Comparison of Topload vs Frontload Washing Machines

Front Load: * Because of the faster spin speeds, it will extract more water from the clothes allowing them to go into the dryer with less water. You will dry clothes faster while using less energy * The clothes tumble much like in a dryer, and because of this, the washing machine does not use as much water. You will use up to 40% less water than a comparable top load machine. Over time this will offset the initial difference in price between front load and top load machines * Better Cleaning. Because of the tumble action, water will pass through the clothes considerably more often than top load machines.Clothes will come out cleaner, and will last longer as there is less wear and tear on them * Can be stacked with a dryer on top to conserve space TOP LOADERS * There are a wider variety of models and colors * Costs less initially, but is less energy efficient * Easy to access the washtub * Uses regular detergent Features Capacity: Most manufacturers will define the size of the washtub differently. Common terms are â€Å"extra large† or â€Å"super capacity. † When comparing capacity it is best to use the cubic foot measurement to determine the actual size.Tub material: The three most commonly used tub materials used are porcelain-coated, plastic, and stainless steel. Porcelain can deteriorate if it chips. Many of the higher-end models will use a plastic tub, which generally lasts the life of the machine. The very best models will use a stainless steel tub. Water levels: Washing machines have water level settings. Many of the higher end models will offer many more levels to control the amount of water in a machine. A washer using the ideal level of water will be more efficient. Manufacturers recommend using only enough water to cover the clothes.Cycles: There are many cycles available on a washing machine. Choose a machine that will offer all the cycles you will need. Choose from cycles such as permanent press, sanitize, delicate, and extra rinses. Make sure to get a unit with all the cycles your clothes will need. Different wash/spin speed combinations allow you to wash more types of clothing in ways that are safest for the fabric. Water temperature: Your garments will look better and last longer by using proper water temperature. Detergents, bleaches, and fabric softeners require specific water temperatures to work their best.Many of your choices of washers will include several wash and rinse temperature options. A washing machine with automatic temperature regulators will make sure that the water entering the machine will be the proper temperature. For example, on a frigid day in Chicago, the water entering a standard washer set to â€Å"warm† may not get the temperature desired. Temperature regulators will add more hot water as needed to make sure the desired temperature is met. To kill even the toughest germs, a machine will be required to run at an even higher temperature. Look for a washer that offers a temperatu re boost or sanitize cycle.Noise level: Is your washer going to be in your basement or in the garage? If so, you may not be concerned with noise level. If your washer is near a living area you may want a unit that has more insulation and reinforced frames to reduce operation noise. Safety: While it's possible to stop a front-loading machine and add that missing sock, it does have an automatic lock feature on the unit that will prevent the door from opening while the drum is spinning. Controls: Digital controls and displays will allow you to program different cycle settings. Just program your favorite settings and access them with the push of one button.For an easier wash process, choose a machine with a dial or push buttons. Bleach and fabric softener dispensers: The chemicals (detergent, bleach, fabric softener) you use are a key part of garment care. Dispensers will automatically disperse them at the correct time. Energy Star rating: The Energy Star label – conferred by the U. S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency – indicates that a washing machine uses 35 percent to 50 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than a non-labeled machine. That makes the machine better for the environment and saves you money†¦There are many differences between a front loading and top loading washing machine. Most people still have the traditional top loading machine. They are less expensive than front loading machines, though in the end, top loaders may cost you more money in energy and water costs. There are trade offs with each type of washing machine, and plenty of things to consider if you’re planning on purchasing a new machine. A top loading washing machine is most familiar to people, though they may have seen front loading machines in laundromats or increasingly in appliance stores.These machines use an agitator which spins the soapy clothes to help get out dirt. The washer drains, adds more water to rinse and the n spins the clothes to wring out excess water. Clothes are placed into the spinning basket via the top of the machine, and you can open the machine at any time to add something else. A front loading washing machine uses less energy and does not have an agitator. A front loading machine is a gentler method, because it uses gravity to spin the clothes, which helps save energy and may extend life of clothing.These machines use less water and detergent, which may be a great savings on water costs, and they can usually be filled with more clothes. You cannot open these machines while they are running, so your days of adding a forgotten sock to a batch being washed are over if you choose a front loading washing machine. Front loaders vary in size but many can take up less space than top loaders. It’s often possible to stack a dryer on top of a front loading machine, but you will usually only find this feature in top loaders that are very small and won’t accommodate large bat ches.A front loader may be a better choice if you need to save on space but still want a fairly good sized washing machine There is nevertheless some advantage to the top loading washing machine if you have back, knee or neck problems. It can be awkward to bend down to load and unload clothes, but usually no more so than using front loading dryers. If you have to do lots of laundry, you may prefer a front loader to avoid frequent bending to get clothes in and out of a machine. You do give up greater efficiency, savings in energy and water costs, use of less water, and potentially longer life of clothing when you use a top loading washing machine.However you also may benefit in the short run because they are significantly less expensive. For people who can afford the front loader and who don’t have issues with the way clothes are loaded, this may be your best bet. In some states and countries you may even qualify for an energy rebate if you purchase a front loading machine. Th e main difference between a top loading and front loading washing machine is how the clothes are placed inside. A top loading washing machine has a hinged lid on top, allowing the clothes to be placed inside a horizontally-oriented watertight tub.In the center of this tub is a device called an agitator. The agitator's job is to swirl the clothes through the soapy water. A front loading washing machine has no central agitator, but uses gravity and side-mounted paddles to agitate clothes. Once the front door is closed, it remains locked mechanically until the washing cycle is complete. One advantage of a front loading washing machine is an increased capacity. Since there is no central agitator, the horizontally-oriented drum can hold at least 20 to 30% more clothing per load.For a large family, this could mean running only three loads in a front loading washing machine compared to five in a top loader. Fewer loads often translates to savings in utility bills and water usage. A front l oading washing machine is also gentler on clothes and generally quieter to operate. Instead of a centralized agitator literally grabbing clothes and thrashing them, the blades of a front loading washing machine gently pick up the clothes and allow them to drop into the soapy water. The soil is still removed by an agitating action, but gravity does most of the work.Gentler agitation can extend the lifespan of clothes significantly. As top loading washing machines age, they tend to become noisier and more likely to become unbalanced. A front loading washing machine rarely becomes unbalanced from the weight of heavy items. Another advantage of a front loading washing machine is less water and detergent usage. A top loading washer must use enough water to cover the highest level of the clothes. A front loading washing machine, on the other hand, only uses enough water to cover approximately the lower third of the tub at most. The clothes are drawn through the water, not the water throug h the clothes.Detergents designed for front loading washing machines use a lower sudsing formula, and are meant to release different cleansing agents at different water temperatures. In fact, a front loading washing machine often contains its own heating element to keep the water at an ideal temperature for washing. Many consumers also find that a front loading washing machine removes more water during the final spin cycle. This often translates into shorter drying times, which equals savings on electricity. In addition, a front loading washing machine can work in conjunction with a stackable dryer to save space in the laundry room.A standard top loading washing machine cannot be stacked with a standard electric dryer. Manufacturers' attempts at a stacked top loading combination often limit the washer lid's range of motion. No such design problem exists with a front loading washing machine. Front Loader (Main Advantages) 1. Wash quality   –   you can get a better wash qua lity than any top loaders (however, not as good as  God-made washing machines   – our hands). 2. Water/Detergent consumption   –   you can do a cycle of washing with comparatively less water and detergent compared to top loaders.Though you have invested a lot of money on a front loader, you can afford to save some on water and detergents. 3. Longevity   –   front loaders are expected to last longer than top loaders (up to 15 to 20 years of use). Ideal for consumers who believe â€Å"old is gold† and are not interested in exchange offers and/or keeping themselves updated with latest technology. Front Loader (Main Disadvantages) 1. Price –   front loaders are far expensive than top loaders. The lower-end version/model in a front loader is much more expensive than the higher-end version/model in a top loader. 2.Complex mechanism –   front loaders run without a problem as long as they run, but once they land in some problem, it i s forever. Never you can expect the same performance after repair that you found when you bought it. Also, bending down to load a front loader washing machine is considered inconvenient. 3. Repair cost/service   –   the cost involved in repairing front loaders or getting on-time repair service is a real  challenge. You might have to wait as long as 20 days to 3 months to get a fault repaired and then shed a good amount of money for that repair. Top Loader (Main Advantages) 1.User friendly   –   top loaders boast the comfort and convenience of any common user (non-technical housewives)   who can operate the machine without any complications . Another most noted advantage across the world, especially in America and Australia, is the convenience to stand and load the machine without having to bend down as in front loaders. 2. Power consumption   –   power consumed by a top loader is comparatively less than a front loader, basically because of the ti me consumed in washing. A cycle of wash lasts for 30 to 45 minutes in a top loader while the same cycle of wash in a front loader can run up to 1 to 2 hours. . Maintenance   –   top loaders have quite simple mechanism compared to front loaders and involve more electronics than mechanical. So, any repair here might not be as expensive as repairs in front loaders and the service is also quick and affordable. Top Loader (Main Disadvantages) 1. Wash quality   –   sources claim that top loaders’ wash quality is not as good as in front loaders. Since the drum in top loaders is vertical, chances are that clothes at the bottom of the drum and at the top of the drum fail to interchange positions to attain the same wash quality. SOME BRANDS HAVE TACKLED THIS PROBLEM NOW – see below). 2. Water/Detergent consumption   –   top loaders consume more water and detergent compared to front loaders during a wash cycle. This is mainly because the volume of water required in a top loader to wash a certain load is much more compared to a front loader to wash the same load, thereby utilizing more detergent also. 3. Noise/Vibration   –   some top loaders might create vibration and some low-level noise during operation. This is mainly because the body of a top loader is lighter than a front loader and occupies lesser ground space than a front loader.Now, having differntiated between front loaders and top loaders, I hope the above information has helped us to decide between a front loader and a top loader. For all those who have decided to go ahead with a front loader, there is no choice in brand. In India, the obvious front loader market leader is IFB. If at all you have decided to buy a front loader, you can wisely go ahead with an IFB. However, please note that it is advisable to go for higher-end  versions/models than lower-end versions/models since you might not get most of the features in lower-end versions despite payin g such a huge amount. pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic]Top Loading and a front Loading: 1. Water Consumption: Water is comsumed is   very less amount in front loading than the top loading. The top loading takes almost 2 to 3 medium size bucket of watter for each cycle. ie Wash + no. of rinse cycle. The front loader wold use less than half the amount of water used by the top loader with the same wash results. 2. Fabrics last long: Front loaders are gentle to the fabrics than the top loaders. From my personal experiance the fabrics do not loae there texture that early as compared to top loaders.The evidance to support it would be  one do not require to clean the lint filer that often, hence the fabric do not loose their fiber. 3. Quiter Operation: The front loaders are quiter operation than the top loders, hence the noise pollution is less in the house. 4 energy comsumption. Front loaders are more enegery effecient than the top loaders. 5:  Front loaders are long lasting a nd  virtually maintainance free. Average life of front loader is longer than the top loader (So i have read) Dificultises with fronty loaders: 1. With front loaders are you need to bend down to load the cloths.So for those who  have back  problem, using front loaders would be a pain. 2. Front loaders require uninterrupted flow of water to operate. 3. Front loaders are heavy units, and they require to be on a perfectly level base,   They should not be moved arround, hence they do not come with base wheels. So guys, choose the front loader, if you want your fabrics to be damaged less, water to be consumed less, but provided you can over come the above difficultues. Feature difference: Wash care programs in Front loading machines are more. i. e. ne has a greater choice for washing cotton clothes  or synthetic ones in Front loading machines. Heater option for hygenic hotwash is there in Front loading machines though there are some top loading machines which have inbuilt heater . Front loader have high rinsing efficiency thus clothes come out detergent free. Front loader have higher drying efficiency   and some machines equiped with 100% dryer can dry clothes 100%. (But they  are costlier and electricity and time consumption for the process is more. ) Other difference: Top loaders are economical than Front loaders but for good features one has to spend a little more.Also, remember cost determines features and PRODUCT QUALITY. Both the machines are user friendly. And if a person takes a little care none of the machines have to be stopped and opened in the middle of the process. even if one wants to do it he can do it easily cos there is drain option given in front loader, after draining stop the machine totally and after about 1. 5 mins one can open its door. Front loader weighs more than top loaders. Both can be moved around by placing them on trolly which is not recommended 🙂 . Water and detergent consumption in Front loading is less.The trad itional top-loading washer does its job well, compared with the washing drums and rollers previous generations used. The washer's tub sits vertically in the machine and has an agitator in the middle that churns the water and clothes together, forcing water through the items. It drains, refills with clean water, agitates again, drains, rinses and spins. The front-loading machine follows the same basic method, but has many advantages over the standard top-loaders. The front-loading machine's greatest advantage may well be its energy efficiency, no small advantage considering an increasingly environmentally aware marketplace.Nearly every model bears the US Department of Energy's â€Å"Energy Star† label, setting it apart as an appliance that meets or exceeds the stringent efficiency standards set out jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Here are some of the other differences between top- and front-loading washers: Efficiency: While a top-l oading machine requires enough water to cover all the clothes in its drum, a front-loading washer needs only a third of that amount because its drum is set horizontally in the machine.As the drum turns, it uses gravity to drop the clothes back into the water. And while a top-loading machine will empty the soapy water and refill for a rinse agitation cycle, a front-loading machine just sprays clean water on the load as the drum continues to turn, saving gallons. Since there's no agitator in a front-loading machine, there's a lot more room for dirty clothes – and larger loads means fewer loads. Finally, the front-loading machine's spin mechanism can reach up to 1,000 rpm, as opposed to the standard top-loader's average 650 rpm.That means less water left in the laundry, which in turn gives you a shorter drying time, saving energy there, too. Space: Most front-loading washers can be stacked with a companion dryer, an impossible feat for standard top-loaders, except for a mere few models. If floor space is important to you, a front-loading washer is the better choice. Clothing life: There's no question that agitators are tough on your clothes. Because only gravity is at work in a front-loading machine, you'll save a lot of wear and tear on your laundry, extending the life of your clothes and linens.Cost: In this department, the front-loading washer is at a significant disadvantage. Typically, they cost a minimum of several hundred dollars more than their top-loading counterparts. This initial outlay will be recouped, of course, in energy costs over the long run, but if you can only budget $500 or less for a washer, you'll have to go with the traditional top-loading model. Ergonomics: If bending or kneeling is difficult for you, stay with a top-loading machine. You'll need to kneel or bend to load the clothes as well as remove the wet load from a front-loading washer.When the machines are stacked, the washer goes on the bottom, so there's no relief there, eit her. Last-minute lid-flipping: We've all run back to the washing machine to toss in a just-found pair of socks or T-shirt after the machine has started. But with a front-loading machine, there's no turning back once you push the start button. The door locks until the cycle has ended. There are however, a few models that allow a few seconds to add a garment, but once that light or time has elapsed, your clothing has to wait for the next load. Detergents:Although you can use any kind of laundry detergent in a top-loader, your detergent selection may be a bit limited with a front-loading machine, depending on the manufacturer. Most manufacturers of front-loading washers recommend using an HE low-sudsing detergent; these are becoming more widely available all the time. In the conservation department, the front-loading machine is a clear winner, saving water, energy and, of course, money over the life of the machine. The major detractor for most consumers is the larger initial cash outla y; front-loaders often cost $800 or more compared with around $350 for a good top-loader.