Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Front load Vs. top load washing machine

A lot of people are always wondering and asking the common question: which is better front load or top load washing machine? The diplomatic answer will always be "It depends, on your needs", but my answer seems to push for the front load based on:

[1] Experience of some friends working in the field of fabric care machines
[2] Studying customer reviews over the internet
[3] Getting direct feedback from people who already have these types of washing machines
[4] and finally, my engineering background


This comparison seems to be different from most comparisons over the internet. The following is a comparison between front load washing machine and top load washing machine:


Point of comparison
Front loading
Top loading
Concept
 
Twin tub converted to one tub
Washing action
Tumbling
Wobbling
Functions
Soak, wash, rinse, and spin
Soak, wash, rinse, and spin
Clothes loading and unloading direction
From front
From top
Market
Domestic and commercial
Domestic
Customer
v  Urban
v  Small families
v  Country
v  Large families
Weight
Large
Smaller
Good for moving and cleaning under the washing machine
Geometry
Size
More compact
Higher height
Drum size (volume)
Small
Large
One of the best uses of this feature is soaking and spinning of large blankets after being manually washed or washed in this washing machine
Dry weight capacity [kg]
Small because of smaller drum size
Large because of larger drum size
Drum axis
Horizontal
Vertical
Vertical stacking
Yes
Can be stacked with other washing machine or tumble drier
No
Pedestal
Yes (optional)
No
Built-in configuration
Yes: can be used under worktop in kitchen
No
Door opening direction
Requires washing machine to be placed in mid side or left side of the wall. If it is placed adjacent to right side of wall it will be difficult to use
Can be placed in any location relative to rear wall
Agitator
No
Old models
Matching drier
Yes
Yes
All-in-one (combination) washer and drier
Yes: some models
No at all
Elegant decoration shape
Yes
Some models
Performance
Washing capacity [kg]
Same as declared
Almost half of the declared. In most cases the wobbler (motor) stalls at half load
Water consumption per 1 kg of cloths
Less: good where the water is pricy
More
Overall energy consumption
More (only when hot water settings are used)
Less (only if external water heater is used)
Energy efficiency
More
Less
Washing efficiency
More
Typically less
Rinsing efficiency
Less
Typically more
Spinning efficiency
More
Less
Spin speed
More
Less
Soaking
Yes
Yes
Soaking volume
Small
Large
Program duration
Long
Short, especially when it uses hot water from instant water heater
Gentle wash
Imagine tomatoes are placed in both types!!!
More: Reduces cloths worn.
Less
Program interruption
No
Imagine a water bottle filled with water and you want to open it while it is horizontal. If you open it water will spill out. For this reason, you can not interrupt the program. Some advanced models allow you to add small cloth pieces during program like AddWash™ technology introduced by Samsung
Yes
Noise
High
Less
Detergent precipitation
Less
More
Washing pillows
Small ones
Large ones
Washing blankets
Baby blankets
Large blankets
Washing shoes
Yes
Yes
Hand wash
No
Some models
Requirements
Detergent type
Automatic (high efficiency)
Automatic or manual
Water supply
One cold water supply
Two: cold and hot (optional). The installation location needs to be prepared. Using external hot water supply will save much time and energy if instant gas water heater is used or in case of central heating systems
Hot water demand
Zero
High
Requires large capacity water heater
Manual water supply
Yes
Through the dispenser drawer
Yes
Water can be added directly from top lid opening. This is a very useful feature if there is no water pipe network, the city water pressure is so low, or the city water is so hard to be used for washing and a distilled or mineral water will be used instead.
Water quality
 
Soft water (especially if hot temperature setting is used frequently. Hard water may destroy the electric heater inside after time. This may be overcome by running a no-load hot wash program and using anti-scale agent)
Soft or hard water (for sure hard water will result in low washing efficiency)
Ergonomics
Comfort
Less comfortable as the user has to bend or knee down. Good for short people and non-adults. Good for people with impairment in their legs
More comfortable. Because of deep drum, it is not good for short people as they need to stand in tiptoes or use step stool to reach small items in the bottom
Loading easiness
Less
The user has to prevent loads from falling out while loading
More
Control
Electronic
Yes
Yes
Water level
Automatic
Manual input by user depending on amount of cloths
Water temperature control
Yes
Yes (only when the two water supplies are connected)
Water temperature
Automatic based on user setting
Automatic based on user setting.
Spin speed control
Yes
Yes
Fuzzy logic
In premium models
In premium models
Control panel location
Always in forehead
Forehead or back
Safety
Control panel accessible by baby
Yes
It is almost difficult to be accessed by children
Child lock during running
Yes
Yes
Door open while it is powered off
Yes: in certain cases, if door left open this may be non-safe for babies or pets
Yes: but it is difficult to be accessed by babies
Opening detergent dispenser during program
Possible (unsafe)
Not possible (safe)
Losing small cloths
Small cloths, socks, coins, rings can be lost between internal and external drum.
No losing
Door lock during operation
Yes (mandatory)
No (optional)
Reliability
Broken door operation
Not possible
Possible (with some simple hack)
Extra features and data
Monitoring
Remote
Local
Privacy
No
Yes
Motor direct drive
Some models
Some models
Transparent door
All models
Some models
Door slamming
No
Unless the user did this himself
Yes due to free fall
Some models have damper
Counter weight
Yes
No
Damping system
Radial
Axial
Bearing
Radial bearing
Radial + axial bearing
Detergent and softener dispenser
All models
Not in old models
Yes in new models
Wrinkling
Less
More in old models
Less in new models
Intercooling of drained water
Yes
No
Shipment bolts
Yes
Requires a professional for installation
No
Cleanness
Mold formation
More likeable to take place at door gasket and other locations because of low water consumption, lack of light ingress to the drum, trapped moisture which are the best place for mold to grow up
Less likeable
Bad smell
More likeable. For more info visit this link
Less likeable
Matching drier
Yes
Yes
Financial
Manufacture price
High
Lower
Price (in Egypt)
Cheap
Pricy for the same performance of equivalent front load because most of these models of this type are  imported from outside
Serviceability (in Egypt)
A lot of professional technicians can service this kind of washing machines
Rare professionals can service this type
Spare parts
Available and cheap
Not available and pricy
Reselling
Yes: most resold models are old
Yes: most resold models are new

No comments:

Post a Comment