st238

CLEAN MACHINES

TECH FEATURE

visit jbhifi.com.au/stack

STAR POWER Rising electricity

Star ratings can vary between appliances: for example, a heat pump dryer can have a nine-star rating, while the most energy efficient washer has a five-star rating.

Energy saving tips for the laundry Wash with cold water and try to fill the drum with a full load. Smart washers and dryers are designed to be more energy efficient, optimising water and power to suit the weight and type of load.

Plus, washers with a high star energy rating can also have a high water rating. The off peak advantage

costs have made us all more conscious of appliances around the home that eat power like Pac-Man. To determine the energy efficiency of your washer and

Some companion apps can monitor power consumption, or you can connect a washer and dryer to a smart plug with appliance energy monitoring to keep tabs. Don’t overload the dryer, and line/air dry whenever possible Use a lower heat setting on the dryer and don’t load clothes if sopping wet. Keep the dryer’s lint filter clean. Dryers equipped with a moisture sensor will automatically switch off once the clothes are dry.

dryer, simply look to the stars. This distinctive Energy Rating sticker gives you the info you need – the more stars at the top of the badge, the more energy efficient the appliance is. And if a product rates more than six stars, you’ll see a Super Efficiency star rating above the energy rating.

Using electricity during off-peak times – when demand is low – is a key way to avoid bill shock. In Australia, off-peak times can vary depending on the location, but is generally at night and on weekends. Energy providers can offer off-peak pricing, but a smart meter may be required.

PERFECT PAIRS F or decades, washers and dryers were designed for practicality with little regard manufacturers have ditched the vanilla look for more innovative designs and colours to make washers and dryers the focal point of a laundry – dark colours for aesthetics – appliances were predominantly white. But today,

Matching a washer and dryer from the same brand is not only better for your budget, but also brings smart functionality and complementary functions and designs to your laundry.

are becoming the new white! If you’re ready to upgrade, why not pick a perfect match? Washer and dryer sets from the same brand not only look great

in the laundry, but also have features and functions designed to complement each other, such as similar drum capacities, eco modes, and fast cycle options.

The Haier pair

Westinghouse WWF9024M5WA 9kg EasyCare Front Load Washer + Westinghouse WDH804N7WA 8kg EasyCare 500 Series Heat Pump Dryer The Westinghouse pair

Haier HWF85ANB1 8.5kg Front Load Washer + Haier HDHP80ANB1 8kg Heat Pump Dryer

Choose the dark side with this graphite coloured duo. Both are Wi-Fi enabled for smart home connection and remote control from a smartphone, and will treat your clothes with TLC.

When white is just right, this versatile pair from

Westinghouse is a good match that will save you power, with the washer boasting a four-star rating and the dryer seven stars.

The front load washer has an inverter motor for quieter operation and adjustable spin speeds up to 1200 RPM for a more efficient wash, as well as a big 3XL door to accommodate bulky loads like towels, doonas, and bed linen. There’s a fast 15-minute wash mode for urgent items, along with a Full Load 60 option and hygiene function that kills common allergens and bacteria using water vapour. The heat pump dryer sports a simple, traditional rotary dial and uses reverse tumbling to prevent clothes bunching and tangling. It’s smart enough to end a cycle before the set time if it detects that the load is dry enough, preventing damage to clothes from over-drying and saving power, and also has an auto cooling down function to reduce wrinkles.

Specialised modes can sanitise clothing during the wash and dry cycles, and there are eco options for reducing energy consumption – when washing, up to 44%, and water by over 25L. And they both feature fast cycle programs for speedy washing of any urgent or forgotten items, and an Express30 cycle for quick drying. The dryer has 12 cycles including a dedicated Rack Dry setting – with a drying rack included as a bonus – and an Eco cycle to dry at lower temperatures. And both washer and dryer boast high energy star ratings of four and eight, respectively.

46 AUGUST 2024

jbhifi.com.au