Washing Machine

[Shukran]

I wanted to bring my washing machine to Spain in a few weeks but somebody mentioned that the hot fill won't work on it, only the cold fill. As I don't fancy having all my clothes washed in cold water, could somebody advise please?

Many thanks.

[jane grant]

You will need to get a Y shaped adapter which connects the hot and cold fill pipes, we bought ours in B&Q for a pittance before we came out. The machine only fills with cold water, it will then heat the water to the required temperature during the wash cycle, so your clothes are washed in hot water.

[El Cid]

A machine with hot and cold fill will work perfectly well in Spain so long as you have a supply of hot water and a tap to connect it to.

Most Spanish machines are cold fill only.

Sid

[Shukran]

So, it's a trip to B&Q just in case there isn't a hot water tap.

Many thanks, that's another thing off my list now I that I know the washing machine & dishwasher will work.

I'll be back...

[Kelly4]

Has anyone seen the adaptors in Spain?

[gretch]

Ours is a British washing machine, we just have the cold water connected and ignore the hot connection altogether. The water is heated up by the element in the machine. No problems.

Kelly4. What sort of adaptors?

Regards gretch.

[costakid]

Leroy merlin at Malaga sell them. Go to plumbing section. Good luck.

[Nikvin]

some so called "intelligent" machines,will only do low temp washes if they only have the cold feed connected!
After 3 months of my neighbour doing my washing, I proudly announced, that we now had electricity, and could do my own!!.....
only to find the macjine wouldnt work!!
We got round the problem by connecting both to the cold supply, and now can wash at any temp we want, but machine has to heat water up.

[hillybilly]

Kelly4. What sort of adaptors?

some so called "intelligent" machines,will only do low temp washes if they only have the cold feed connected!.....We got round the problem by connecting both to the cold supply, and now can wash at any temp we want, but machine has to heat water up.

The adaptor is the Y piece connector referred to above. As Nikvin says, some UK machines won't work if the "old" hot feed inlet is not connected to anything. There is a valve on the inlet. If there's no water being sensed going in, no wash! So you have to fool the machine into thinking it's got hot water going in by connecting both inlets (hot & cold) to the cold feed.

[Shukran]

Great information - thanks everybody for your help.

[Kelly4]

Any ideas on which would be more economical:

UK machine heating the water (using cold feed only) - electricity.

Bombona heating the water (using both feeds) - gas.

???

Anything in it?

Cheers,

Kelly

[El Cid]

Electricity, particularly if it is on an off peak supply will be cheaper than gas.

Sid

[spanish_lad]

you can buy a " T " piece, they come in plastic, or cast, in spain..in pretty much ANY feretaria. it is a 1/2-1/2-1/2 T that you want. La Cañada is overpriced and too far away. go to your local shop.


things you need:

T / Y piece (2€)

a roll of ptfe tape (25cents),

as well as a third hose (2€).

total 4.25€ plus 30 minutes maximum.



to fit it you should do up the conections hand tight or give them a LITTLE nip up with a pair of grips / pliers / stilsons.

just connect the two together and then connect it to the tap. you dont NEED a hot water supply to a washing machine.

connecting a washing machine to a gas heater, or any "instant" heater, is NOT recomended, read the instructions


(my dad is a plumber, and i run a maintanaince / DIY company.)

personally i would buy a "Y" piece and hose in the uk before i come over .

(this is not an advert, so i wont offer )

[jpinks]

Electricity, particularly if it is on an off peak supply will be cheaper than gas.

Sid

Paint a big, old central heating radiator black and mount it in a glass-fronted box lined with baconfoil. Connect that up, point it at the sun, and you will have free hot water.

[spanish_lad]

good idea