Late Maytag 806 Water Usage

[danemodsandy]

I have a burning question!

Does anyone know the water usage specs for the late Maytag 806 washer - the one with four water levels?

I am trying to find out the water usage for Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large loads; I'd like to compare it to the specs for the early A806, with three water levels (Small, Medium and Normal - 27, 34 and 40 gallons respectively).

If anyone has the specs that would have been in the later 806 brochure, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks in advance!

 

[kenmore71]

Sandy, in my experience using machines side by side with the three water levels vs. the 4 levels here is what I have come up with:

 

3 level machine:

Large - 19 gallon fill, 40 gallons total

Normal - 16 gallon fill, 34 gallons total

Small - 12.5 gallon will, 27 gallons total

 

4 level machine:

Extra large - 19 gallon fill, 40 gallons total

Large - 16 gallon fill, 34 gallons total

Medium - 12.5 gallon fill, 27 gallons total

Small - 9 gallon fill, 20 gallons total

 

The extra 2 gallons of water usage is the average amount of water used in a 30 second spray rinse as the original Maytag valves delivered about 4 gpm at normal water pressures.

 

So, as you can see, for all intents and purposes, the 4 level switch simply added back in a 9 gallon fill which would have been the Small fill on a "standard" tub machine.  I would be very careful using that small fill with high speed agitation, however.  A 9 gallon fill at 63 opm with the power fin can be pretty destructive!

 

[danemodsandy]

Mark:

Thanks very much! As I transition from the late 806 to the A806, knowing these levels for sure will be invaluable when I'm dosing detergents. I presently use a classic, non-"ultra" powder in the late 806, and I get excellent results using 1/3 cup for Small, 2/3 for Medium, 1 cup for Large, and 1-1/4 cup for Extra Large.

The info you've shared lets me know that I'll lose the smallest load size, but that the others remain the same, even if the cycle names change a bit. So dosing really doesn't change, which saves some trial and error.

I would never use the small fill with high-speed agitation! You're absolutely right - there's just not enough water involved to keep the clothes from getting spanked to death.

 

[wayupnorth]

According to my owners book

Small 20/29 gals. Med 27/39, Lg 34/50 and Ex Lg. 40/59. Yes, it uses alot but I dont have to worry about water usage. Thats Reg cycle/permanent press in a nearly 30 year old LA 511

 

[danemodsandy]

By The Way....

....I have to confess that I feel a bit cheated that the "Extra Large" setting on my late 806 is actually the same as the "Large" setting on my A806. It's not the first time I've ever run into engineering-by-ad-copy, but it's a little disappointing, coming as it did from the normally sterling characters in Newton, Iowa.

 

[gansky1]

Almost needs a spiked collar

I use the small water level with normal speed when washing dust-mop heads. They need a good spanking, and that Power-Fin is merciless at lower levels.

 

[revvinkevin]

Sandy,

Why do you refer to your machines as your A806 and your late 806 when they are BOTH "A806's"?

Kevin

 

[kenmore71]

Kevin, I will presume to speak for Sandy here.  I imagine he is using that terminology because one of them is an series 2 machine in Almond from about 1978 and the other is a pre-permanent press, series 0 machine in white from about 1967-68.  

 

As an aside, the A806 may have been one of the longest single model number machines ever produced for the home laundry market.  1966-1980!

 

[danemodsandy]

Kevin:

Mark nailed it - these machines are a first-series machine from 1968, and a second-series machine from about 1978.

P.S.: I have to giggle - Greg mentioned spiked collars, and so far, has four approval checkmarks! I have to wonder about somma youse, LOL![this post was last edited: 8/21/2013-12:57]