Whatever happened to infinite water level control?

[supersuds]

It seems it used to be common. I know belt drive Whirlpools had it, but it seems the best anyone offers these days is a choice of a few fixed levels.

Often I feel that one level is just a bit too low for the load I'm washing, but the next level is clearly too high. While it doesn't hurt anything, it wastes water. Aren't we supposed to be more concerned about that now than they were in the bad old days?

 

[DADoES]

Being that frontloaders and HE toploaders are becoming the norm, "infinitely" variable water levels on traditional deep-fill toploaders apparently is out-the-door, no longer a concern. My F&Ps both have a much lower lowest level than is typical for a toploader. However, one thing that disappointed me on them is that the automatic water level sensing feature is limited to five discrete levels, not truly variable.

 

[frigilux]

My 2006 Frigidaire toploader has an infinite water level control----of course the SUPER (highest) setting only goes to the third row of holes from the top, which in my book is really 'medium'.

And with no adjustable pressure dome, I've gotten around the limited water level by using a picture-hanging hook and a rubber band wrapped around the water level control, which holds it into the RESET setting, thus filling the tub completely with water for large loads.

 

[gmmcnair]

Variable Water Level

Sorry for the late posting, but my Whirlpool DD T/L has infinite water levels. It's still available in their TOL stuff.

 

[funguy10]

DADoeS, What about your Calypso? That barely uses any water. Right?

 

[pturo]

"Infinate Water Level" is a misnomer and yes we need to be concerned about water savings. The thing was a dial/lever that just reported to the water pressure switch in increments instead of Low, Med, Full, or XL buttons. It should have been called "Incremental Water Level" because it was not infinite in it's setting at all: there was a beginning and there was and end and everything in between was in fact, measured, the anthisis of infinity.
I still like it though, on a Maytag. However my other Maytag that does not have it is easy to adjust while filling. If I feel it is too little water for a small load, I hit med till I think it is right then hit small again to stop filling and begin the cycle.

It is nice to have choices and really we need to be able to adjust to save water and have clean laundry.

 

[DADoES]

Marketing terms. "Infinite." Or "Variable." Which any water level control is variable, LOL.

IIRC, the slider on my sister's Maytag (A512?) moves smoothly without any ratcheting. IIRC, my grandmother's Kenmore 70 had 31 ratchets, for 32 levels total. My 1976-ish FilterFlo has 53 water levels, including Mini Wash. RJ's 1985 Whirly Imperial Seventy has 28. My KA 760 has 14 levels.

Funguy, the Calypso water level is automatic, and varies in amount of water used per how much is absorbed by the load. However, the actual level in the tub is always the same.

 

[funguy10]

How much water does the tub have in it? What do you mean by "Water Used"?