LG WM3600 cycle times are SLLOOOOWWWWWW.

[kenc]

Just replaced my dead 7 year old Speed Queen front loader with a middle of the road LG, the WM3600.

So far it seems decent, it's quiet, has a very fast spin, but boy, is it SLOW?

Using the "Normal" cycle, a mid sized load takes 2 hours! This is only using extra hot, and extra fast spin modifiers. Normal soil level.
I tried heavy duty, it was the same.

Strange thing is, we did a large load of towels - much more stuff than before, and it "quoted" 57 minutes at us! Why would a large load take half the time of a mid load?

Any feedback from other 3600 and similar machine owners?

The manual is dismal with no cycle times, the online FULL manual is not much better just stating the obvious that soil level will affect cycle times.

 

[appnut]

The large load of towels, what cycle did you use? I can give you a whole litany of explanation of cycles. I have an LG4500 and it's not much different than your 3600.

Normal & Heavy Duty, the heater does not come on at all except for extra hot temperature. For heavy duty cycle, hot is regulated incoming to 112F; warm is regulated at 90F max. On Normal, hot is regulated to 90-95F max. Warm is regulated to 84-86F.

For Whites, Perm Press, Towels, and Bulky/Bedding, Hot is maximum of 112F, once that temp is reached heater turns off and doesn't come on to mtaintain temp. Warm is 90F max and no heater to mataintain temp. Steam option of Bedding and Whtes, hottest temperature at heaviest soil temp is targeted at best to 158-162F. Sanitize cycle, max temp is 155-158F. Steam on Sanitize is 158-162. If you used the Towels cycle for your large load f towels, the 57 minutes was about the max wash time and again is restricted to a max of 112F. For daily loads of general clothes, I use Perm Press and warm and adjust spin speed depending upon fabric. When using extra hot on Normal or Heavy uty, there is no target temperature. If temp maxes out before end of wash phase (155-158) heater shuts off and waits until drain for main wash. I think it's stupid Towels doessn't offer extra hot, but that cycle is also intended for washing jeans and denim. When I wash towels, I just use Normal or Heavy Duty, extra hot temperature and heaviest soil level (for longest amount of water heating) and add the maximum extra rinses.

Depending upon just how hot I want extra hot to get, I will vary the soil level from lowest to soil level just above normal soil level to vary heating time.

Today I did a good size load of flannel lounge pants,jersey long-sleeve t-sirts, and sox on Normal, Hot (so I could have 95F-104F "warm water wash", normal soil level, and 2 extra rinses (and Turbowash is default to on) and extra high spin speed. the load sensed and yielded cycle time of 1:30. By the time the load was finished, it had reduced the cycle time by 16 minutes.

I used the quick wash once and only once. It does no spins between wash and any rinses and only spins for the final spin. totally useless as far as I'm concerned. I"ll use Normal wash and lightest soil level. I"ve actually found Perm Press to be faster than Normal for a quick washon lightest soiil level and no or 1 extra rinse compared to normal with the same options.

I just realized your model doesn't offer TurboWash. And to be honest, that feature makes a big difference in cycle length. I can tell a difference in cycles when I don't use that option if it's not forced on. [this post was last edited: 1/15/2023-01:35]

 

[henene4]

I was about to say 2 things.

A) is your model dosen't offer TurboWash, which I would always recommend. Better, faster saturation, spray rinsing etc.

B) is you chose Extra Hot. Any temp up to "Hot" should have normal runtimes. "Extra Hot" has a very long added heating phase. Unless they have massively changed things, right after the initial sensing, you can pause and alter the temp and see the time change. Between hot and extra hot, time difference could be up to an hour.

 

[kenc]

As you both say - no turbowash on this model. When my SpeedQueen FL died, I hastily looked for a replacement washer. I found a review online which stated that this model DID have turbowash, so I was disappointed to see otherwise once it arrived. For a measly extra $100 it would have been worth it.

Aha, so it is insisting on "extra hot" which raises the cycle time? I will be more selective in my choice of hot or extra hot.

Even the full mnanual is useless - no indication of water temps or cycle times, where did you compile all that data from appnut?

It's interesting to me that so many people insist on a heater, but no one talks about the downside of extended runtime when you actually get to use the heater. What' more the heater function seems to be limited to certain scenarios, not as a general aid to maintaining temperature which I would've expected?

 

[appnut]

Ken, I share your frustation particularly with the heater not mtaintaining temp. The WP Duet I had for almost 11 years could do exactly that--maintain temp once reached during wash phase. The LG is simply designed differently. A former member here, who is as obsessed as me, provided me with some of the target temp information he'd put together and then I built upon that. He has had nothing but LG washer for the past 10-15 years. To see what water temperature is you can push the delay wash and then add temp button at the same time. Display will show temperature in C, not F. Deay wash and spin will show spin speed rpm.

A week ago,. I did two separate loads of towels. One was 6 terry bath mats I use to put outside my shower and the other load was 10 sets of bath towels, cloths, and hand towels. The settings were exactly the same for both loads, but the towel load after sensing was 58 minutes more for the heavy load.

My home's electrical system is based upon 208V rather than standard 220/240V. It impact heating, making it take longer. It's never been an issue with me as the Duet compensated for the additional time to heat. the Duet had specified temps. Warm 95-100, Hot 127, Allergiene 131, and Sanitize 158.

I have to admit, I couldn't remember if the 3600 had TW or not as I remember the 3600 was released before the 3900. This series was LG's new Turbowash 360 design. Yes, I've noticed misleading information regarding features in online reviews too.

 

[kenc]

appnut,
Thanks for the temp and spin display info, I shall try that.

I just put in a load - heavy duty - hot wash (not extra), normal soil, extra fast spin and it still says 2Hours! So it's not extra hot which determines the extra time.

 

[appnut]

Ken, keep track of what time you began cycle and what time the cycle actually ends as opposed to what the display shows at beginning of cycle. May end up being less than the 2 hours.

 

[mark_wpduet]

So just to be clear...turbo wash does shorten cycle times, right? Wow too bad you got the model without it... One things for sure... don't trust that timer...it could be up to 20 min's off

@ appnut - are you still happy with your LG?

 

[kenc]

Cycles definitely tend to shorten as they go. I think the 2 hr cycle ended up more like 1hr-40, still painfully long. I don't get why it spends so long on the final spin, I haven't clocked it, but it seemed like at least 15 minutes spinning!

The delay+ spin and delay+temp don't work on my machine, the display seems locked once the cycle is underway.

I tried a load with perm_press +hot +fast spin +light load and it was 49 minutes.

I think I'll be experimenting for a while.

 

[appnut]

Ken, are you using extra high spin speed on normal or heavy duty? If so, yes they extend the final spin. I've reverted to usig extra high spin speed because my electricity rate increased in September so I welcome the long spin for towels and other cottons.

Yes Mark, I"m stil happy with my LG now that I've got many of the idiocyncracies worked out.

 

[kenc]

appnut,

Yes, until experimenting today, I've used extra high spin exclusively, I didn't know it mean extra long duration as well?

What are the various spin speeds?

 

[ryner1988]

Bob, your 4000-series washer is intriguing

Honestly, the more I hear about this washer, both here and elsewhere, the more I would love to have one. Makes me wish I would have sprung for it instead of buying the used DD. The DD works for my household but I think this machine could be great.

I can't imagine ever not using Turbo Wash on it though. Is there ever an occasion when you don't use it, or do you just leave TW enabled at all times? I don't think I would buy the model without it, that would be a deal breaker for me.

Also, do you think I could learn how to keep track of the cycles on the dial and eventually learn how to set them independently? I know I would need the app for the touch panel portion as that's completely visual, but I'm wondering if I could learn to count clicks on the dial to which cycle I want. For instance, if I'm understanding right, I know that the first turn to the right after turning the washer on is always normal, no matter where you left the dial last. So I'm wondering if I could work this machine by counting clicks from that point, for instance, four clicks after normal is always heavy duty, or something to that effect. Then use the phone to make modifications.
I LIKE MY DD because it's so easy for me to set that old-school type of washer non-visually and independently, but I know I'm going to have to face this electronic reality eventually.

 

[mattl]

Interesting discussion.  I find it interesting how LG uses the heater.  What would make sense to me would be for the machine to measure the incoming hot and use that as a starting point rather than temper it and then heat it.  I keep my Hot water at 150 degrees, it would be dumb to cool it just to heat it back up.

 

One thing I did on one of my Duets was add a resistor to the thermister circuit to get hotter water to wash with. On the Duet it's easy since it's right up front and easy to get at.

 

[mrboilwash]

Matt, I think you`re wrong on this one.
I does make a lot of sense to temper the incoming water and then reheat it at least if cleaning efficiency is a priority.
Even if the enzymes in a detergent aren`t bothered that much up to 60°C/140°F some stains are certainly altered by 150°F incoming water thus becoming harder or even impossible to shift.

You could easily remove the worst nightmare blood stains with a 1950s Miele in a boil wash cycle using a simple no enzyme 1950s detergent but this would always involve a cold start to warm prewash followed by again a cold start boil wash.

There`s a good reason for not starting with the desired target temperature!
It only makes sense to start warm if central water supply is much cheaper than heating the water in the washer or if heating in the washer would take forever like in the USA because of the low Voltage system and then it`s still a compromise.
As much as I favor 95°C washes, if I had to deal with a washer depending on incoming water temperature only I`d never go above 120°F.

 

[petek]

I have the wm3700 and we only use the Reg or Heavy Duty cycle 90% of the time. I have noticed that the initial time given often drops a good 10 or 15 minutes somewhere during the cycle, maybe more. As for the Speed Wash (15 minutes) I like it and use it frequently for 2 or 3 items like a pair of jean and a couple of Tees. It's set for a low soil level but you can nudge it up so that it adds more wash time plus you can add a second rinse etc. I have no complaints with the machine, dirty clothes go in and clean clothes come out.

 

[kenc]

I just tried the steam option on four sofa pillows (damn dogs!). It defaults the temp to off which I guess makes sense, but also the soil level is defaulted off.
Is this correct?

Also, I set up the wifi connectivity, hoping that might allow me to see spin speed and water temp as appnut specified above, but it does not.

 

[suburbanmd]

Reply #4

Bob, if your Duet was 120V, as I assume it was, it got 120V+/- from your home's 208V system. It's the "240V" outlets that are shortchanged by a 208V system. My Little Giant washer has a 5000W heating element, but it only puts out around 3700W on my condo's 208V supply.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I wonder what the wash times are on the Whirlpool and Maytag FL washers? I know they all have recirculation (from what I've seen)... whereas LG has turbo wash on "certain" models only...

I guess it's all what you get used to and working things out... I remember when I first got my Duet... I HATED it... I was sooo disappointed.. but I knew I had to work with it and I ended up slowly falling in love with it. Now I dread the day it dies.

It would be awesome to have a FL washer that used the same voltage as the dryer...Most people in American probably never heard of a boil wash... I'm jealous of Euro washers sometimes.

 

[appnut]

Jay, thank you for the information.

Ken, you are correct, selecting steam negates any control of soil level as well as temperature. AND when steam is selected, you cannot do a prewash. I tried steam once and that was it. Usually, when I need the highest temperature possible, the load also requires a prewash to not set th4e various food stains. I discovered by accident the downloaded Denim cycle and selecting extra hot and heaviest soil level, results in a wash phase that's 45 or 50 minutes longer than Sanitize with heaviest soil or Heavy Duty with extra hot and heaviest soil. That extra time allows for water temperature heating to reach 158-162/163.

One "benefit" of my house saddled with 208V, allows me to have some variation of hot water temperatures ranging from 135 to 162 degrees based upon cycle selected and minimum to maximum soil levels. Have I mentioned just how much I detest the standard (energy star) hot water tempearture set point design of 112 max as detestable? I mean, back when washer had a "medium" wash temp in the 1950s, that thermostatically was a whopping 120 degreees, a nice midpoint between 100 and 140 degrees for warm and hot water temps. Thus my profound appreciation and respect for European decades-old "boil washes" that results in bright whites and stains being obliterated with oxygenated bleach detergents. Results I personally never attained with liquid chlorine bleach.