washing machine for farm with log boiler

[momentary]

I’m a sheep farmer about to have a gasification boiler system installed (so all domestic hot water and heat will be from wood) and considering whether it might be worth replacing the washing machine to go with it. Currently have a rather beat up old John Lewis JLWM1407 about to need a bit of repair. Curious whether an Ebac hot fill machine is worth looking at — I have read the pages here on why hot fill is not worth it, but in this case I could have the washer right beside the buffer tank, and I will have a lot of hot water for basically free. Workload is generally just for two people, but we get dirty! (I suspect the JLWM is currently unhappy due to too many bits of hay in pockets and cuffs). Maybe 4-5 loads/week. Don’t want a ton of fancy settings, don’t want it to talk to my cellphone. Big enough to wash a king duvet would be a treat. Also have solar (for electric) so doing one big load when the sun is on the panels might do us better than a series of smaller loads here in rainy Wales. Top loader that can wash a sheep fleece on wool cycle for handspinners would be a dream, but probably not realistic. Mostly tumble drying at present but hoping to line dry more (indoors) once the new system is driving the heating. Budget is there if the investment is sensible. Don’t care if it’s noisy, it’ll be in the laundry shed.

All recommendations appreciated.

[electrofix]

if its a top loader that interests you try look at

https://www.maytag.com/washers-and-dryers/washers/top-load-washers/p.top-load-washer-with-the-deep-water-wash-option-and-powerwash-cycle-4.2-cu.-ft.mvwc565fw.html

not cheap but very well built and easy to repair when they do go wrong

these machines have no heater and rely on the hot water inlet to get the wash temp correct

Dave

[momentary]

electrofix wrote:if its a top loader that interests you try look at

https://www.maytag.com/washers-and-dryers/washers/top-load-washers/p.top-load-washer-with-the-deep-water-wash-option-and-powerwash-cycle-4.2-cu.-ft.mvwc565fw.html

not cheap but very well built and easy to repair when they do go wrong

these machines have no heater and rely on the hot water inlet to get the wash temp correct

Dave

Well that is very interesting! A bit of searching didn’t turn up that model in the UK but found this https://www.cateringhygiene.co.uk/shop/maytag-3lmvwc315fw-classic-top-loading-15kg-washing-machine.html which seems much the same? Looks like it could be just what I was wishing for — thank you!

[andyjawa]

Yes, but that top loader machine is £874.80 and has only a mere 6 months warranty which is a joke surely? Typical Brit sense of humour! If I was you I would phone up EBAC and get hold of the facts then you will know where you stand. The question you need to ask them is: do the hot and cold fill models a) on all wash programmes do they fill cold and hot together ( other than 1 or 2 synthetic wool cycles) with hot only fill/s only for 60 degree programmes or above SO BASICALLY THE SAME AS A HOTPOINT WM56 ( which is what I have 20 years old now and I`m hanging onb to it!! ). You want a yes or no answer. Reason being EBAC might be doing things the old continental practice which was: b) everything was wash cycle cold fill then heats up the water, except 60 to 90 degree programmes, they filled hot and possibily a mixed fill ( of sorts ) on 60 degree or less synthetics cycle. If what they mean by hot and cold fill a) = good, OR if b) then you are only going to be marginally better off as compared to just a cold only fill machine. Tell them, if they do not know over the phone that you will e-mail them with your questions. If you then get no reply……stuff`em!

[Author]

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