More Water Please!!!

[soapnsuds]

I should have known better (and I did, but I didn't listen to myself!) that a new LG would use even LESS water then my old LG...and it DOES. Plus, the recirculator hardly comes on at all! Anyone know how to get the water level up (there's no water plus option and I've used the perm press cycle) and stay up on all cycles? I even tryed to add a few gallon via the detergent port on top of the machine, but after about two gallons, the machine kicks into drain and drains off the excess water! (Curses!)
It's an LG TROMM, Model WM0642HW.

I LOVE front loaders and have used them most of my adult life, but these new machines are getting crazy! I don't care what you say, you CAN'T wash 21 bath towels in a teaspoon of water. I'm about ready to bring the 1978 Frigidaire 1/18 back in and use it.

Any suggestions on how to get the water lever up?

Thanks Everbody! -- James

 

[joeekaitis]

" . . . you CAN'T wash 21 bath towels in a teaspoon of water."

Well, there's yer prahblem! (a la Adam Savage on "Mythbusters") Yer s'posed to be using a TABLESPOON of water.

 

[washerman8]

IMO, nothing beats an old fashioned toploader to get those clothes clean and smelling fresh. Clothes get to swim in enough water and leave all the dirt and pet hair behind.

 

[rinso]

If you had pet hair issues, there was nothing better than one of the TL machines that actively pumped water through a filter. And, I'm not talking about those placebo underwater jobbies like the DD WP/KM use. Although IMHO, Burpolators and Maytag agitator filters were not quite as effective, they were better than nothing, which is what is in use today. Of course, GE Filter Flo and waterfall types were awesome for this purpose.

 

[decodriveboy]

Return the LG

and get the Frigidaire 3.5 cubic foot front loader.

I removed the awful smoked lens, and then tricked out the pressure switch on it (see earlier thread MY FRIGIDAIRE MODIFICATION).

Wonder if any of the appliance manufacturers see this site and deduct that many customers want more than a cup of water to wash and rinse their clothes? Hmmmm....??

 

[sudsman]

James

I have 2 of the same machines here. Besides the service problems, And the constant leaking doors, Thats is the one thing that I hate most about them . A cup of water is not enough to wash in. I have tried every way I can figure to get more water in, and they either pump it right out or give a message code and stop. If you figure out a way to get more water let me know.. The Perm press cycle and comfort cycle do give more water but then it is only 95 degrees no matter what you incoming water at the faucet is.. I hate it when they down temp. the water

 

[appnut]

What I don't understand is, how can doors leak when there's hardly any water in there lol.

 

[hoovermatic]

Apart from the pet hair issue, does your laundry come clean in your LG?

 

[sudsman]

Bob

The doors are not good and tight to start with.. There is always a "puddle of water "outside these .. No big deal here but at a home I would be quite irate.

 

[soapnsuds]

Thanks everyone!

Well, by the sounds of it, I'm stuck with washing my clothes in a teaspoon of water! (Thanks Joe for the good laugh!! Well, I still have my 1/18 out in the garage and if something doesn't come clean,(which they haven't. I got mud on my pants the other day and it didn't come out) I'll just go out there and fire it up and do a load out there. Thanks Sudsman for the temp info on the perm press cycle. I complained to LG as to why the water was cold when I checked the load several times, even though it was on warm. So now it boils down to cold washes on the perm press cycle if I want to wash my clothes in water. Otherwise, if I want hot or warm, I have to use the cotton cylcle and I guess it uses hot/warm AIR to wash the clothes!
Thanks again everyone. Please keep me updated if anyone finds a way to get some water into these machines! Jeezz, with all of us on here, you'd think ONE of us would know someone who knew someone who worked at LG or somewhere, who could tell us how to do this. I mean its a computer after all. It's probabaly something simple like, turn the dial three times, press the spin button once, then hold down the extra rinse button for 5 seconds, turn the dial three more times, clap your hands once and viola! extra high water level. lol!!
Take care ---James

 

[sudsman]

James

I have known several repairmen that have worked for L G the last one was VERY good. None of them last more than 2 or 3 mons. as LG treats them so BAAAD!

 

[decodriveboy]

James

Did you complain to them also about the water levels?

 

[logixx]

Energy Star vs. Flexibility

That's what I don't like about the US washers: there's no (hardly any) flexibility.

Our washers over here use very little water, too. However, there's always the option of increasing the water level by just a push of a button. By default, our washer uses 49 liters to wash a 6 kilo load (wash and three rinses) but if I want to, I can increase the water comsumption to over 80 liters. (see link below)

I think it would be better, if all washers had an option to run a cycle in either an energy saving mode or with more water. Fisher & Paykel's version of the Cabrio works like that.

More power to the user!

 

[decodriveboy]

Energy Star can go suck a nut.

I get tired of being so negative about this issue, but it continues to irk me incredibly.

I wish European washing logic could make its way over here. The link you posted shows a washing scenario which I have yet to see on any machine here in the U.S.!

I won't be buying any new appliances until the stupid restrictions change.

 

[launderess]

I'm Sorry

But do not understand what is so special about draining wash water, then filling with fresh water (rinsing), without spinning before hand. My Miele does this for the Gentle, PP, and Woolens cycles.

As for "tricking" cycles, it is pretty obvious appliance makers do not want person fooling around with water levels. Why is anyone's guess, ranging from fears of potential damage, to worrying about the government complaining that these "water saving" washing machines are not what they are supposed to be once gotten home.

One thing to consider is many modern front loaders have very poor bearing/seals compared to some TOL models and or many vintage ones. Someone posted a link to a Swiss made washing machine that used water above the axis for rinsing. That surely means the bearings and seals are designed to such exposure on a routine basis. Most of today's American front loaders have the tubs and bearings together as one unit, and use some MOL or even BOL quality. Commercial front loaders are designed for easy bearing replacement, as some TOL front loaders. You can replace the bearings on a Miele, but the cost and effort may make one think twice. However the appaling six year average lifespan of many front loaders today is because of the piss poor bearing/seals which cannot last. Now if one starts adding more water that is surely going to hasten wear on such systems.

Personally think we are going to see a huge backlash against water puny washing machines, as well as a large market for "vintage" washing machines, especially top loaders. You can bet many people who bought new homes and kicked those "old" washing machines and dishwashers to the curb for something new may be kicking themselves later. A good top loading washing machine with simple mechanical controls from say even the 1960's through 1980's will outlast much of the garbarge out there today. You pass landfills, appliance dumps and all you see are today's "electronic" controlled units for miles.

L.

 

[decodriveboy]

Thank you Launderess (as usual!)

and I hope to see your predictions come true. Better hang on to those "old-fashioned" top loaders guys, just in case!

I would rather have my machine die an early death from being modified to work to my satisfaction, than being forced to live with it as it was originally programmed. A very peeved customer I would be if that was the case, left with smelly clothes!

And when the Frig does crap out (sooner than later I'm sure) you can bet I will be out there, bargaining for a good vintage set instead of buying some new model with asinine features.

 

[soapnsuds]

Launderess, I agree with you! I have an ASKO set out in the garage that I got tired of using that does the same thing. It washes, spins once, then rinses three times before it spins again. What's the point of rinsing if your not gonna spin the soapy water out first? But it DOES have the extra high water button which gives it a lot more water, but I got tired of such small loads and I feel it was just to harsh on my clothes.

Deco-yes I complained to LG about that too. Their response was that's what the roller jets are for, to scoop the water up and spray it on the clothes! (Don't you have to have water in the tub FIRST, to scoop up over the clothes??!!).

Suds-..and the LG guys weren't able to help with the water level or anything?? I think I'm going to call Best Buy and get a tech out here and see what they can do. Maybe if I beg!?

Logixx--thanks for the link...the water level looks just like my ASKO. A friend of mine wants to buy them from me..I said yes and I'm sure I'll regret it later.

In the meantime, I think I'm gonna keep my eyes out for a nice 1990's ish model Westinghouse stackable set from a used appliance store. Had them once and THEY used some serious water.

Have a good night everyone. --James

 

[launderess]

Have to see if I kept the link to an article found on the web years ago about front loading washer designs and water efficency.

One of the things covered was the fact that once machines begin to go below a certian water level various systems need to be developed to aid in moving water through laundry. All front loading washing machines work on the principle of washing laundry by dropping it into a pool of concentrated water/detergent; and to and extent against other laundry/drum of the machine. However with very low water use this is not possible easily as there is too little water for "dropping" into. Article went on to explain about various coping systems to over come the problem such as spray injectors.

Spray injectors were used in front loading washing machines long before LG came on the scene, with even some commercial units having the feature. Problem is the more "features" one introduces to a front loader, the more complicated it becomes which drives up the cost of an already expensive design model.

Rinsing is a process of diluton, and even spraying water at the wash isn't going to help much with low water levels. This is why even when the wash cycles may be skimpy with water, rinses usually get a tad more water. There is also the problem that front loading washers are VERY sensitive to excess foam. This means detergents need to be rinsed out throughly if proper rinsing and spinning is to take place. Otherwise the machine simply will not be able to cope, not spin, and leave one with wet and soapy laundry.

There are many ways to rinse in a front loader, some more water hogging than others. My Miele uses two or three deep rinses with no spins in between to dilute detergent out of the laundry. There is one quick 30 second spin between the third and forth rinse, then a long high speed spin after the fourth rinse, then another final rinse before final spin sequence. By "deep rinse", my Miele does just that, using the default water level for "Delicates" which has water nearly 1/4 up the window. IIRC each rinse uses about 10-12 gallons of water, maybe a bit more. However when combined with the proper HE detergent, all but the most over soaped loads are cleanly rinsed by the fifth and final rinse.

Now many modern front loaders will cool the suds, drain, and go straight to spin, then one, two or three rinses with between spins and or spray rinses to force detergent out of laundry. How effective this is again will depend upon several factors including load size in relation to water levels, and detergent used.

 

[westyslantfront]

All I can say is, why is the government penalizing washing machines and forcing limited water levels when people still wash their cars, water their lawns, fill up their pools, and take long showers, etc.? Where is the water conservation if you have to wash items a few times to get them clean?
I have heard that people with low water flush toilets have to flush 2 or 3 times. Again, where is the savings?

Ross