First Wash In The Lavamat

[launderess]

Ah love dis machine!

Sorted out a temporary fix to the busted legs and figured why not go for a mortgage? Really needed to do the wash as both the linen stores and quite frankly personal linen supply was running low.

Hooked up the water hose, put drain hose in sink and we were off:

First load of random garments, a totally full load that the AEG says was "100%".

 

[launderess]

Look Ma, No Water

Where is all the water?

 

[launderess]

Did A Towel Load Next But Was Busy Elsewhere

So no snaps, but here is one using the "Fashion" cycle doing two white linen shirts:

 

[launderess]

All and all am that well chuffed!

Finally able to do laundry without having to babysit as with Big Bertha (Miele) in case of badly unbalanced loads causing a racket when spinning. Or, listen to a serenade of odd but loud sounds as this or that bothers the washer. Nope, not a bit of it; the AEG is whisper quiet. All your hear is the filling and maybe a dull whirr when high speed spins commence.

Great thing about his washer is it knows what it is doing and therefore you best leave it to get on in peace.

Cannot say enough great things about the "jet recirculation" system. It is simply brilliant!

Contrary to popular belief the unit does not start spraying "dirty" water that has been sat sitting when one starts a new cycle. Rather at the start of every new cycle the drain is engaged first to pump out all water in sump and elsewhere. In fact AEG Canada warned one against using liquid detergents in the dispenser for this reason. With nothing to contain it the stuff will flow down into the tub and be drained away.

Next a small amount of water enters the tub (but not through the dispenser) and the tub makes a series of movements. One assumes this is the famous "load sensing" going on. Then water finally enters the tub via the dispenser as machine fills and were off. If the load absorbs water and level drops the machine will add more to top things off.

Noticed something odd: if you change the temperature dial during the initial load sensing/small water stage, machine stops, drains out the water and starts all over again. Didn't press my luck after doing that twice so am now told.

Back to the jet recirculation it varies as to when it works and where the water is aimed. For instance it does not seem to be engaged during the heating portion of wash cycles. Nor is used in all cycles or parts of some. For instance during the wash phase of the "Fashion" cycle, nothing. It did come on during the "cool down" and parts of the subsequent rinse cycles.

After each rinse in the "Cottons/Linens/Easy Cares" the jet is aimed first at the door where whatever soapy water from before hits the glass and as fresh water replaces it clears froth away. Jet slowly moves back into position aiming water towards the center of the drum where garments are located. Rather like aiming a garden hose when watering the lawn.

Spin wise the AEG beats Big Bertha hands down. Even with the jigged up solution to damaged legs the thing was rock solid. Whenever a load seemed to be unbalanced the Lavamat took care of things. Even on all four of the washes one did using 1800rpm final spin there was no shaking and unit remained fully anchored to the spot.

 

[arbilab]

Where is all the water?

I saw about a tablespoon. Would one care to enlighten us what AEG stands for? Sounds German. Achtung Electricichise Gesellschaft?

(Meanwhile one looked it up and it's something very close to that.)

 

[foraloysius]

AEG means "Allgemeine Electricitäts-Gesellschaft" so translated it means General Electricity Company (Almost sounds like General Electric, doesn't it?)

The AEG adepts use the meaning "Aus Erfahrung Gut" = Good From Experience.

People who are not such big fans relate to it as "Auspacken, Einschalten, Garantiefall" = Unpack, Switch on, Warranty Case.

There is definitely more than a tablespoon of water in it. All laundry items are saturated and there is enough water in the drum to recirculate. But to people who are used to toploaders it seems like little water.

I'm glad you like the machine so far, after all the hassle you have gone through. It's a very ingenious piece of laundry technology, not in any way to be compared to older Miele's and AEG's. And it's one of the last generations real German AEG's. Later generations are nothing but glorified Zanussi's IMHO (or perhaps not so humble).

Hope to hear more reports about it.

Happy washing!

 

[chestermikeuk]

AEG - Advanced Engineering from Germany...

Thats the marketing phrasing used here, Laundress glad you got the balancing sorted "Switched On" although I suspect some laundry purists wont be sleeping easy tonight after seeing the Dark clothing in with the Lights..!!

Am interested how the jet moves on this model? is there two jets in one? for the door and the tub? The 1800rpm spin model here is solid on fast spin with no more than a hum, nice machines, enjoy!!

 

[chestermikeuk]

AEG

Jetsystem..., Hi Laundress, Is your jet like this one?

 

[launderess]

Darks With Lights

The "dark" coloured items are grey cotton trainer pants one wears around the house. Sort of like a house dress when paired with a comfy loose T-shirt. They are what happens to such garments that aren't fit for being seen in public. As such they do take a beating indoors being worn for everything from housework to lounging. Therefore into a good hot wash they go with Persil!

Have to see if one has a picture of the jet hose inside our Lavamat's drum door boot. It the flow of water somehow is quite directed towards the door/glass port hole and other times into the tub. How it manages this one does not know. Can clearly see the stream of water "move" as it shifts, again like then one is watering the garden and moves the hose from area to area.

"Balancing Sorted Switched On". Am sorry, don't understand. Didn't have to adjust any settings for unbalanced loads or some such. Did check to see if post wash "fluff", "Rinse +" and cool down of wash water were enabled. It seems the previous owner (or whomever set up the machine for him or her), had two out of three, we added the third.

 

[launderess]

Where's All The Water

For years one has been defending the Miele because it was rather liberal with water for both wash (5 US gallons for Normal and Permanent Press) and each of the five rinses (about 11 US gallons). Well have had my mind changed.

There really isn't much water to see in with the AEG. All the action one views in the normal cycles iss laundry tumbling about slapping against the tub and each other. If you stop the machine long enough water will pool and you see what I saw pictured above. Can also tell by when the machine drains. On the Miele the sink will fill with water if it cannot drain away fast enough. This often happens if the lint strainer becomes full. On the AEG not a bit of it, there simply isn't that much water to drain out. On heavy and or absorbent items more water comes out during the spin, but that is about all.

Another thing one noticed; while doing the heavy towel load (only 70% full according to the machine), twice got a "C1" message during rinse fills. Simply pressed the "Start/Pause" button, things cleared and machine went about it's business. Did a quick Internet search as to the cause and some say even a temporary drop in water pressure (such as someone flushing the loo) can upset these machines. The other possible causes such as clogged inlet filters couldn't have been the cause. For one the washer is basically new and the filter is squeaky clean. Same with the strainers on the hoses as well. Only thing one can think of was used warm water for the fill as one was doing a 60C wash and didn't want to wait for tap cold water to reach temp. Maybe this upset the valves or machine?

Anyway when putting laundry away it was perfectly clean and stain free as having been washed in the Miele. Feel whites were slightly brighter because the rinsing action is more through, that is those spins between each rinse, and that the AEG will hold the spin cycles until the job is done. On the Miele if the timer times out then kiss that spin cycle good-bye.

 

[frigilux]

Sounds like the AEG was a good investment; glad you're loving it. Sorry about the leg-leveling issue, but if your simple fix does the trick, then there's no problem.

Interesting that the recirculation jet moves--very high tech. As noted previously, I always lowered the water level on older front-loaders to improve washing action. Can't argue with excellent results, despite having to get used to seeing little or no water in the tub---with the exception of the Fashion cycle, which appears very generous in that department.

Perhaps one day you'll make a video of the 'Fashion' cycle using the David Bowie song of the same name as the soundtrack. Is there a 'Jean Genie' cycle in there, as well?



[this post was last edited: 8/9/2013-08:06]

 

[logixx]

I assume the jet moves because of a lack of water supply . Have seen this on other Electrolux-made machines: as more water enters the tub, the jet can increase pressure. Little water in the tub > low pressure from the jet > water runs down the door glass.

 

Our Lux did a similar start-up routine: lock, drain, fill some through the pre-wash compartment, then through the main wash one. This was to activate the floating ball valve in the sump.

 

Alex

 

[aeg03]

Great machine! Thanks for posting. I love machines with Jetsystems. I will only consider purchasing a machine with one now.

Our older AEG from 2002 seems to work a bit similar to this machine you have here. Our current 2012 Zanussi works differently with its static fills. But it uses plenty water during the wash cycle. The rinses never run 'dry', theres always enough water for the Jetsystem to run properly. Our older AEG used to run dry and the water would sometimes just trickle down the glass door, but the 3 x spin-rinses made up for that

 

[arbilab]

"Auspacken, Einschalten, Garantiefall"

Gotta love German!

Not to worry, my ElectroFrigiWhite (to which I no longer have access) looked waterless in motion with certain loads but actually contained roughly 4 gallons minimum.

Neptune of course eliminated all conjecture by doing away with the window. [groan]

Glad as discriminating as one is pleased. The design appears to actually make an effort, which can't be said of all today.

 

[launderess]

"Jet" Recirculating Systems

Reading various Internet post it does seem persons have their share of problems with AEG and other's such systems. Things like clogs caused by small items and or built-up lint causing clogs.

 

[frigilux]

One of the recirculation jets on the Immersion Care wasn't working well, and it coughed up an impressive lump of lint when I poked around the opening with the end of a paper clip.

The single jet on the Frigidaire front-loader is substantially more powerful/larger. No problems with it after 3 years of use. I'll bet you will have no problems with it.[this post was last edited: 8/10/2013-20:22]

 

[arbilab]

Neptunes eat coins and kiddy socks, then the pump has to come out. The Westy ate kiddy socks, first thing I learned to fix, no tools needed.