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Plumber Tips On How To Save Energy Doing Laundry | Conway, SC
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Do you know that a family of four does an average of about 300 loads of laundry in a year? This accounts for up to 40 percent of your water consumption. Doing one of two loads a week also contributes to energy consumption at home. Thankfully, there are ways to reduce your energy consumption with your washing machines and dryer with our tips. For installing new washers, make sure that you contact a licensed plumber in Conway, SC, for assistance.
Avoid Using Warm Water When Doing Laundry
Apart from the water consumption, the energy your washing machine consumes also depends on whether or not you use hot or cold water. Remember, when you choose the hot water setting, only 10 percent of energy is used to run your washing machine, and the other 90 percent is used to heat your water. You can save up to $60 a year when you wash your clothes using cold water.
Best Time to Do Your Laundry
The time you choose to do your laundry impacts how much energy your appliance uses.
If you want to save energy, then consider doing your laundry in off-peak hours. This would be between 7 pm to 11 am the next day.
How much energy and water does your washing machine uses:
An average washing machine uses about 300-500 watts of electricity per load. A family of four may wash up to 5 loads per week which translates to about 130,000 watts per year. And the big part of the cost is heating the water. As mentioned, you can save energy when you wash your clothes with cold water.
If you don’t have an energy-efficient washer, you use up to 41 gallons of water per load. This means you consume more than 10,000 gallons of water if you wash five loads a week. To conserve water, consider investing in a high-efficient washer.
Energy-saving tips for your washing machine and dryer:
Use high-efficiency detergent – If you have a water-efficient washing machine installed at home, then ensure that you also use high-efficiency detergent. Keep in mind that regular detergent can produce an excessive amount of suds, and your washing machine uses less water. When these suds are not properly removed, your washing machine would only work harder and eventually lead to mechanical problems. Before using your energy-efficient washer, do find out what type of detergent you need to purchase. If you have questions, feel free to contact your manufacturer. For other issues with your washer, contact a plumber.
When your washer shows signs of any problems, ensure that you contact a plumber immediately so they can inspect it, diagnose the problem, and then troubleshoot it for you.
Buy an ENERGY STAR washer – Conventional washing machines use about 23 gallons of water per load, while a front-loading ENERGY STAR washer only uses 15 gallons of water per load. Washers with the ENERGY STAR label also have a larger tub capacity, improving water energy usage. That means that you get to wash the same amount of clothes with less water.
If you want to save more money, then consider buying an ENERGY STAR washer. For installation, please make sure that you only work with a licensed plumber in Conway, SC. Working with an unlicensed plumber can lead to other problems such as poor installation or inefficiency issues.
Do laundry only on full load – You can save more energy when you wash on full load than on small loads. If you need to wash fewer clothes, then change the size setting of your washer. You’re only wasting energy and water when you select “large,” and you’re only washing fewer clothes. Also, when washing, make sure that you use a high spin cycle to reduce the water retained in your clothing. This can also reduce the amount of energy your dryer uses.
When drying them, ensure that you separate them and only dry similar clothes together. For example, synthetics dry quickly compared to bath towels. You may choose to dry them separately or only dry the bath towels and dry your other clothes naturally.
Are you thinking of installing a high-efficient washer for your home? Then call one of our plumbers for installation.
Clean your dryer’s lint filter – To improve your dryer’s efficiency, then make sure that the lint’s filter is regularly cleaned, typically every time you dry your laundry. You also need to be careful with it as it’s flammable and can combust.
Set up sensor – If your dryer has a sensor, ensure that you fully utilize it. Overdrying clothes can waste so much energy. Using the sensor’s dryer can detect low moisture levels, so aren’t heating clothes that are already dry.
Use the dryer at night – Keep in mind that dryers emit heat, which can put a lot of pressure on your HVAC system. To save more energy, consider using the dryer at home. When your dryer malfunctions, please get in touch with a plumbing company in your area for assistance.
Use a low heat setting – Before using your dryer for the first time, make sure that you read the manual. The manufacturer might give you information such as which cycles or settings use the least energy. You can take advantage of this to save more energy with your dryer. Using it in a low setting can significantly help. If you have other issues with your dryer, don’t hesitate to contact a plumber.
Dry clothes naturally – The most effective way to use less energy is by air-drying your clothes. You can set up some indoor clothing racks or dry them outside. It may take time, but you also get to save money in the long run.
Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth
Do you need a plumber in Conway, SC, for washing machine installation? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Our plumbers are licensed and highly experienced with any washing machine make or model. Our team also works incredibly hard to ensure you’re delighted with our service. Contact us today for an appointment.