Consumer Agency Produces Comparative Information on Drum Washing Machines
Cold Water Course Uses Less Power Despite Longer Washing Time... Advantageous for Energy Saving
Winia Daewoo Violates Display Grade (Grade 2) Standards... Improvements Planned
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] It was found that the power consumption of drum washing machines varies by up to 2.8 times depending on the product. Washing time differed by up to 1 hour and 28 minutes between products.
The Korea Consumer Agency tested and evaluated drum washing machines, which are highly preferred by consumers, for washing performance, power consumption, washing time, water usage, noise, and safety to provide objective product quality information to consumers. The evaluation targets were five products from three brands: ▲Samsung Electronics large capacity (WF21T6300KP) and medium capacity (WF14F5K3AVW1) ▲Winia Daewoo medium capacity (DWD-15PDWC) ▲LG Electronics large capacity (F21VDZ) and medium capacity (F14WQT).
According to the results, in the 40℃ standard course, LG Electronics (large capacity) had the lowest power consumption at 224Wh (7,500 KRW), while Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) had the highest at 626Wh (21,000 KRW), showing a maximum difference of 2.8 times between products.
In the cold water standard course, Samsung Electronics (medium capacity) consumed the least power at 66Wh (2,200 KRW), and Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) consumed the most at 120Wh (4,000 KRW).
Power consumption in the blanket course ranged from 100Wh for Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) to 488Wh for Samsung Electronics (large capacity).
Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) violated the display grade (Grade 2) standard. The Fair Trade Commission plans to notify the Korea Energy Agency of this matter. Winia Daewoo has responded that it will improve the issue and perform program upgrades on products already sold.
In the 40℃ standard course, washing time varied by up to 1 hour and 28 minutes (31 minutes to 1 hour 59 minutes) between products. Samsung Electronics (large capacity) had the shortest time at 31 minutes, while Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) had the longest at 1 hour 59 minutes.
In the cold water standard course, LG Electronics (large capacity) had the shortest washing time at 40 minutes, and Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) had the longest at 1 hour 22 minutes, showing a maximum difference of 42 minutes between products. In the blanket course, washing times ranged from 1 hour 35 minutes for Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) to 2 hours 10 minutes for LG Electronics (medium capacity).
Washing performance also varied depending on the washing course. All products were rated 'Good' or higher in the standard course. In the 40℃ standard course, Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) and in the cold water standard course, LG Electronics (medium capacity) were relatively rated as 'Excellent.'
In the blanket course, three products?Samsung Electronics (large and medium capacity) and LG Electronics (large capacity)?were rated relatively 'Excellent' in washing performance, while Winia Daewoo (medium capacity) was rated 'Average' due to relatively poor stain removal.
A Korea Consumer Agency official stated, "When using the cold water standard course, washing performance was not significantly different from the 40℃ standard course, but energy consumption was much lower (4.4 times difference), indicating that cold water washing is advantageous for energy saving." The official added, "The Korea Consumer Agency will continue to provide safety and quality comparison information on home appliances to support consumers' rational consumption."
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