Laundry Appliance Maintenance and Energy Saving Tips

Washing Machine

Almost all of the energy used by clothes washers is for heating the hot water used to wash the clothes. Only about 10 percent or less of the energy is used by the electric motor that runs the clothes washer. Therefore, the best way to improve the efficiency of a clothes washer is to reduce the amount of water, particularly hot water that is needed to wash the clothes. Also, energy use of clothes dryers is affected by how much moisture remains in the clothes from the washer, so the effectiveness of the spin cycle of the clothes washer is important. Factors to consider when maintaining your washing machine and when trying to save energy include:

• Replace the water hoses that fill the machine. Over time, they may begin to leak or burst. It is usually recommended to replace the hoses every five years. Higher quality stainless steel fill hoses will last longer. Replacement hoses may be found in the appliance accessory section of your local home improvement store.
• Your washer may have a lint filter. This will need to be removed and rinsed off periodically to prevent clogs and buildup. Not all washers have this feature; most models wash the lint away down the drain with the rinse water.
• If you live in an area that has hard water, it is a good idea to close and reopen the water faucets that supply the water to the washer each month. Areas with hard water in particular may accumulate buildup from the minerals in the water and closing them occasionally will prevent them from getting stuck.
• If your machine is belt driven, you may have to replace the belt occasionally. This can be done through the rear panel of the machine.
• Check the drain hose to ensure there are no kinks. This may occur if the unit is moved during maintenance and repair and could end up accelerating the wear of the pump from to excessive back-pressure.
• Wash most clothes in warm or cold water; rinse in cold. You'll save energy and money. Use hot water only if absolutely necessary. Switching the washer temperature setting from hot to warm could reduce a load's energy in half.
• Fill washers (unless they have a small-load attachment or variable water levels), but do not overload them. In general, washing one large load is more efficient than washing two small loads.
• Don't use too much detergent. Follow the instructions on the box. Too much suds causes your machine to work harder and use more energy. Be very careful with detergent use when using an ENERGY STAR washer, because they use less water -- and require less soap -- than conventional washers.
• Follow proper wash times. Delicate clothes require a shorter wash cycle than dirty work clothes. When you are washing heavily soiled items, consider presoaking to avoid two wash cycles.

Dryer

Dryers work by heating and aerating clothes. The efficiency of a clothes dryer is measured by a term called the energy factor. It is somewhat similar to the miles per gallon for a car, but in this case the measure is pounds of clothing per kilowatt-hour of electricity. The minimum rating for a standard capacity electric dryer is 3.01. For gas dryers the minimum energy factor is 2.67. The rating for gas dryers is provided in kilowatt-hours though the primary source of fuel is natural gas.

Unlike most other types of appliances, energy consumption does not vary significantly among comparable models of clothes dryers. Clothes dryers are not required to display EnergyGuide labels.

• Check the outside dryer exhaust vent periodically. The vent should close tightly to keep out outside air, keeping heating and cooling bills down. The ducting the the exhaust travels through should be kept straight, ensuring there are no kinks or rips.
• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
• Try to run your dryer loads one after the next. This will enable the dryer to retain heat and reuse it for the next load, rather than having to warm back up again.
• If you find that your dryer is not running at the selected temperature but at a lower one, check the vents. If the vent is clogged, the sensors will not allow the unit to heat up. If they are fine, the problem may be the heating element or the temperature sensor which may need to be checked out by a technician.
• Never allow your dryer to vent inside of your house. Always direct the vent outdoors.
• If possible, locate the dryer in a heated space. If the unit is in a cold or damp basement, it will have to work harder and less efficiently.
• Separate clothing of different fabric type. Lightweight clothes do not require as much drying time as heavy towels for example.