Interesting. Could you compare it to your washer's water factor, which is in gallons/cu ft if I recall correctly?

That is acceptable water usage for a FL, IMHO. Keep in mind that a traditional top load washer used around 20 gallons PER FILL. It does make front loaders appear stingy. Most modern FL washers use probably about 15 gallons on a standard load based on the Energy Star program of choice, but that is purely a guess. I have a Miele that is about 15 years old. I would estimate that it uses about the same amount of water as your FL machine. I also have my rinses set to high level, which adds a few gallons to each rinse.

Suburbanmd,

I knew when the washer was new Bosch claimed the Nexxt model averaged 13 gallons per load. I also remember some Nexxt models had higher gallons used per year as the 500 model used more than the top of the line 800 model.The drum volume of my 300 model is 3.81 Cu ft.

Jeff

Joel,

I know when I checking out the Electrolux 70 series washers they used anywhere from 8-12 gallons of water on their various wash cycles so it looks like newer model use even less.

But on a traditional TL machine, a 20 gallon fill is all the way to the top, right?

If your test load (8 pounds) is not a full load on a TL, then your numbers are skewed. I would estimate an 8 pound load may only be 1/2 full for a standard non-HE TL machine.

MRB

By reading up on the new front loaders I see gallons used is typically 8-13 gallons these days.

I will continue to use my Bosch Nexxt as long as I possibly can.

Jeff

I have an old school top loader, so I am sure it uses a lot when I have it on a full load, but I don't care.

"But on a traditional TL machine, a 20 gallon fill is all the way to the top, right?

If your test load (8 pounds) is not a full load on a TL, then your
numbers are skewed. I would estimate an 8 pound load may only be 1/2
full for a standard non-HE TL machine.

MRB"

Depends on the individual machine but 20 gals is typically at least close to a full fill. The old 18lbs belt-drive Whirlpools and Kenmores took 27 gals, so a FULL cycle of wash, spin-sprays, and rinse is 54+ gallons. They were redesigned toward the end of production to take a few gals less.

Regards to load size, people tend to underload their machines (of all types) per what I've noticed in YouTube videos.

My Calypso takes right at 1 gallon to initially satisfy the water level sensor (with no clothes). It adds a little more when recirculation begins to top-off the level. Of course, a load of clothes takes more for what the fabric absorbs.

I have several 5-gal buckets and plan to test my Neptune TL soon for a fill empty of clothes (both the low "normal" level and the higher "bulky" and final rinse level), and how much more a load of clothes may take.

dadoes,

Do let us know when you do your "bucket test" on your Neptune as I would like to know how much water is used.

Jeff

dadoes,

Thanks for doing the "bucket test". It gives me some idea of water use, even if it's a top loaded He.

So 8 gallons total use for a normal wash and a rinse cycle huh? What year was that machine produced?

Jeff

8 gallons JUST for the WASH. The water shown in the pics does NOT include the rinses. There are two rinses by default (3 with extra rinse selected). 1st rinse (and 2nd of 3) is at the normal fill level. Final rinse (or 3rd of 3) is at a higher level.

Serial number of the machine indicates Dec 2005 manufacture.

So how much water do the rinse cycle(s) use? Trying to get a ides on total water used.

Jeff

I can't check total consumption directly with the same load as above, I don't know exactly what was
in it by individual item and count.

However, I checked a no-clothes Quick Wash cycle yesterday evening ...
which does only a final spin (no spin after wash or the 1st rinse) and
no spin sprays. Normally there's a spray at the beginning of all
spins, incl the final.

- The drained wash was the same as above, 3-2/3 gallons.

- The first rinse drained a smidgen more than 4 gals ... say not quite
4-1/4. Surprised me because the observed level in the tub is the same
as for wash.

- The final rinse drained approx 8-3/4 gals.

So the aggregate total for Quick Wash with no clothes is approx 16-2/3
gals. A 3rd rinse would add presumably 4 gals more. All other cycles (except Bulky Items) would
be the same, with the addition of the spin-sprays. Bulky fills to the
high level for all cycle phases, so figure ~26-1/4 gals for the default 2
rinses (plus the spin sprays).

Of course, add whatever a given load absorbs from the initial dry
condition, plus/less whatever is extracted/residual after the rinse spins.

Don't know excatly how much my Duet uses - but the user manual gives guidelines. Note: this is one of the German Duets with a 3.3 cu.ft. drum and European cycles (thus kilos, Celsius and liters).

Hose thread water meters

dadoes,

Thanks again for those water usage measurements.

I willing to bet today's He washers, both top and front loading use half as much water as your 2005 top loader and my 2009 front loader.

Jeff

I checked a full cycle, start to finish, on my Neptune TL. Small load -- 4 cargo shorts, 3 underwear briefs, 1 boxer. Total 28 gallons. 5 gals wash + a spin spray (first spin is slow so less extraction). 5-1/3 gals 1st rinse + a spray (2nd spin is moderate). 8-3/4 gal 2nd rinse + a spray. However, it had trouble balancing for the final spin so repeated the final rinse, which added 9 gallons (including final spin extraction).

In my Miele that is 2 almost full loads, 12 kg / 25 pounds

Years ago, 7 gallons/fill for 20 lb load is a general number for commercial front loaders; thus 3 fills = 21 gallons. Not sure if it is a good number or not. Remember the first fill uses the most water to wet out the clothes, succeeding rinses use much less, and of course the fabric makes a big deal, terry towel, much more, polyester, much less. While some washers may indeed be produced with much lower settings out-of-the-box as shipped, many commercial operators raise the water levels to be somewhere around this range when they have this capability.

Can't speak for home, probably all over the place to meet DOE in one way or another.

When I bought my washer in 2003 I called the customer service rep and he checked with engineering then called me back. Ofcourse I lost the paper I wrote the information on.

If I remember a wash and two rinses was 16 gallons. A wash with three rinses was 19 gallons. He also told me the max amount each part of the cycle would take. Don't remember that but I do remember that if I selected three rinses each rinse filled with less water than doing two rinses. So if I wanted higher fill rinses I had to do 2 and not 3.

I have since programed the machine to increase the water in all rinses when I select a third rinse.

That was in 2003 so I know the washer is using much more water than today's machines.

My washer drains into the laundry sink next to it so I guess I could measure and find out.

Make is Miele, front loader, model is 1986

I am going to do this bucket test on some of my loads. I have an oldie front loader Miele 1986. At 13 pounds It's considered small by USA standards,but I can wash more in it than my former KitchenAid top loader. Not really sure if the Cu ft. but I think it is 2.1. AJ Madison has a description of it but no cu ft. of the drum.

I have completed several loads of different types of items and measured the amount of water the wash and each rinse has taken so I will begin posting the results in a bit. I don't have pictures of dirty water, but instead I will give a description of the items and the numbers of them in each load.

I measured using 3 gallon buckets with measurements in liters, then I converted the liters to gallons.

I found a description of the model that was sold after mine and it has a 2.5 cu ft drum,and I think mine is probably the same size.

Here are two baseline loads with the machine empty. One run is the normal wash and two rinses, the second run is a wash and three rinses. The machine has a sensitive button that can be programed to different options. As delivered the sensitive button gives an extra rinse. I have programed it to give an extra rinse, extra water in each rinse, and a bit more water in the wash. There are other cycles on the machine such as perma press, wool, silk, Jeans, dress shirts and delicates that, from observation, may use more water. I did not measure these since the majority of my clothes are cotton.

Empty machine

Wash 1.75 gallons

Rinse 1 1.75

Rinse 2 1.75 gallons

Total gallons 5.25 gallons

Empty machine 3 rinses with extra in rinses and a bit more in the wash

Wash 2.3 gallons

Rinse 1 2.6 gallons

Rinse 2 2.6 gallons

Rinse 3 2.6 gallons

Total 10.1 gallons

If you find my math errors please feel free to correct them. All loads are cottons.

Several loads with clothes to follow

Here's some load results

Fleece blanket

Wash 3 gallons(first load didn’t separate spun out)

Rinse 1 2.6 gallons spun out 2.3 gallons for total 4.9 or 5 gallons

Rinse 2 2.6 gallons spun out 2.3 gallons for total 4.9 or 5 gallons

Total 13 gallons

Cotton queen bed spread plus 1 towel at 140F with wash water cool down

If I select a temperature over 120F the washer will run cold water into the tub near the end of the wash. This is supposed to close cotton fibers before a spin is performed.

Wash with cool down 2.9 gallons spun out 1.3 gallons total 4.2 gallons

Rinse 1 2.3 gallons spun out 1.8 gallons for total 4.1 gallons

Rinse 2 2.3 gallons spun out 1.8 for total 4.1 gallons

Total 12.6 gallons

Cotton Queen sheets 2 Sheets 4 Pillow Cases

Wash 1.05 gallons spun 1.05 gallons total or 2.1 gallons

Rinse 1 2.1 gallons spun out 1.5 gallons for total 3.6 gallons

Rinse 2 2.1 gallons spun out 1.5 gallons for total 3.6 gallons

Total 9.3 gallons

Dark grey/blue/black load

11 casual shirts,1 sweat pants, 3 pairs socks, 4 underwear briefs

Wash 0.793 gallons spun out 2.1 gallons for total 2.1 gallons

Rinse 1 2.1 gallons spun out 1.4 gallons for total 3.5 gallons

Rinse 2 2.1 gallons spun out 1.4 gallons for total 3.5 gallons

Total 9.1 gallons

More, different loads on the way.

Here are the rest of the loads that I measured.

Light Blue load:

1 flannel shirt, 9 athletic shirts, 1 dress shirt, 5 pairs underwear, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of shorts

Wash 2 rinses

Wash .793 gallons, spun out 2.1 gals total 2.9 gallons

Rinse 1 2.1 gallons, spun out 2.3 gallons total 4.4 gallons

Rinse 2 2.1 gallons, spun out 2.6 gallons total 4.7 gallons

TOTAL 12 gallons

Red load:

6 athletic shirts, 1 flannel shirt, 2 pairs underwear, 2 bath towels, 1 hand towel, 2 washcloths, 1 table cloth, 2 place mats

Wash, 2 rinses

Wash 2.6 gallons, spun out 0.793 gallons total 3.3 gallons

Rinse 1 3.1 gallons, spun out 1.3 gallons total 4.4 gallons

Rinse 2 3.1 gallons, spun out 2.6 gallons total 5.7 gallons

TOTAL 13.4 gallons

Light Grey load:

6 pairs underwear, 4 shirts, 12 pairs grey socks

Wash, 3 rinses, water+

Wash 1.8 gallons, spun out 1.5 gallons total 3.3 gallons.

Rinse 1 2.9 gallons, spun out 1.8 gallons total 4.7 gallons

Rinse 2 3.1 gallons, spun out 1.8 gallons total 4.9 gallons

Rinse 3 2.9 gallons, spun out 1.8 gallons total 4.7 gallons

TOTAL 17.6 gallons

White Load:

2 dress shirts, 3 athletic shirts, 7 undershirts, 9 pairs of socks, 9 pairs tighty whities. Prewash, wash, 3 rinses, water +

Prewash 1.3 gallons, spun out 1.05 gallons total 2.3 gallons

Wash 2.1 gallons, spun out 1.8 gallons total 3.9 gallons

Rinse 1 2.6 gallons, spun out 2.3 gallons total 4.9 gallons

Rinse 2 2.6 gallons, spun out 2.6. gallons spun total 5.2 gallons

Rinse 3 2.6 gallons, spun out 3.4 gallons total of 6 gallons

TOTAL 22.3 gallons

Anyone else care to run the test?

Jeff