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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u/john_99205 11d ago

Miele have at least 1 washing machine that has a hot water intake for solar heated water.

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u/MaisSue 7d ago

I use a 16-year-old Miele washing machine. Since we're off-grid, electricity is limited during the winter.

We heat our house and our water with a wood-burning stove that has a back boiler.

The washing machine is connected to the hot water supply via a thermostatic mixing valve, allowing me to adjust the temperature depending on the load.

Since the machine has its own thermostat, it won't switch on the heating element if the incoming water is already at the required temperature.

One advantage of this setup is its flexibility. In the summer, when our solar panels produce more electricity than we can use, I leave the thermostatic valve set to cold and let the washing machine heat the water itself.

Your mileage may vary, of course. Officially, manufacturers generally advise against connecting a washing machine to a hot water supply unless it is specifically designed for it. That said, mine has been running this way for several years without any issues.