps someone else can.

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Nice thought, and one that a lot of people seem to have, but here are the problems with it -

• It would use more energy because every time you use the washing machine it will use gallons of hot water (instead of just a bowlful), which is very uneconomical. For most people (using a hot water tank) all this water will be replaced by cold water which then needs heating up
• Most people's hot water is set to at least 60 degrees and some have it much higher, this (as uumode) mentions could damage delicates and woolens
• Rinsing in hot water isn't as effective as using cold, hot water tends to cause lathering
• The water temperature for 40 degree washes would already be exceeded as soon as it starts washing which is likely to cause premature completion of the wash program
• Rinsing in hot water can cause excessive creasing which is difficult to iron out.

I ended up writing an article on my white goods blog on this very subject - Don’t connect the hot water supply to the cold valve on a cold-fill washing machine which has attracted over 30 comments from interested parties so far. Some people are experimenting with mixing the hot and cold water to supply a cold fill washing machine with warm water or even using a thermostatically controlled valve to mix the water to supply the machine at around 40 degrees.

Many people have concerns about the cold fill only washing machines but they should not cost more to use. They should cost less for most people. Most of Europe has had cold fill washing machines for years. Here’s a lengthy look at the pros and cons of cold fill washing machines

[457jane]

my washing machine has hot and cold fill but I only want to connect the cold. the tap end is blocked off but will water escape from the machine end of the hot?

 

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hello jane. I have an article here about that Washing machine is a hot and cold fill, but I only have a cold water supply