In this modern world, washing machines are some of the best inventions. They save a ton of time and require minimal effort on our part.
However, we don’t tend to think much about our washing machines until they break down. That’s when we’re faced with multiple dilemmas. To try and repair the old one or buy a new one? What type of washing machine to buy – a modern front-load or an old-school top-load machine? If I go old school, do I choose a top-load agitator or impeller washer? And other similar questions.
If you decide to continue using a trustee traditional top-loading washer, you won’t be the only one. Yes, modern front-loaders are high-efficiency and water-saving but it’s hard to let go of old habits. Now, the question is whether to choose a top-load agitator or impeller washer.
To help you make a better decision, here are 5 things you should know about top-load agitator washing machines.
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Top-load agitator vs impeller washer
Image by bierfritze from Pixabay
Top-loading washing machines can feature either an agitator or impeller, the only difference is in the way they clean.
Washers with agitators feature a central post that moves back and forth and rubs against the clothing and in that way washes away stains. The agitator can be found in the wash basket and it’s a tall finned post that twists back and forth and in that way agitates the clothes to dissolve any stains.
If the agitator breaks down, you can just replace it without changing the entire washer. Some stores sell specialized washing machine parts and there you’ll find your agitator replacement. Look for FISHER & PAYKEL washing machine agitator and you won’t go wrong.
On the other hand, we have impeller washers. Impeller washers feature a cone or a disc that rotates to help rub the clothes against each other and clean them in that way. A washer with an impeller requires less water, which some people find convenient.
Overall, both these types of washing machines can clean your clothing efficiently, the only difference is in their methods. Also, both these types of machines are less expensive than a front-loading washer.
5 things to know about top-load agitator washers
Now that you know the difference between agitators and impellers, we can tell you more about agitator washing machines.
1. They have a convenient design
The first thing you should know about top-load agitators is that they have a very convenient design.
Compared to front-loading washers which once started can’t be opened anymore, the lid of top-loading washers can be opened anytime even during the washing cycle. This means that you can keep adding clothes to your top-load washer whenever you want.
Yet another huge difference between front and top-load machines is the duration of the washing cycle. Front-loaders can take a long time between loads, sometimes even twice as long as a top-loader.
So, their design and speed are what help people choose top-loading washers over front-loading ones.
2. They are good enough at cleaning clothes
Top-loading washers will clean your clothing but will have trouble with really soiled and stained items. But that’s not a concern since most washers would have a hard time cleaning heavily stained clothing.
If you want to wash that sort of clothing in any washer, you would need to pretreat your clothes with stain removers and laundry detergents to make it easier on your washer. After that, you will need to use a heavy-duty cycle to get all the stains out. But remember that these types of cycles can be pretty hard on your clothing.
3. They aren’t gentle on your clothes
As mentioned, agitator washers feature a finned post in their middle. The clothing moves around this pole and rubs together to get cleaned. This friction can cause a lot of wear and tear on your clothing and fabrics.
That’s one of the reasons why top-loading agitator washers are pretty tough on your clothing. However, you can try to regulate this by adjusting the soil setting. For most of your loads, try using a normal soil setting. Also, use light-soil and delicate settings when necessary. Only use a heavy-duty setting when you want to wash completely soiled and stained clothing.
4. They can hog water
How much water a washing machine uses is regulated by federal efficiency standards. That’s why modern washers spend much less water compared to those in the past.
However, if you opt for a top-load agitator, you should know that this type of washer consumes more water than any other type including the impeller washer.
For an average-size load, top-load agitator washers use between 16 and 24 gallons of water. Which means that this type of washer hogs water. To avoid this much water consumption, you can do full loads without overloading your machine. There needs to be space for your laundry to move around.
5. They can be noisy
Some people might find this off-putting, others won’t care, but top-load agitator washers can be pretty noisy. In fact, they are a lot noisier than other front and top-loaders.
If your washer is tucked away in a basement or garage, this won’t be a problem for you. However, if the washer is near your bedroom or living room, the noise might turn out to be a problem.
Another thing that happens to most washing machines not just agitator ones, is that they tend to “walk”. If the load gets out of balance, the washer will rock back and forth, vibrate, and even move from its designated place.
But this is not strictly a top-load agitator washer problem. Most machines, whether they are front or top-loading have this problem.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for familiarity, affordability, and effective cleaning, top-load agitator washing machines are for you. They are by no means perfect washing machines but they are what most of us have been using most of our lives.
On top of that, you might be able to find spare parts for your agitator washer if it ever breaks down. And that’s a great thing to know. Knowing what you know now, would you still choose a top-load agitator washing machine?