Watts are Watts
Main benefit for using 208v-240v for heating in washers, dryers, and ironers is that it will get you to the desired temperature faster and recover sooner than 120v.
If the target temperature say is 140F and you are starting from 40F either 120v or 220v (or whatever) will get you there, the question is how fast. However it is not a matter of saving power by using higher wattage. You still are going to need the same amount of energy to reach that temp regardless. It is perfectly possible to reach boil wash temps using 120v power from cold water. It will take ages but you will still get there.
There is nothing my Pfaff ironer at 3kW at 220v does better than my vintage Frigidaire does at 1.7kW at 120v except reach the desired temp faster and recover quickly.
The other thing of course is there are limits to how much power you can get from the outlet/wiring. In theory you can push a 120v outlet to run at 100% capacity for long periods of time, but I shouldn't think it will like it over the long run. You would really have to know what is going on with the wires inside the walls and such. If lucky the things were over engineered to take some abuse.
Main benefit for using 208v-240v for heating in washers, dryers, and ironers is that it will get you to the desired temperature faster and recover sooner than 120v.
If the target temperature say is 140F and you are starting from 40F either 120v or 220v (or whatever) will get you there, the question is how fast. However it is not a matter of saving power by using higher wattage. You still are going to need the same amount of energy to reach that temp regardless. It is perfectly possible to reach boil wash temps using 120v power from cold water. It will take ages but you will still get there.
There is nothing my Pfaff ironer at 3kW at 220v does better than my vintage Frigidaire does at 1.7kW at 120v except reach the desired temp faster and recover quickly.
The other thing of course is there are limits to how much power you can get from the outlet/wiring. In theory you can push a 120v outlet to run at 100% capacity for long periods of time, but I shouldn't think it will like it over the long run. You would really have to know what is going on with the wires inside the walls and such. If lucky the things were over engineered to take some abuse.
