3 Types of Washers to Help You Come Clean
This is the first in a series on the latest innovations in appliances.
With marked advances in efficiency, washing machines continue to improve each year. “Washers have increased in capacity with more features added at lower prices over the past 10 years,” says Craig Washofsky of Servco Home and Appliance Distribution. “Plus, driven by Department of Energy regulations, they’ve become even more efficient.”
Here are the basics on the three types of washers and which one is right for your household.
Conventional Top Loader
A central agitator sticks up in the middle basket, cleaning clothes by turning them over while extracting water.
Pictured: GE, 4.6-Cu.-Ft. Capacity Washer
Available at Servco Home and Appliance Distribution, $779
High-Efficiency Top Loader
Opens from the top, but lacks a central agitator. Instead, it uses a central wash plate (located at the top of the machine) and different agitator patterns to move the clothing through a smaller amount of water. Sensors automatically adjust water level to match load size and soil level.
Pictured: GE 5.1-Cu.-Ft. Capacity Washer
Available at Servco Home and Appliance Distribution, $1,229.
High-Efficiency Front Loader
Holds a large volume of clothes and uses gravity to pull water though the clothing.
Pictured: GE 4.8-Cu.-Ft. Capacity, RightHeight Design Washer
Available at Servco Home and Appliance Distribution, $1,449.
FILL IT UP
When choosing a washer, capacity is an important consideration. A large-capacity machine means fewer loads, especially for family households. Fewer loads translates into less energy, detergent and water.
DID YOU KNOW?
- High-efficiency washers use 35 to 50 percent less water than agitator washers.
- The average lifespan of a wash machine is 10 years.
