Expert Advice Needed

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

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Hi Allen,

I am a new member. I would have to say that you should never leave your washer or dryer unattended. I have an employee whose son's house caught on fire while he was sleeping because of his dryer. He barely escaped with his life. When I bought my front loader the manual says that you should never operate the machine when not at home and you should turn off the water when not in use. I hope this helps you.
 
In regards to unattended operation of appliances, many dryers nowadays have a 'wrinkle guard' feature that either continuously or intermittently tumbles the load for a period of time after the drying cycle ends, in an effort to minimize wrinkling of clothes that would otherwise be sitting stationary in the drum. I would imagine the companion dryer for the washer in question in this case has such a feature. My Fisher & Paykel dryer tumbles intermittently for up to 24 HRS if the option is selected, which to me infers that the feature is INTENDED for situations in which the machine will be left alone for a period of time and can't be unloaded immediately after the drying process ends. I've used it many times. If the dryer happened to malfuction in some way, well, I don't expect that to happen, but it's the risk I take, which I feel outweighs the convenience of the feature. My F&P washer also has a delay start, ranging from 15 mins to 18 hrs.
 
I guess I feel a lot like Dadoes does in that I know there is a risk invloved, but it appears to be minimal.

Why would my washer have a delay feature if it wasn't intended to be operated on it's own? Mine is such that I pick the cycle and select the time I want the wash finished. The washer does the math and starts in time to be finished by time I selected. Does this sound like a feature that was intended to be used by someone who is at home watching the machine?

I have always felt that the machine had the necessary safeguards built in to it to overcome most machine failures. I may be living under some kind of false sense of security. But I have to ask, how often do these machines really fail and cause the issues you are all afraid of?

I'm one of those people who always does the research and makes my decision based on facts. If the cold hard facts are that these failures are not all that common, then I doubt I'll change my ways. I, too, have a machine with a heater and sometimes those machines take a long time. I can't imagine just sitting around waiting for the washer to finish.
 
I agree with veg

If the manufacturer states in the instructions not to leave the machine unattended, then I'm thinking that might play into things insofar as a legal determination would go.
 
Allen, it's good to see you posting. I hope you'll be involved when subject/time allows.

Anyway, I've never gone off while the washer & dryer are running and I turn the taps off when I'm finished cuz I don't do laundry every day or even every week.

I've gone outside a couple of times to mow the yard but I feel guilty about that. So pretty much, I'm around the house, and prefer to be on the same side of the house as the laundry room. I've heard of a couple of instances where dryers have burned up becauze the heating element didn't shut off at the end of the cycle. So I check my dryer once it's finished. My mom also never went off with the laundry stuff goping. If she had to, she'd turn everything off before leaving the house. S I learned all that from her. Bob
 
My answer: Yes.

yes it is resomeable to assume that a automatic washer CAN be left unattended.
BUT, leaving ANY APPLIANCE unattended has a risk. Period. No appliance of ANY KIND, is completely Fail-proof, new or old. Failures of any sort can AND will happen to any electrical machanical machine. That has been proven MANY times over, in the world everyone lives in. Think about it.

Rich
 
No, it just isn't wise to leave while the machines are running. I have done this a very few times and ONLY when I will be returning VERY shortly. I would NEVER leave to go to work or the like when a machine is running. It is also very wise to turn off the valves when finished too but I must confess I never do that. I am sure there will be a time when I wish I had though! I too live in a condo and It always comes to mind when I step out briebly that I will be responsible for any damage I cause leaving the washer unattended.
 
Unless the Machine has guarentee's

Hi,

Most high end european appliances come with a leak protection system, usually with one of many various names.

For example, Our old and current dishwasher had a drip pan in the bottom with a float valve, and active monitoring of the water level via rate of flow during the wash, and an electronically metered fill, so once there were 4.5L of water in there, no more would enter regardless of what happened.

When one of the above conditions was triggered, the machine would immediately activate the drain pump, disable the inlet valve, and keep the drain pump running until the water level was at 500ml. The inlet solenoid is mounted at the tap end of the hose, and if the water level in the machine isnt satified in 2 minutes, the water will shut off also.

In that instance, with this those safeguards, I would expect to be able to leave the machine running with no risk of damaging leaks.

If a machine does claim to be water proof and have antiflood protection built in, then I would not say that it is reasonable to expect to be able to safely leave the machine unattended.

For example: http://www.miele.com.au/products/view_product.asp?typeID=1&subTypeID=19&PID=301&domestic=1

This page under the safety features section
http://www.miele.com.au/products/view_product.asp?typeID=4&subTypeID=29&PID=304&domestic=1
http://www.whirlpool.com.au/Productgroup/Washing/Frontloader/Frontloadfeatures/Frontloadfeatures.htm
http://www.whirlpool.com.au/Productgroup/Dishwashers/Main_features0212.htm#drip
Asko has the 6-fold Aqua Block System
http://www.asko.com.au/ASKO/brandsite/main.cfm?moduleID=10&productID=3877
In short, if the appliance has Active monitoring, then you should expect it to be leak proof, if it doesnt then its something you do at your own risk. Common sense could be a good word.

Regards

Nathan
 
I don't know the origin of this

or if the wording is exact: "Expect the Unexpected!"
I don't turn off the water on my washing machine when
not in use as manufacturers recommend, but I never leave
anything in operation if I'm going to be gone more than an hour. Glenn's first post was the definition of succint!
 
In all the years of doing laundry, I have never worry about leaving the washer or dryer running while I'm doing errands!
I was the one who installed the units and faithfully check all connections three times a year because of cleaning behind and underneath the units.

Since this a problem with a washer, usually a water valve will go bad during the fill part of a cycle after several years of usage's (more or less between 5-20 years in general) while the machine is on. Normally in most cases it happens while you are home doing one or two loads consecutively. Now if the valve fails when the washer is not in use, sometimes we may see this problem as for slow or long fill times or water in the basket the next washday, so that's like a warning sign to seek for service.

In all manuals that comes with every washers, they tell us to turn the water off after use to to relieve pressure on hoses and valves!
(This is from one of my Kenmore Manual from 1982).

Good words of wisdom but who really follow these instructions?

(In my 1996 Kenmore Manual it says for Non-Use or Vacation care to unplug or shut the power off and turn off the water supply to the washer. This helps avoid accidental flooding (due to a water pressure surge) while you are away)!

Now get this, it did not give that same instructions to turn the water off after every washday, so I see this as an potential problem on the valve itself if the consumers constantly turning the water valve on and off causing the water valve on the washer to wear prematurely!!

So in a real perspective, the MFG's has a problem on how to address this issue correctly so they will not be liable for a claim because of water damages in someone(s) home......
 
The problem in cases like this is that it's not always what is clearly written by the manufacturer but what is the general publics perception of right or wrong in the operation. Obviously there are two camps, will not leave, will leave, regardless of what the instructions say and an arbitration judge might consider that split in his judgement.
 
extra precautions

I have no qualms about leaving dishwasher, washer or dryer running while. I feel secure in doing this becaue I have 5 roommates and it's rare noone is home or arrriving shortly.

I regularly vacuum out the dryer and have the steel braided fill hoses on the washer. If I lived in an apartment or condo or had the laundry on the second floor I'd definately have the washer sitting in one of those drain pans. I've also seen a device that shuts off the water if a hose bursts.
 
Allen,

HI DOC...

W E L C O M E !!!!

Actually the FF in the picture above is probably saying "This is NOT baking soda, it's detergent" amd furthermore goes on to say "where is the next wash-in? Big flamers don't bother me at all, I rather like them."
 
My appliances are generally relatively new (2002 or later.) I frequently let them run unattended.

I am so bad as to allow the elctric stove to use a timer to shut itself off, if I am in the garden, or running to the supermarket for a minute. (Of course one should NEVER broil unattended, IMHO). Usually I have my excursions timed in my head so I get back before the timer runs out. the timer is "just in case".

In terms of the dryer I NEVER use any dryer softener sheets (they are permanently banned, LOL) which I believe are highly dangerous in that they pour out wax into the machine which rusts it, and attracts lint to stick. NO NO NO NO.

But in terms of the vintage GE from the early 90's (which sounds like it has been an abused child.. BANG BANG BANG goes the inner tub against the brake.) I keep an eye on that one. Too much risk IMHO. I have gone so far as to hook it up to a faucet so that I am sure there is no constant water pressure in the hoses.
 
There is a flood protection system that shuts off the main water line if there is a fast-moving stream of water that runs for a given period of time.

Of course fire-protection and outside water hose-cocks should be fed from BEFORE this device. (Sorry can't find a web-site).
 
Unattended vs leaving the house

Hmmm. We seem to be getting into some very fine points here. I think it's okay to leave a washer/dryer/dishwasher unattended. After all, we bought these appliances because they get the job done automatically, with no intervention on out part. Though I enjoy watching my washer toss the togs, I'm not going to sit by and babysit it.

That said, I think it's wrong to leave the house with an appliance running, especially if one lives in a multi-family building. If my washer were in the basement of a single family house, yeah, I'd leave it running and take off. As it is, I have neighbors beneath me, and I don't want to be responsible for damaging their unit.

I think it's just plain common sense, which, unfortunately, many people seem to be lacking nowadays.

Remember: Doodoo occurs.

veg
 

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