Washing machine for cold climate

[Xileno]

Hello.

This is a bit of a strange question. I need a washing machine that will tolerate cold winters (down to zero degrees, maybe slightly below) when the house is unoccupied. It also needs to be a relatively light machine that can be transported in the back of an estate car.

I was thinking about a twin tub but don’t know if they are still made and whether it is possible to thoroughly drain out all the water from the internal pipes etc.

Thanks for help;

Xileno

[iadom]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

There are twin tubs available, sadly they are mainly very poor, Chinese made rubbish, almost £300.00 as well.

It would be almost impossible to easily drain all the water from an automatic, even if you lowered the drain hose to drain the pump & sump hose or opened the filter, there would still be water in the fill valves and internal fill hoses. These do often freeze and burst, even in the UK.

Jim.

[Martin]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

Xileno wrote: It also needs to be a relatively light machine that can be transported in the back of an estate car.

Here’s an idea?

http://tinyurl.com/yqgwgb

[Xileno]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

Thanks for the replies. I suspect I will stick with hand washing :bang:
What a great forum this is, well done – keep the good work up.
It’s always annoyed me to throw appliances away just because something simple can’t be fixed easily.

Xileno

[iadom]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

Out of interest, just exactly where do you intend to use this prospective appliance. I have a lots of customers with washing machines in very exposed garages and out buildings, it can get quite cold ‘Up North’.

Some of then have a small electrical heater that can be placed near to the washing machine. You can set the heater to activate via a thermostat to switch on whenever the temperature drops below a certain level. The inlet & outlet plumbing needs to be very well lagged though.

Going slightly OT. It is amazing how most machines installed in garages and freezing cold outbuildings mainly break down in winter 😥 . It is not to bad doing heavy manual work in sub zero temperatures but trying to work with your fingers only on small screws and wiring etc in arctic conditions is damned hard, painful work.

Jim.

[Penguin45]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

If the appliance has to be portable and drainable, Candy and Zanussi both do “compact” autowashers – same size as 3kg tumble driers. Both have front access filters, which when removed would allow all water to drain out.

Penguin45.

[iadom]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

That still wouldn’t prevent the fill valves from bursting if they froze though.

Jim.

[Penguin45]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

Last act before leaving – disconnect hoses and select fill briefly? I hope the damn thing’s not going to be found in a tent with Captain Scott…. 😀

Penguin45.

[kwatt]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

Even one with a drain down won’t totally remove all water from the sump, there would still be enough left in the sump to either split the sump through expansion as the water froze, or the drain hose. As the water is static, when it freezes it freezes on the outer edges first then expands as the internal “core” if you like cools down and freezes, expanding the outer which is already pretty solid.

Says he who has seen more than a few frozen machines on a building site or three. Used to earn a few bob in winter time on machines doing this. 😉

If you install onto new build, in the winter, you quickly learn to install the cooking appliances first in winter.

K.

[Xileno]

Re: Washing machine for cold climate

Hello again

It’s for a holiday home in the chilly mountain regions of central France. It can get to below zero in the house during winter.

I thought a twin tub may be easier to drain but I certainly don’t want any Chinese rubbish – or any rubbish whoever makes it. I like quality that lasts.

My concern is that the pipes may still have water in them even though the machine appears to be drained.

Thanks again, I shall pack a pair of Marigolds and just wash by hand 😀

Xileno

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