Washers

Did your washer just quit on you? Or are you simply ready to upgrade your laundry room ? No matter the case, we’re here to help guide you to the choice that works best for your family.

Should I Get a Front-Load or Top-Load Washer?

Whether you get a top-load or front-load washer depends on your preferences and ergonomics, but here’s a quick rundown on what you need to know.

Top-load washers are classic and use an agitator with attached paddles to move your laundry from the top to the bottom of the machine to loosen up dirt and stains. The top-load design is beneficial for adding that extra sock after the load has started and for not having to bend over so much.

Front-load washers use impellers (those are connected disks at the bottom) to rotate your clothes around the drum through the water, which actually ends up being easier on your clothes, and they come out cleaner too. Additionally, the front-load design means you can stack your washer and dryer to save space in your home.

How Much Water Do Washers Use?

To put it simply, the amount of water your machine uses depends on the type of washer and which model you have.

According to Consumer Reports, top-loaders typically use the most water, with the least water-efficient models topping out at 25-26 gallons of water (greatly improving on older models that used to use 40). However, some newer models use closer to 20 gallons of water per cycle.

If those numbers worry you, consider a high-efficiency top-load washer that uses about 12-17 gallons of water per load and still has that top-load design—minus the agitator.

Front-loaders win when it comes to water consumption: they only use about 7 gallons of water per cycle, with some less-efficient models reaching about 13 gallons. So, if water- and energy-efficiency are your main concerns when buying a new washer, a front-load is the way to go.

Keep in mind that front-loaders and high-efficiency top-loaders take longer to run through each cycle!

What Capacity Do I Need?

Your ideal washer capacity all depends on the type of items you plan to wash and the size of your laundry loads.

Only doing laundry once or twice a week? Then a standard capacity of 3.1 or 4.0 cu. ft. is ideal, as it lets you wash between 12 and 16 pounds of laundry.

Does your laundry pile never seem to end? Consider larger-capacity models that range between 4.2. and 5.0 cu.f.t., and wash 20 pounds or more of laundry every cycle. Conquer the family laundry pile!

What capacity do you need for your queen- or king-size comforter? Depending on the bulk, a 3.5 cu. ft. washer (minus agitator) fits a queen, while a 5.2 cu. ft. washer can do a king-size comforter, plus your sheets too!

Have more questions? Such as, what features to consider, which detergent type to use , or how to wash your fall apparel ? Don’t hesitate to give us a call ! From our family to yours, we’ll make sure you get what you need!