How many gallons of water does a washing machine use?

The water usage of a washing machine depends on a number of factors.

For the average household that runs between 5 and 6 loads per week, washing machines use up to 5,605 gallons of water per year.

Compared to regular washers, ENERGY STAR certified washing machines use an average of 14 gallons of water per load.The average household uses 1,475 gallons of water a year.

If you have a general idea of how much water washing machines use, you can move on to more specific details.

Let's take a closer look at each factor to see how much water usage can vary.

Large capacity washers can be over 5 cubic feet, while standard-sized washers have a capacity of 3 to 4.

A medium load is roughly the amount of clothes you could hold in your arms.A big load is about 11 pounds.An extra-large load is 21 pounds.

The bigger the load, the more water is needed to wash clothes.

The cycle you choose will affect how much water your washing machine uses.

The type of clothing you are washing will affect the design of the cycle.If your clothes don't clean properly, you'll have to run an additional cycle and use more water.

If your machine has an eco-friendly or water-saving cycle, it will work to get clothes clean while saving water and energy.

The styles of washing machines that offer increased water efficiency are called High Efficiency (HE) or front-loaders.ENERGY STAR certified washing machines use 25% less energy and 33% less water than regular machines.

According to the ENERGY STAR database, front-load washers use an average of 12.5 gallons of water per load, while top load washers average 18.6 gallons.

Front-loaders use more water because they fill the drum and use an agitator to clean the clothes.

Instead of filling the drum with water, front-loaders spin vertically, which creates space and allows water from impellers to spray and clean the clothes.

Since they are at the bottom of the drum, pulleys work by causing clothing to rub against each other, not against the device.

washing machines with agitators use more water than models with impellers.Most High-Efficiency machines use impellers.

Since the drum takes up less room, you can wash larger loads and cut down on the number of weekly loads.

The styles of HE washers are designed to use less water and energy than regular washers.

You can wash large loads with the larger tub capacity of HE washers.

If you are not used to seeing HE washers work, it may be alarming to see how little water is used during the wash and rinse cycles.

The model must meet size, energy performance, and water performance metrics in order to be an ENERGY STAR certified washing machine.

To earn the label, the IWF must be equal to or less than 3.2 for front-loading washers and 4.3 for top-load washers.

ENERGY STAR certified washers use less water than models without the certification.

Do you use a sprinkler to water your lawn?If you ran it for one hour a day, three times a week, you could use up to 12,000 gallons of water a month.146,880 gallons of water is used annually.It was very bad!

You can use up to 7 gallons of water if you flush an older toilet.In a household with three people each, daily water consumption could be as high as 105 gallons a day, 3,150 a month, and 38,325 gallons of water annually.

A regular shower has a flow rate of 5 gallons per minute.A 5-minute shower can wash 25 gallons of water.If you like long showers, you can use 50 gallons of water in less than an hour.

A sink has a flow rate of 2.2 gallons per minute.40 gallons of water can be used a day if it is allowed to run for 20 minutes.

Baths are like gas-guzzling cars when it comes to water usage.The average bath uses anywhere from 35 to 50 gallons of water.A single bath a week can amount to over 2,000 gallons of water a year for one member of your household.

If you have an ENERGY STAR certified model, you can run a cycle and use as little as 3 gallons of water.As much as 10 gallons of water per cycle can be used by models that aren't water efficient.If you run your dishwasher every day for a year, you would use 3 gallons of water, but that is still less than taking a bath a week.

If you want to control the flow rate of water in your home, you can use products recommended by the EPA.You can adjust water pressure in your home, monitor the amount of time you allow faucets to run, how many times you flush, and limit time spent bathing to save water.

Reducing washing machine water usage is possible.Some ways may be more expensive initially, but they can save you money over time.

If suds are detected, use the right amount of laundry detergent to keep your machine from adding more water.

If you don't see a lot of soapy water, you might be tempted to add more detergent than you need.It is possible to add the right amount of detergent based on the load.

It is possible to use concentrated detergent.The U.S. Department of Energy recommends using HE-formulated detergent, which are low suds formulas that clean clothes with less water, if you have an HE machine.

If you run a lot, consider taking a break a few times a week.Before you need fresh linens, you may want to purchase enough towels, washcloths, and undergarments to last for a week or more.

Hang your towel with the used side facing away from you.It will give you another clean side to use so that you can get two uses.

If you only wear clothing for a short time, consider using it again before washing.

Replacing an older model with a newer model that complies with federal water-efficiency guidelines is a good idea.

To save the most, choose an ENERGY STAR certified model.To find out how much these machines cost, you can browse the options on HomeDepot.com.

You can get federal income tax credits for increasing energy efficiency in your home if your washer is not within your budget.

The washing tub needs to be filled to work properly for machines that use impellers to shoot water streams.

Consider the capacity of your machine and find laundry bins that are comparable for even greater efficiency.

Planning your wash days will save water over time, even though this may not work for bulkier items that must be washed separately.

Pick the right cycle for what you are washing.It is not necessary to run a heavy cycle for a small load.

The settings on newer washing machines increase water efficiency.During the week, commit to using them as part of your regular laundered money.

Extra or extended rinses should not be used unless you are trying to treat a specific stain or issue.

Make sure your water connections are not leaking.A small leak can cost you.It's a good idea to replace the connection hose every 3 to 5 years.

Is there more you can do to cut down on how much water a washing machine uses?Share your thoughts in the comments.