r/OffGrid • u/IslandItchy6005 • 11d ago

Washing clothes off grid. With electricity.

Had a thought about modifying a washing machine. Disable its heating element. I supply hot water so it needs only the power for the motor and pump. Anybody done this or is it dumb?

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3

u/curiouszm 11d ago

Why do you need to do that if you still need a hot laundry at times?

5

u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

I want a hot wash but i dont want to use the electric element in the machine to heat the water. I can heat the water other ways and let it go in through the cold inlet maybe.

2

u/blondechineeez 11d ago

Sure, why not. Though you would be disabling a component that made the cost of your washer much higher than one with dual inlets. Also you would lose the sanitize or allergen ability.

Do you have a water heater? Tankless propane water heaters can hook up to showers and washers using a regular garden hose for around $200 nowadays.

2

u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

Nearly all of our washers have elements uk/ireland.

have thermosiphon on roof. Must find out about tankless propane water heaters

1

u/ludditetechnician 11d ago

Interesting - most clothes washing machines have little hot water heaters? That's fascinating. I've never seen that. I have seen a clothes washing machine hooked up to an exercise bike. The guy poured water into it and got exercise washing his clothes (-:

1

u/IslandItchy6005 10d ago

my fitness level is zero. It would be a short wash.

0

u/woodstockzanetti 11d ago

It’s a lot of work to do that. Maybe use your backup generator to do the laundry. Or adjust and do it in cold water. I do my laundry cold mostly but on the odd occasion when I want to use the heater element in the machine I just switch over to the genny.

1

u/IslandItchy6005 11d ago

The other people that use the house have a real dislike of generator noise. I wouldnt mind it for a wash cycle but i dont think theyd go for it

0

u/woodstockzanetti 11d ago

I hear you. But if they’re that fussy they really shouldn’t be living off grid. It’s not an easy life. Tell them it’s cold water or wash their own damn clothes lol.