LG Front Load Question

[appnut]

Mark, only Normal and Sanitary "use" the extra hot temp option.  I venture to guess the ex. hot temp on Normal isn't as hot.  the Bright Whites.  Heavy Duty cycles also engages the heater with its hot water temp and max soil level.  These cycles also offer steam option which might increase the hot water temp.  There's also their Allergiene cycle which I venture is a very hot temp wash, but not as high as Sanitary.  But engaging the steam option on these cycles will help assure the heater being used for sure.  

 

One of the many reasons why I prefer Whirlpool and Maytag because of the additional flexibility with hotter tempeartures across just about all cycles combining with Extra Hot and steam.   

 

[washerdude]

Mine also only lets you pick Extra Hot on the Normal cycle and Sanitary. Really strange. On the Normal cycle, the jets don't activate at all when Extra Hot is selected, on Sanitary however, the jets spray the hot water onto the load and let it soak into the fabrics which is very effective IMO.

In terms of Turbo Wash performance...I think its a nice feature...just not on the Normal cycle. With Turbo Wash enabled on the Normal cycle, its really painful to watch. I just can't see how this can clean clothes properly at all and my clothes don't seem to be getting that clean with these selections. The spray is weak, the water temp is too cool (Hot: 34C-37C despite the fact my water heater is set to 120F/49C). The final spin bottlenecks the dryers performance marginally, only 4 minutes and the second it hits 1200RPM it cuts off and ramps down.

As a solution to this I just use the Bright Whites cycle with Turbo Wash. It uses warmer water (40C-45C), cleans FAR better, spins better (1201 RPM when High is selected and holds that speed for 5-7 minutes), the jets actually spray water - you name it.

The Heavy Duty cycle also faces similar issues in Turbo Wash performance but not as bad as the Normal cycle. The jets will spray the load, then stop, then turn back on while the drum is turning - and eventually will reduce to a sputter but then the drum stops spinning, goes the opposite direction and this process repeats for the rest of the wash cycle. The rinse is...interesting to say the least. It doesn't do a typical deep rinse nor does it do a proper lengthy spray rinse, in fact it only does that once during the final spin for about 5 seconds. During the rinse, it fills with a tiny bit of water, sprays the load and when the jets begin to reduce in pressure, it adds more water and this process repeats until the machine decides it wants to drain, but it never does a deep rinse on Heavy Duty. The water temp here is also fairly cool just like the Normal cycle.

In comparison to my Whirlpool Duet WFW72HEDW which was left behind at my old house...I felt as if that was a far more superior machine than this LG. I think in terms of cleaning, the Whirlpool Duet just crushed the LG. It rinsed better, spun better, balanced better, washed better - you name it. The part where this LG excels however, is its ability to wash comforters which it does better than my WP Duet did. Overall the LG is a GOOD machine once you work out the kinks here and there, but I do think LG should tweak it more.

Hope this helps!

 

[thatrobguy]

We have the 8100 (whatever letters there are, it is the 5.2 cu ft FL) and I've noticed the same thing. Normal wash cycle the spray doesn't last. I have been using a second rinse with all the cycles. The machine does a very good job at getting items clean, but when I've seen it do the rinse cycle, the power wash jets basically just spray soapy water back on the clothes at the start of the cycle. I'm surprised they didn't include some sort of a purge to prevent that. It is more frustrating than anything. I will take the advantage of a full load wash, with one rinse, at 26 minutes (32 with a second rinse, 36 with two) over the oddity of the turbo wash jets.

I do think that when you select the steam function Extra Hot is part of the cycle. You lose the option of water temperature and soil level. The whites cycle has been amazing, I've yet to have a bad wash in it. I don't care that it runs long, it works really really well.

 

[appnut]

power wash jets basically just spray soapy water back on the

Before self-cleaning filters, that was common for machines with recirculating filter systems--saw it on Kenmore, Whirlpool, GE, and the Filter Stream spraying for both thee LK & WP combos.

 

As for your comment that you appear to lose water temperature and soil level options when steam is added, my Whirlpool duet doesn't suffer from those "problems" when I add steam.  If I need steam, I can still select wash water temps for warm, hot, and sanitize/Extra Hot as well as light, normal, and heavy soils.  The different soil levels also allow different time lengths for steaming happening.  I can even choose steam for "wrinkle free" cycles too as well as Extra Hot/Sanitize for towels too.  I love the full and complete option flexibility for all cycles and that's a main reason I've always felt WP products are far superior to LG and others because of that intense flexibility.  And that is still the case for the most recent product introductions.  

 

[henene4]

LG had - for quite some time now - 2 steam systems: TrueSteam and Steam.

Steam is basicly saturating the load with as little water as possible, then just heating atiny amount of water under the tub as steaming, then adding some more water and main washing.

TrueSteam uses a seperate steam generator.

Same with Whirlpool: They used to use a steam generator, now they use the tub heater.
Bob's still has the seperate generator.

The small residue being recirculated back on the load when the recirc starts in the rinse is minimal in comparison to rinse water loads.
All that is is the amount of water kept in the pump housing and related pipeing, if it even is half a gallon I would be surprised.

But yeah, I would always add a rinse when using TurboWash on the Normal cycle. Should give you 3 spray rinses and 2 deep agitated rinses basicly.
Spray rinseing is a great supplimentation to other rinsing methods, but stand alone is often not sufficent.

On the topic of the weak spray: Part of the idea of the normal TurboWash cycle is that a high concentration of detergent helps with cleaning in the incredibly short mainwash.
Further, if I am not mistaken, the heater should engage during any TurboWash main wash. Lower water levels there allow the heater to better maintain the water temperature (there's not much time to increase temperatures).
And, lastly, again, if I am not mistaken, many TurboWash cycles should use the spray rinse nozzle during the last minute or 2 of the main wash to dilute the detergent solution , basicly cooling down the load and diluting the soiled water down to more normal wash concentrations before the interim spin.

 

[ozzie908]

About 4 years ago

I had an LG and as it was cold fill only every cycle heated but it also had the steam option which I rarely used. Now I had an issue with it never taking in enough water for the wash cycle and the jets would dribble I attempted to increase the amount of water by adjusting the pressure switch but it would not have it, It did how ever work superbly on other settings and it would allow you to change the cycle so fill on wool or duvet then set to normal cotton 60c and leave it to it, Also the water inlet would cycle on and off really quickly and we had a pipe that clanged every time it stopped so needless to say it was sold on rather swiftly I went back to Miele..

Austin

 

[thatrobguy]

I don't consider the fact that I can't select the water temperature or soil level when using steam. The only time when I'd need it is when the clothes are really dirty, for whites, or when I do bedding on the allergen cycle.

Adding steam to cold clothes isn't going to do anything, the steam will hit the cold tub and condense, cold clothes, and condense, or hit cold water and condense. Forcing hot water is going to actually let the steam work. I'm assuming that LG also thinks that if steam is being use there are some stubborn stains, or exceptionally dirty clothing.

95% of my wash is done on Normal cycle anyway. The only things on different settings I do regularly is the dog's blanket, bedding, and whites.

 

[appnut]

Well, I've got garments that need the variety.  I got disgusted with most mattress pads that have so much synthetic material in them that a hot was would kill the material used to hold it on the mattress.  I specifically found one at WalMart that stated it could be washed in hot water up to 120 degrees.  Using Normal/Casual, hot, and steam, I can get a 120 degree wash.  Washing white dress shirts that are a variety of 100% cotton wrinkle free as well as some that are poly/cotton, I can still wash them in hot with the same cycle options and I get rid of any potential "ring around the collar".  

 

[mark_wpduet]

I forgot about

the LG spray rinse. I've seen it and it looks pretty awesome. I'm guessing the spray rinse is longer or more active on some cycles.

As far as the latest Duets/Maytags with recirculation, I wonder if they spray rinse as well?

 

[appnut]

Thought of another instance whreby temperature & steam flexibility were paramount.  A friend of mine was visiting and somehow managed to get kerosene, or something similar on a sweatshirt, jeans, and a blanket.  I prewashed the garments in warm.  then washed on heavy soil the load in warm on a cycle where the heater wouldn't come on.  And the scent was dissipating.  I washed again, heavy soil, normal/casual, and warm water with deep clean steam option & 2nd rinse.  Scent was just about gone, but ran through another duplicate cycle just to make sure.  He's very picky about colors remaining in clothes and wanted the scent gone.  Scent was gone and lightly dried and hung up to dry.  He was very pleased.  He thought he was gonna have to throw away those relatively new jeans and sweatshirt.  And no excessive "hot" water either for this lad.  Usually, yes, I usually need steam when it's a sanitize wash temp or a hot wash cycle and heavy soil.