LG TurboWash

[iiijohnnymaciii]

Would the LG TurboWash jets prone to getting gummed up with gunk over a period of time or do they self clean? Also, when the TurboWash jets run rinse water, wouldn’t some of the residual dirt residue from the wash get mixed in with the clean wash water?

Also, if the water is set to warm do the heaters kick on to keep the water warm during the wash cycle or does the heater only work with the initial fill?

Lastly. What are your thoughts on the LG 3900?

 

[eurekastar]

I've had my 3900 since last June and I really like it.  The Normal cycle with an extra rise takes 35 minutes.  Adding options can add to wash time considerably, but it's nice to have that flexibility.  A few days ago, I splattered some grease on some Chinos while frying something on the stove.  When the grease stains were still present after a regular wash, I ran them again using the steam option and the stains are gone. 

 

As for your other questions, I don't have all the answers.  However, I think the heater is only used on cycles when the "Extra Hot" temperature is selected.  I think the heater maintains that temperature throughout the wash portion of the cycle, though I'm not positive about that.

 

 

[appnut]

Johnny, just speculation, but the heater may come on to maintain some semblance of warm water in the wash cycle if that wash temp is selected on Whitest Whites and Heavy duty cycle.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

hot

do your machines fill with tap hot when using either the extra hot or hot settings?

 

[frigilux]

The 3900 would be my choice if I was in the market. If it means anything to you, it is the top-rated front-loader at CR.

 

[logixx]

Yes, water from the jet system will get mixed with fresh water from the rinse fill. That's the case with all these systems, though and it's not a lot of water.

As far as the temp is concerned, there's a recent thread on Facebook about LG's wash temperature:

"I think I need to start looking for a new washer. I have the LG4370. When I first got it, I thought it was great. But now I’m realizing either something is wrong with it (LG says it’s fine) or it’s running correctly and this is just the way things are. I’ve recently discovered that I don’t get hot water unless I use sanitary or allergen. Every other cycle, when hot is selected, only gets up to 40-43C. Several cycles allow me to add steam. I tried adding steam to the bulky and heavy duty cycle and the heavy duty cycle got the hottest at 42c while bulky stayed at 38c. I never select any other temp, only hot. Even the clean cycle was only 41. When I had an LG made Kenmore elite, the cleaning cycle got very hot. I’m so disappointed. I’m kinda considering going back to a top loader. "

 

[appnut]

Here's my observation. All of LG's latest models being the WM3900, WM4000, WM4200, and WM4500 all have energy star ratings of 105 KWH annually and that spans tub sizes of 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 cu. ft.

Now Whirlpool, their 4.5 cu. ft. WFW5620 and WFW6620 have annual energy ratings of 105 kwh. The closet depth 4.3 cu. ft. WFW862CHW is rated at 116 kwh. It's a slightly bit smaller than the previous two mentioned, but uses more electricity. The TOL WFW8620 and WFW9620 are both 5.0 cu. ft. drums and are rat3ed at 151 kwh.

Conversely, the 3 Maytag models with sizes of 4.3, 4.8, and 5.0 cu. ft. are rated at 128, 143, and 159 KWH.

And compare that to LG's 5.0 cu. ft. models that still only use 105 kwh. Telling me the software is different for the last 3 models vs. the first two mentioned from Whirlpool and the higher usage rating is because the heater is defaulted to be used more. Another reason why I prefer Whirlpool over LG. I'll gladly use more electricity to heater maintenance. That's why I prefer a front loader with a heater.

 

[jaums]

Heater?

I was wondering about my LG WashTower's water heating. WKEX200HWA

I'd suppose use of an electric meter that shows "instant" current usage would reveal when the water heater kicks in? Or if it heats at various levels, a low level might be difficult to detect what with all of the motors/pumps running off and on and at various speeds?

 

[jerrod_six]

Years ago I bought Kill-0-Watt meter. You plug it into your electric socket, then plug your appliance or whatever into it. You can set the meter to display watts, volts, etc. in real-time. I plugged my washer into it and set it to display amps. From this, I can see when the heater is activated on the machine, so I know which cycles use it the most. I bought this meter years ago so I don't know if it is still available.

 

[littlegreeny]

Correct me if I'm wrong but

Aren't energy guides based on the washer using the designated normal cycle? I doubt any washers activate the heater during the normal cycle if the temp is set to warm. It seems like Whirlpool either uses more hot water or it's dd motor or pump isn't as efficient as LG's.

 

[appnut]

David, I've looked up the energy start rating for my current Duet and it's stated as using 114 kwh/year. In the 9 years I've had the washer, I've used the "Normal/Casual" cycle les than 10 times. And the first 6 years I refused to use the cycle. With Combo52' suggestion, I did try it a few times with using Hot water. but it still mixes warm and cold water with hot and it uses so little water and it cools down so quickly in the 10 minute wash of normal soil, it's tepid to cool at best when it drains. It's unacceptable to me and clothes still put off an odor during that first spin from the vent signifies things aren't satisfactorily clean. that's the only time I have the problem,. but then again, I'm educated and am not stupid to use Normal cycle for most things. I want warm and I want hot. I won't settle for dumbed down temperatures. the same with my dishwasher. I will add heat to water.

 

[logixx]

LG's don't seem to use their heater much. Continuation of the FB thread.

"I’m so frustrated. The initial fill is always hot, the temp will read 50-56c, then it starts filling with cold water till it hits 40c. You would think heavy duty and whitest whites might use water hotter than that but nope. I don’t wanna have to use sanitize just to get hot water."

 

[tomdawg]

LG Turbo wash

I have an LG Turbowash

As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have any gunk built up in the jet zones- using a clean tub option followed by a washing machine cleaner will help solve this issue.

Wash to rinse:
Dirt from the initial wash had already been rinsed away. LG uses spray rinses while spinning to help flush out the extra soap residue/dirt from the clothes, tub and pump. The remaining residue/dirt from the previous load is very minimal.

I can’t answer the question on the heater, but I have noticed that on a larger load. The wash cycle is adjusted accordingly. (Wash time, spin time, rinse time and the amount of water used)

 

[iiijohnnymaciii]

Thanks!

I appreciate all the help and insight.

The reason I ask is that I’ve come to the realization that I’m going to have to go with stacked units. My laundry room is the size of a closet and I’ve tried to make it work in a 9 x 4 room with a top loader, dryer, 100 gallon water heater, cat liter box, water dish and food bowl. It’s just not feasible and I’m going to have to go back to stacked front loaders.

My old front loaders were Maytag 4000 series with the heater (basically Whirlpool duets without the extra rinse option). They were excellent at stain removal, but poor at rinsing. So, this tax season I’m getting some front loaders. Right now I’ve been looking at the stacked Speed Queen without a heater, but two extra rinses. The LGs with the Turbo Wash and heater, the new GEs, and now added the Whirlpools and Maytags with the suggestions in this thread.

Since I have a water heater 1 foot away from the washer I have no issue getting 145 degree hot water into the machine within seconds so I’m not sure if I would benefit from a heater unless they work in a manner that stabilized the was water temp during long wash cycles.

 

[jaums]

LG WashTower

I have had my LG WashTower WKEX200HWA for a few months and recommend it. Very satisfied that it does much better than my previous front loader.

It comes already stacked, so you don't need to lift the dryer onto the washer.

As I said in an earlier post, I don't know when the heater works. I found Emporia Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring Smart Outlet that, with their app, will keep record of usage over time of what's plugged into it. 11 bucks, so I ordered it to satisfy my curiosity about the machine's use of the heater. Hopefully will work for my purposes.

 

[appnut]

Jaums, tihs is what I've figured out. Your washer has 6 cycles plus Sanitary as a special cycle. Your hot is the equivalent most likely of other LG front loader's Extra Hot. Your very warm is most likely Hot. Steam s an option for Normal, Heavy Duty, and Bedding. One of the Downloaded cycles include Whitest Whites and Allergene. Those two cycle most likely use the heater and I think steam is an option for both of those also. Your smart plug will be able to show you when the heater is engaged. And steam option will also do the same.

 

[littlegreeny]

Bob,

I agree with you about hot washes. My point about the energy guides is the annual usage is based on the energy used to agitate and spin the clothes and run the drain pump, and also based on the energy used by your water heater to heat the water used during the normal cycle. I doubt any washer engages the built-in heater during the normal wash cycle. So perhaps WP washers use more hot water than LGs, causing their annual usage to be higher?

 

[jaums]

LG WashTower Water Heating

I ran a load yesterday with the washer plugged into an Emporia Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring | 15A WiFi Smart Outlet.

Watching electric usage on the Emporia app as it ran:

First, it seems to use about 1.20 watts on standby--plugged in, not doing anything.

As the Normal cycle ran, usage varied a lot, second by second, as drum movements and TurboWash kept changing but was, I'd say, surprisingly low.

I need to look into the Emporia app--it looks like it doesn't store the second by second data--unfortunately, now I cant find the second by second watts for yesterday's load.

I paused the cycle to reach in and see how warm the water was. It didn't feel warm at all. I didn't run the water to clear the cold water in the pipes, so the water going in was room temp.

While paused, I upped the temp one notch, elec usage didn't change so I paused again an upped temp to max. Then usage went up significantly and the drum began pausing between rotation sessions, I assume to add time for the heater to heat the water. Seems that at all water temp settings, the Normal cycle doesn't heat except on the max temp setting.

I'll try other cycles. I also want to to either find out how to get historic data from the Emporia app or how to capture it before it's dumped.

 

[appnut]

That's to be expected that on Normal the hottest temperature would trigger the heater only then. I remember other people years ago reporting expected "Hot" on normal yielded at best what we consider warm. Heavy Duty and Whitest Whites hopefully will yield higher temps as well as hopefully bedding.