There are a few types of washing machines available today, and one of the major differences between them is how much water they use when full. Energy-efficient washers use significantly less water than normal washers, and this may be important if you’re considering buying a new washer. Washers with a low Water Factor or WF rating are more efficient.

Typical Washers

A regular washing machine is going to be a top-loading washer, which means that the door to insert the laundry is at the top and an agitator spins the laundry through the water. In the past, these washing machines used around 45 gallons of water or more for a full load, but modern washing machines can use around 40 or less.

High-Efficiency Washers

Front-loading washers have a door for the laundry at the front, like a dryer, and they tumble the clothes through the water similarly to how a dryer operates, too. These are considered high-efficiency washers in part because they don’t need as much water as older washers; some top-loading washers are also designed specifically to be high-efficiency washers. Both types use around 15-25 or 30 gallons of water, though some are capable of less.