topic Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines in Home

Water temperature setting for washing machines

drizzellla — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 23:23:01 GMT

I washed a dark load of wash with some of my husband's alpaca socks.The water setting was on "cool". I figured it has been cold lately so cool would be fine.

I decided to scrub the sink that the water from the washer empties into. And happened to touch the wash water as it emptied from the washer. It was WARM! I would have been very comfortable taking a shower in the same temperature. So I double checked and the temperature was set on cool.

Makes me wonder what the warm and hot settings feel like.

I can't wait until my husband wears his alpaca socks. I hope they stretch.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

x Hedge — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:00:41 GMT

@drizzellla

maybe someone closed (or partially closed) the cold water inlet valve for some reason, and never fully opened it later .

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

drizzellla — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:07:25 GMT

@x Hedge wrote:
@drizzellla
maybe someone closed (or partially closed) the cold water inlet valve for some reason, and never fully opened it later .

The water inlet valve has not been touched since my washer and hoses were installed about 2-3 years ago. I will have to check that out.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

Katcat1 — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:48:02 GMT

I never heard of a Cool setting. Hot, Cold, warm, that's it.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

Carmie — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:52:28 GMT

My washing machine has a cool setting. The water is luke warm.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

x Hedge — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 01:12:05 GMT

@drizzellla ,

Other possibility is slim...but the better washer hoses have built in screens.

If there's been any work on road/water supply in your area, there could have been a dump of fine, sand-like particles. The screen on the cold hose could be blocked.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

drizzellla — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 02:19:37 GMT

@x Hedge wrote:
@drizzellla ,
Other possibility is slim...but the better washer hoses have built in screens.

If there's been any work on road/water supply in your area, there could have been a dump of fine, sand-like particles. The screen on the cold hose could be blocked.

Good idea. But after I felt how warm the wash water was, I changed the water choice to cold. And the rinse water was cold.

But I will check the hose screens. I haven't noticed any sediment in the kitchen faucet but you never know. Thanks

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

AuntG — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 02:22:45 GMT

Some washers have a cold and a cool setting, with cool having a percentage of hot water mixed in. I think some manufacturers carry it too far. Hot, warm and cold is sufficient for my laundry.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

drizzellla — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 02:29:39 GMT

@AuntG wrote:
Some washers have a cold and a cool setting, with cool having a percentage of hot water mixed in. I think some manufacturers carry it too far. Hot, warm and cold is sufficient for my laundry.

I have 5 different temperature settings on the washer. I am going to try them all now and see the difference. I certainly don't need 5..

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

ECBG — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 03:37:17 GMT

Our washer and dryer are about 2 months old. I had a favorite black top, 100% cotton. My first wash was on cool. The thing shrunk a size!!!

Now I fiddle around until the water stays on on cold. I had to rebuy the top!!!!!!! But at least I have it!

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

FranandZoe — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 03:53:32 GMT

My washer is 3 months old and I have a cool setting too. Also a cold and a tap cold setting whatever that means.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

Carmie — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 03:54:34 GMT

My washer has a tap water, cold, cool, warm and hot water choices. I use the tap water setting in the summer time, but during the winter, it is freezing, so I usually use the cold settings.

The cool water setting is luke warm. There is nothing wrong with my washer or hoses. I have a newer washer and it is designed to be this way.

I think the OP has a similar type of washer settings that I do.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

Desertdi — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 05:26:01 GMT

How can a washing machine CHILL the water? We have warm tap water in Phoenix all summer long......

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

sissel — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 06:05:15 GMT

@DesertdiLOL yes we never know cold water when it's over 100 degrees. OK so I just looked I have tap water, cold, cool, warm & hot I had no idea I have this. I use cold for most unless towels, use hot. I got to pay more attention, wish my dryer had a fold dial.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

giddy up — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 03:11:38 GMT

@FranandZoe wrote:
My washer is 3 months old and I have a cool setting too. Also a cold and a tap cold setting whatever that means.

I have a Whirlpool agitator washer that has 5 settings, hot, warm, cool, cold, tap cold.

I know this.... warm - hot will sometimes mix with cold to meet the manufacturers temp setting (MTS) for warm

hot - will be straight hot water no mixing on my machine.

cool - cold will mix with hot at times to meet MTS for cool

cold- cold will sometimes mix with hot to meet MTS for cold

tap cold - will never mix with hot. Whatever the temp of the tap is what you get.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

CelticCrafter — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 15:39:28 GMT

@giddy up wrote:
@FranandZoe wrote:
My washer is 3 months old and I have a cool setting too. Also a cold and a tap cold setting whatever that means.
I have a Whirlpool agitator washer that has 5 settings, hot, warm, cool, cold, tap cold.

I know this.... warm - hot will sometimes mix with cold to meet the manufacturers temp setting (MTS) for warm

hot - will be straight hot water no mixing on my machine.

cool - cold will mix with hot at times to meet MTS for cool

cold- cold will sometimes mix with hot to meet MTS for cold

tap cold - will never mix with hot. Whatever the temp of the tap is what you get.

MY GE top load with an agitator is a month old and it has the above settings plus one more. In between the cool and warm is one for colors.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

AuntG — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 16:31:22 GMT

@FranandZoe wrote:
My washer is 3 months old and I have a cool setting too. Also a cold and a tap cold setting whatever that means.

--------

@FranandZoe maybe COLD pulls in some ice cubes from the refrigerator's ice maker- LOL. When my neighbor bought hers, she asked the difference between COLD and COLD TAP and the saleslady admitted she didn't know.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

FranandZoe — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 18:49:25 GMT

As a last resort I read the manual lol. Apparently in some areas they feel the tap water is too cold to clean the clothes adequately thus the cold is more of a cool. And cool is more of a lukewarm.

Thanks everyone.

LOL about the ice cubes Auntg!

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

drizzellla — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 21:36:54 GMT

Out of curiosity I washed a light colored load of wash. I put the temperature selector on cool. I wanted to check the temperature of the cool water. It was definitely cool water.

So when I put in a dark colored load, the cool setting is warm. And I put in a light colored load, the cool setting is cool.

I don't get it. I am getting too old for these guessing games. My washing machine has now become a game of chance.

Re: Water temperature setting for washing machines

Rockycoast — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 01:32:17 GMT

After reading these posts I went and checked my washer. It has 6 temperature settings. Tap cold, cold, cool, colors, warm and hot. With the exception of Tap cold, I have used all the others. Never even noticed the Tap cold. It is a GE. Not a brand I would usually purchase but it had a real agitator so I bought it. Works well.