Don’t connect the hot water supply to the cold valve on a cold-fill washing machine
I’ve had several people ask whether it’s possible to connect a cold fill washing machine up to the hot water supply. They were unhappy about the disappearance of the hot water valve in UK washing machines (They disappeared in Europe many years previously).
Many people who are using solar powered energy to heat their water, or who had another cheap or environmentally friendly supply felt that the advantages of their environmentally friendly and economical hot water will be wasted by not utilising their hot water supply.
The answer to the question is no, for the following reasons -
- The incoming water temperature could be too hot to start with, which could damage delicate laundry
- The water could be at (or over) the correct temperature from the start on 30 and 40 degree washes so the washing machine would move onto rinsing too soon - compromising the wash quality
- The laundry would be rinsed in hot water which isn’t as effective as cold, and could cause severe creasing as well as wasting all the hot water
A full explanation as to why almost every washing machine is cold fill these days is here - Should I buy a cold fill washing machine or hot and cold fill?
Written By Washerhelp on May 24th, 2007 with
5 comments.
Read more articles on Washing Machines & Washer Dryers.
Why not add your comment? click the comment link above.


#2. February 22nd, 2008, at 1:50 AM.
The problem of the incoming water being too hot is easily dealt with by fitting a thermostatic mixing valve set to 30C (or 40C if you use that wash temp).These are now widely and cheaply available.