If You're Looking to Buy a Top Load Washer, This Is the One Thing You Need to Know (original) (raw)
Impeller Washer vs. Agitator Washer: What's the Difference?
If you're preparing to purchase a new top-loading washing machine, you might wonder which cleaning mechanism is better—an impeller or an agitator system. Impeller-style washers use a newer mechanism; they differ because one twists clothes and the other spins them.
Read more about how agitator vs. impeller washers stack up against each other, how they work, and which best fits your needs.
Agitator vs. Impeller Washers: Key Differences
Agitator and impeller washers are effective and energy-efficient machines that use different mechanisms and techniques to clean laundry—twisting vs. spinning.
Tip
An impeller or agitator can usually be removed to clean or retrieve an item stuck underneath.
Costs of Agitator vs. Impeller Washers
An agitator washing machine can cost between 550and550 and 550and700. Because of newer technology, the cost of an impeller washing machine is higher, averaging between 600and600 and 600and1,400.
What Is an Agitator Washer?
An agitator washer is the more common or familiar type of top-load machine. The agitator is the tall post in the center of the wash drum that grabs and twists the clothes back and forth while the items get moistened and soapy.
Fins or blades run from the base to the top of the post, jostling items and breaking dirt, grime, and stains apart during the wash cycle. Agitator washers are known for being hard on clothes, but that perception changes as better designs emerge.
Pros
- Wash cycle finishes faster than impeller
- More common, easier to find
- More affordable option
- Best for removing heavy-duty stains and odors
- Less expensive to maintain
Cons
- Clothing sometimes get twisted around post
- Not as gentle with delicates as impellers
- Agitators take up space, reducing interior space
- Agitator post can get mold in nooks and crannies
What Is an Impeller Washer?
An impeller washer is a newer type of top-loading washer. It cleans clothes by using a short cone, disk, or wheel at the base of the washing machine's drum.
Unlike the agitator's twisting motion, the low-profile cone or wheel in an impeller washing machine spins laundry, causing items to move against each other with the detergent and water. The impeller pulls clothes to the drum's center and then back towards the outer edge, creating a gentle friction that cleans clothes.
Pros
- Uses less water
- Gentler on your clothes
- More room in the drum for larger loads
- Laundry easier to remove from basket
- Better at removing moisture from clothing during the spin cycle
Cons
- Cycle takes longer to finish
- Newer; tougher to find in stores
- Pricier option
- Gentler, not as tough on stains and odors
- Clothing can tangle and load becomes imbalanced
- May be costlier to maintain newer models
Agitator vs. Impeller: Which Is Better?
An agitator washing machine may be best for your household if your loads include more heavy-duty clothing with tough stains. An impeller washing machine may do well for a water-conscious household that washes more delicate fabrics and requires interior space that handles slightly larger loads.
FAQ
- Impeller and agitator washers are both very effective at cleaning laundry. Some consider agitator machines superior because they offer a more robust cleaning technique, while others prefer the gentle action of impeller washers.
- Impeller washers are usually more expensive to purchase and take longer to complete cycles.
- Sometimes, an impeller in a washing machine can move your clothing, causing tangles. Avoid overloading and loosely place clothing in the washer to reduce tangling.
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