"Warm" Water Wash

9 years ago

Back in the good ol days, you could actually get a warm water wash when you chose warm. My last two washers offer the option of warm water but at the most it's tepid (if that). My hot water heater is set to 155 degrees. Is there something I can do to get a true WARM water wash?

Thanks

Featured Answer

georgect

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

With any modern day washer, they have a system called ATC (automatic temperature control).

This means it is predetermined what hot, warm and cold water temperatures are. It will mix hot and cold to meet those predetermined temps.

If they program the washer that hot is 120 degrees (even though your house hold water temp. is 155) it is going to do it's best to mix hot and cold to hit the 120 degree water temp. It wouldn't matter what your hot water temp. is set at.

You may be able to trick your washer to fill up with warm by starting the cycle on hot and letting it fill half way, pause it, then change the temperature to warm and let it continue filling. This is if pausing the machine doesn't make it drain when changing the settings.

OH, by the way why is your water heater set so high?

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Comments (11)

dadoes
9 years ago
What washing machine is involved?
monicakm_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
Whirlpool Cabrio (with the larger agitator)
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dadoes
9 years ago
MonicaKM_GW,

the specific model number of the machine would also be helpful. Not clear if this is a newer machine or older. Whirlpool has been producing "Cabrio" models for upwards of 10 years.

Adding to GeorgeCT's info ... the target water temps may be different depending on the selected cycle and soil level. For example, Warm on the Heavy Duty cycle at maximum soil level may be a higher temperature than Warm on Normal.
Jase
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
ATC. The worst thing to happen to laundry since the oxidized stain. :(
dadoes
9 years ago
ATC was an excellent feature back in the day before the "dumbing-down" of temperatures. It was very beneficial for getting a proper cold and warm wash temperature during winter months in cold climates where cold tap water may be 40°F or less. That's still the case regards to cold, not as much for warm.
Pat Z5or6 SEMich
9 years ago
whatgeorgect says.
janiceme
9 years ago
I can get a true warm on my Fisher & Paykel Washsmart when using the allergy cycle. It has 5 temperature selections ranging from cold to tap hot. Warm is really warm and I can also select water level, full is full. Very happy with this machine.
whirlpool_trainee
9 years ago
The service manual for the Whirlpool Agi is available online - but I'm pretty sure it doesn't include temperature targets. Have you tried the Normal cycle on hot? This could maybe give you a 100F wash.
monicakm_gw
Original Author
9 years ago
Sorry I'm so late getting back to this topic. Not sure why I'm not getting notifications. I think it's just a case of environmental over-regulating :( This washer is about 10 years old and starting to make "noises" like it's looking forward to retirement. I'm kinda looking forward to having to buy a new washer. I've never been happy with this one. It's torn up towels and washcloths from day one. The agitator was replaced but that didn't help. Normally all my research pays off but not this time :( I'll be looking for a washer that will allow a true warm water wash.

I have my water heater turned so high because I like hot HOT baths. Not just like them but need them for my bad back and Fibro Myalgia.
dadoes
9 years ago
MonicaKM_gw: "I'll be looking for a washer that will allow a true warm water wash."

You'll find that a large challenge. A few European brands with onboard water heating have controls labeled for specific temperatures but U.S. manufacturers/brands don't publish target temperatures so hands-on experimentation with ALL the cycles and temp choices for ALL the models of consideration is the only way to confirm them. Not unusual that machines nowadays (both TL and FL) may give a warm temp of 75°F on some cycles. Friends/GardenWebbers who have a specific model of consideration may be able to provide some info ... but even that isn't 100% because operating software is sometimes updated mid-production.