FL Tub Capacities - I think they are lying!

[revvinkevin]

 

 

To reference to Eugene's comment, yes it's very interesting how manufacturers "conjure" up these capacity numbers.  

 

Last summer I went to our local Sears Outlet store (mostly scratch & dent) with a friend and looked at a lot of the washers they had, both TL & FL.   Among the numerous brands and models there, I was surprised to see SO MANY different Frigidaire Affinity FL models and SO MANY different capacity ratings.   Same basic model, same control layout, same size and shape door, some with more features or options and they all looked the same inside.   I was amazed to see capacities ranging from 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 4.0 and 4.2 cu ft in washers that look like essentially the same machine.

 

I looked at Frigidaire's website this morning and am surprised to see the capacity ratings on all these washers have been reduced!    That small door Frigidaire washer I have (first of both Qualin's and my photos) which USED to be rated at 3.1 cu. ft. capacity is NOW rated at 2.65 cu. ft. capacity.   The other models that used to be rated at 4.4 cu ft is now 3.81, 4.2 cu ft > now 3.68, 4.0 cu ft > now 3.65,  3.8 cu ft > now 3.26 and 3.7 cu ft is now 3.23.   What amazes me is the Affinity line has FIVE DIFFERENT capacities!   What the hell?

 

Does anyone know what happened on this capacity rating system?    Did the Government clamp down on them for false claims or advertising  or something?

 

I saw in some documentation or an ad or something where "they" claimed my 4.4 cu ft rated Kenmore Elite washer can wash 25 bath towels at once.    Well... one day not long after I got it, I tried.   I have to say they must have used smaller than standard "bath towels" because I was only able to fit 16 in there and OMG I was REALLY stuffing and packing them in!!   I went ahead and ran a cycle just to see how it did and boy it was really loaded!!   Each time it tried to balance and spin it had a REALLY difficult time trying to get balanced, taking 10 - 15 minutes or more dinking around.   After the 2nd try I stopped it and split the load in half.   It was much happier after that!

 

Kevin

[this post was last edited: 1/31/2012-16:05]

 

[hunter]

IIRC

Manufacturers USED to rate tub cubic feet as "Cubic feet in the tub for laundry plus the amount you'd use IF you had an agitator in it."

For example, if a top loader was 6 cubic feet but 2 cubic feet were taken up by the agitator the capacity was 4 cubic feet.

Now enter front loaders. If a front loader tub has a capacity of 4 cubic feet BUT a 4 cubic foot capacity top loader would include a 2 cubic foot agitator for 6 cubic feet in all - they said it was 6 cubic feet because, after all, a top loader would need that size drum to be able to hold that much volume.

It makes your head ache.

I'd rather know the absolute volume of the drum in whatever units are appropriate (liters, feet, whatever).

 

[ronhic]

Capacity in kilograms or pounds always refers to, and has done in this country and most others, to dry weight cotton fabrics.....there is no confusion if people bother to read their owners manuals where it is normally spelt out that

 

From a front load perspective:

 

- cotton cycles are can be run at capacity weight or a full drum

- synthetic cycles are normally at 1/2 capacity or half way up the door

- wool is normally at 1/3 capacity or just below half way up the door

- handwash is normally at 1/5-1/4 capacity or just a little over the edge of the drum seal.

 

....and there are often graphics in the books to give a visual representation.

 

Ultimately, these are all guides for the consumer to enable them to get the best out of their machines. However, as I've mentioned before, the CU FT measurement is complete nonsense outside of the showroom - a consumer can't measure it at home but with a KG or LB measurement they can weigh their washing if they wish.....

 

[qualin]

It makes me wonder, with LG releasing their new 6.0 cu.ft models, how much of that is marketing speak and what is the real weight capacity of the machine?

I believe commercial grade frontloading 30 lb machines have a 6.2 cu.ft tub capacity. These are MASSIVE machines too. Especially the soft mount ones.

My GE Top Loader had a claimed 4.1 cu.ft capacity tub, but I found that due the agitator, between the Huebsch and the GE, they hold about the same amount of clothing.

My test for capacity is the "Demin Jeans" test. I found that I could put 7 pairs of jeans weighing 12 lbs into it. 8 pairs if I stuff it a bit and 9 pairs if I pack it in. BTW, These are 40 x 30 jeans. (Yeah, I could stand to lose some weight.)

My GE Toploader could fit about 7 pairs in normally and that was about it. Anything more and the turnover was pathetic or non-existant. My mother in law keeps warning me that I'll break my machine if I keep doing that though.

If I could, I'd personally like to see how many pairs of jeans I could stuff into that 6.0 cu.ft LG. More to the point, I'd like to see it dance around when it hits the spin cycle.

 

[qualin]

To Ronhic

That's some great advice BTW.

My user manual just says, "Put the clothes in loosely into the drum until they reach the top, do not pack the clothes in."

I'll keep your advice in mind the next time I'm washing something other than cottons.

 

[revvinkevin]

 

Bud, what are the internal dimensions of your Huebsch / Speed Queen washer?

 

Thanks,

 

Kevin

 

[runematic]

Here's the deal on tub capacities and the changing of the rated size. Some companies used IEC (international efficiency {i've also heard other names used instead of efficiency}}} commission) measurements and some used DOE (dept of energy) measurements. IEC used to be used exclusively for HE washers. For example Whirlpool/Maytag had been using IEC measurements and now have gone to the DOE measurements. The DOE uses a different testing system than the IEC. IEC seemed to have fluffed sizes and the DOE system seems to have a more realistic and smaller capacity rating. So, the Maxima, for example, was rated at 5.0cuft IEC and is now shown at 4.3cuft DOE. Same washer, same tub, new measurement.

 

[revvinkevin]

tub capacities and the changing of the rated size

 

 

Thanks so much for explaining that Todd!   It sure would be nice if everyone (goverment agencies) were all on the same page with this.   But at least it sounds like "the industry" are all on the same page now.

 

Thanks!

Kevin 

 

[lagom]

D.O.E. v. I.E.C.

Hi,

Long time reader for years, but this is my first reply.

The I.E.C. (International Efficiency Consortium) and the D.O.E. (U.S. Department Of Energy) want to organize and establish the ground rules for how the washer and dryer capacities are calculated. In April 2011, a set of guidelines were established and many manufacturers helped to create the input.

The clever marketing departments were calculated capacity based on the total volume, not usable volume of the drum/tank. The difference is accounting for the space taken up by the agitator or paddle.

For myself, usable capacity is the space below the maximum waterline to operate a cycle.

Thanks for allowing me to share this information; I really enjoy reading the discussions presented here.

 

[sudsmaster]

I suppose what should be mentioned is that capacity of American washers is measured using a top loader standard. Top loaders are rated by their total capacity, including the space taken up by the agitator. Front loaders are measured at their actual volume, plus what an agitator would take up. So while the original Neptune front loader might have a drum with a real capacity of 2.7 cu ft, the mfg is allowed to add .3 cu ft to that and claim a capacity of 3.0 cu ft. This is also known as the IEC standard, although what those letters stand for escapes me at the moment.

BTW, the Miele washer manuals also advice progressively less loading the more delicate or fussy the fabric and form take. The full load rating is for sturdy cotton fabrics.

 

[qualin]

To RevvinKevin

Hey Kevin, I have yet to measure the inside of the drum yet. Been busy with other things.

When I do that, I'll post to this thread. I suspect it'll be fairly close to the Kenmore, the drums look similar.