New Whirlpool FL Washers Use MORE Water

[joe_in_philly]

Comparing similar models, the new models appear to use more water and energy based on Energy Star website information. Although Whirlpool's FL washer's performance is rated fairly highly rated by consumer reports, perhaps Whirlpool realized that they needed to use more water and possibly higher temps to increase performance. I think that is a good thing. Hopefully they didn't decrease the top final spin speed, which is 1400RPM in the current model.

The WFW94HEA* model is the current model, and the WFW95HED* model will be coming out soon.

Some Observations:
1) The Modified Energy Factor (MEF). The higher the value, the more efficient the washer. The new model has a lower MEF.

2) The Water Factor (WF). The lower the value, the more water efficient the washer. The new model has a higher WF.

3) The Annual Water Used is 4582.87 for the old model, and 5280.24 for the new model.

[this post was last edited: 4/2/2014-16:21]

 

[mrb627]

A Good Thing...

Now if they would just do something about those GOD AWFUL KNOBS!

Malcolm

 

[joe_in_philly]

I think the new knob (top control panel) looks better than the old one.

 

[frigilux]

I noticed the same thing in the Consumer Reports ratings. The very similar Whirlpool-made Maytags are rated as Excellent in water efficiency, while the upper-end Whirlpools are rated Very Good, leading one to assume they use a bit more water than the Maytags.

I prefer the Whirlpool 98 model to the top-of-the-line Maytag 8000 due to added flexibility in using the Extra Hot water setting in several cycles. You don't have to choose the Sanitize cycle, which is really, really long on the PoolTags.

 

[jerrod6]

This would be great news if a manufacturer finally realized that their units are not using enough water. The new model looks to have a slightly larger volume, so I wonder if the extra water will amount to better rinses. I guess it would if it wasn't filled to capacity but if the machine matches the water to the load size...I donno.

Hey I like knobs so no problem for me.

Will be great to see videos of these new machines.

 

[mark_wpduet]

So glad you posted this

What a relief! My Duet from 2005 is 9 years old this month. I've been DREADING the thought of buying a new front load washer over the years because each year, the water usage got lower and lower.......and now, that seems not to be the case

 

[joe_in_philly]

My HE3t is almost 11 years old, so I am trying to plan ahead when it is time to replace it.

 

[mark_wpduet]

The earlier WP made Duet's and HE3t's

must be pretty good machines. I've heard of several people mention theirs is approaching 11 years old. I think they were made in Germany, at least mine was.

 

[launderess]

Yes,

Seem to recall the early launched WP Duet washers were made in Germany

 

[a440]

Great information Joe! Thanks!
My original Kenmore Elite is almost 12 years old. W/D set. They are still working as the day they were new. I have never had an issue with the dryer except for the usual cleaning to keep it "lint-free". The washer had to have a new front seal done and it was easily done by me. (and it was my fault for the damage) It also needed a new drain pump that was so easy to fix. Everything else is original. Fantastic cleaning and I never do small loads.
Glad you posted this about the new machines.
Brent

 

[logixx]

I think the WFW 9750 was one of the last Germany-made units under the Whirlpool brand. Guess that would be the HE5t under the Kenmore name. Not sure about Maytag. The Sport models were made in Mexico.

I think the earlier models were more fun in some ways. After the interim spin, I have seen the new models come to a full stop before filling. Mine still keeps the drum at distribution speed for some time while filling and some even earlier models distributed until they stopped filling.

 

[roscoe62]

newer duets

have direct drive, how does this compare to the older machines, is it more durable or short lived?

 

[joe_in_philly]

My HE3t has a flow meter, so it measure how much water is used for the wash part of the cycle, and then does a calculation adding a certain amount extra for the rinse. So it doesn't need to measure the water level when filling for the rinses. If I divert a little water out of the drawer during the wash fill into a bucket, the rinses will fill to a much deeper level than are normal.

The newer WP FL washers, at least the models without the automatic detergent dispensers, do not have a flow meter. It is my guess that they need to be able to measure the water in the drum during the rinse fill, so they don't spin while filling. Many years ago when the duet first came out, I remember viewing a video of a whirlpool rep talking about a whirlpool patent for FL washers that involved the spin-fill - saying that it pulled more of the detergent solution out of the load for better rinsing. I believe the newer WP washer have longer spins after the wash than the older ones, increasing rinsing effectiveness. When the first FL came out in the US, low sudsing detergent wasn't as ubiquitous, so WP washers were designed with a brief spin after the wash, possibly to avoid stirring up too much suds. Ironically, the spin-fill seems to create suds, especially with loads like towels, although they quickly subside once the rinse begins.

 

[a440]

I can remember a commercial that Whirlpool had talking about "Catalyst Cleaning". It would of course show the Whirlpool Catalyst toploader spinning with the soap mixture then fresh water entering, but it also showed the Duet Spinning while fresh water entered into the drum.

 

[logixx]

Fast-forward to 5:15. I wish mine did that!

 

[joe_in_philly]

That is how mine works. There is no clean washer cycle on my washer, but the outer drum is completely clean. I think the spin fill keeps the outer drum clean.

 

[launderess]

Whirlpool - Bauknecht

IIRC first few years of the Duet series came from Whirlpool's Bauknecht factories which makes sense. That is where "larger" commercial front loaders for the German market were produced for years, thus the R&D and other expertise was already in-house as it were.

http://www.whirlpoolcorp.com/brands/bauknecht.aspx

 

[logixx]

Hm, that washer seems strangely familiar to me! ;-)

Bauknecht produced the Duets (and its siblings) from 2001 until 2012 in Germany.

 

[launderess]

Does it now ?

Wonder why that could be! *LOL*