Monday, October 17, 2011

The Washing Machine As A Tool Of Societal Development

By Mustafa Saeed


A historical study concluded that a hundred years ago at the turn of the 20th century, women spent almost 58 hours doing household chores. Now they spend less than 18 hours. The modern washer dryer was one of those inventions that freed a household from having to do the difficult chore of washing clothes.

The earliest mention of a fully automatic washer was in the 1910s. Maytag, the venerable brand, produced a machine in 1911 that had an electric motor. In general, development of the washer required that households be equipped with both electricity and running water.

A component of the washer that exemplified this dependency is the fill valve. It is an unassuming, small piece that plays a rather outsized role in regulating the water temperature. Both electricity and water runs through it for it to exert its effects.

The crucial piece of hardware in the fill valve is a solenoid which is a wire coil. They are found in car ignition systems also. When electricity runs through the wires, it tugs on a plug that then releases water from the appropriate intake. Shutting it off causes the plug to stop the water flow again.

Homes today can use compact-sized washers. Three kinds of compact washer and dryers are called combo, stackable and portable. Washers and dryers which are stackable are just about full sized models other than the fact that they use a vertical design, that consumes little space. The combo however, has both washing and drying capabilities bundled in a single unit. Portable washers and dryers are the most compact of the three kinds.

Unless you scrutinize hard enough, you would mistake the combo washer and dryer as only one machine as opposed to two as a result of its ultra compact dimension of only 27 inches in width. You can perform both washing and drying inside a solo compartment when working with the combination model. And you know what this signifies, that you could carry out your washing and drying without requiring space for two home appliances. Almost all combo units make use of condensation drying that calls for a lesser amount of energy than vented heating models.




About the Author: