HE Toploader Water Usage

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

Help Support :

John I’m pretty sure that our kingsize sheets, even the flannel ones, and our kingsize blanket would fit in one of the 2.4 cu ft FL’s. Its our heavy, woven cotton bedspread that I think would be too heavy for one of these smaller FL’s. Even dry its very heavy, filled with water I think it would be too much for one of these machines. But the 3.1 cu ft Frigidaire FL’s from the late 90’s and early 2000’s had no problem with this heavy weight spread, ditto for my old Westy, which I believe was either 2.4 or 2.8 cu ft capacity.

Next time I’m in an appliance store I’ll have to take a look at one of these machines. Even though I’m pleased with my current machine and the drought is over for now, water scarcity is going to continue to be a problem here in the future, so any replacement washer will need to take that into consideration.

That being said I still think there’s a market for mid sized FL’s.

Eddie
 
These Fisher and Paykel top loaders have always been the exception to my stance that HE top load machines just aren't all that good. I really think they do a great job at accurately sensing the load and providing enough water but not too much. The old Bravos/Cabrio floating basket platform boasted good washers as well, my dad had one and I enjoyed using that machine.

If I could have one of these new, it's likely what I would replace my DD with when the time comes.

I see they used to sell them at Lowes, don't think they do anymore.
 
gelaundry4ever

no matter the kind or brand of washer that his own today vmw topload that use a deep fill water wash to stay n the subject my current washer depending on load size on auto sense water level can use up to 19 gallons of water sure on my current daily driver i have my complaints because of long cycles but if using quick wash its not that bad, its just a question of adjusting like for exemple my curent daily driver usaly takes for a normal size load 46 minutes counting spray rinse since extra rinse is on very heavy soiled level for optimal stain treatment and extra power button on 57 minute if on the load sensing part it detects that the load is bigger requireing more water washers are constently evolving eather its a vmw topload washer or any topload of any brand or frontloader the purchuse of a washer depends in one need like for myself and my mom that are 2 or current washer fits or needs.
 
 
New measurement on which to offer guesses.

Neptune TL.

Load:  7 cargo shorts, 20 briefs, 3 shirts, 4 small towels, 1 pr socks.

Cycle:  Colors/Jeans with extra rinse (wash, rinse, rinse, rinse).  The after-wash spin failed to balance on a couple/three tries (the machine is less persistent on retries for interim spins than on the final) so it was skipped and the 1st rinse is less gallons than normal for the fill due to no extraction.  There are sprays in each spin, but the first was skipped due to the balance problem.  Last rinse is a slightly deeper level.

I will post the numbers on Thu 5/11.
 
I personally don't think I'll ever be a fan of any HE TL washer... That being said, all the complaints you read online about them.. I've read those same complaints about my FL washer.. Smells, mold, dry spots, not enough water, doesn't clean, doesn't rinse...none of which I experienced except tangling...that I do experience but I've gotten used to it...

When you watch YT videos of them in action...maybe they are doing good cleaning and rinsing and we're just not seeing it... Truthfully, I can't remember the last time I even watched an HE TL washer video because I don't want one or need one..

I just can't imagine all of the testing, R&D they do they would put out a washer that doesn't clean clothes or rinse when using it the way they recommend. I'm sure there's a learning curve to using one... I could be wrong... but I don't think I'd be happy with one... I think I'd take the worst rated FL washer of an HE TL washer.
 
my HE topload experience...

...is with a 2010 VMW Cabrio: I can say reply #18 is right on-about these washers getting stuck in a rebalance routine,draining and refilling before defaulting to a low speed final spin.Get the load size right and the VMW Cabrio will do a good wash job :)
 
 
Two AquaSmart models (one 2007 production, one 2009), neither has yet run a refill-agitate recovery routine in 4 years of use.  The Neptune TL is considerably more troublesome in that regard.

F&P agitator models also have a refill/agitate recovery routine but with an option to disable it.
 
The Whirlpool TL VMW I had wasn't an HE model per se but it still got stuck in the rebalancing loop occasionally when washing bedding. I then realized I was doing it wrong for that machine, i.e., washing sheets and blankets together. For some reason that washer didn't like it so I had to split those loads up. They are okay machines but they really are extremely persnickety about what one washes together.
 
That sounds pretty spot on for that era of high efficiency top loader. I've tracked the water use for several loads with the Bravos-Oasis, and it seems to be around the 30-35 gallon range for full loads every time. A nearly full load of darks ended up being 14-15 gallons for the wash and rinse fills, plus a few for the spray rinse, ending at 33. A full towels load last night ended at 38 gallons altogether. I do wish I had a good KitchenAid DirectDrive and a way to have my WP Duet Alpha hooked up at the same time to get direct water use comparisons of each, because I'd imagine that the Oasis design would consistently hit that "33% less water and energy" mark that they always advertised, but the front loader would easily be less than half.
 
 
Oops.  I forgot to post the numbers yesterday.

Wash - 6.8 gal, an odd addition of 0.9 gal more toward the last couple mins (7.7)

[1st spin fail, no spray]

Rinse 1 - 4.6 gal

2nd spin spray - 1.0 gal

Rinse 2 - 7.0 gal

3rd spin spray - 0.8 gal (then the spin also aborted)

Rinse 3 - 9.3 gal

Final spin spray - 0.8 gal

Total - 31.2 gal
 

Latest posts

Back
Top