One of the specs you'll need to look into when buying your new washing machine is the spin speed, shown in RPM (revolutions per minute). The faster the spin speed, the more quickly water will be removed from your clothes. The down-side to this is that more creases will occur. So it's not necessarily the case that a faster spin speed is better. A fast spin is only really used on towels or sheets - not for your every day washing. Another thing to consider when choosing the spin speed of your new machine is that a higher spin speed will put more strain on the hardware. The Hotpoint AQ113D697S machine is capable of 1600 RPM.
Make sure you check out the excellent article - Washing Machine Spin Speeds - over at Washer Help.
As with Fridge Freezers, Cookers or any other home appliance, washing machines and washer dryers use the EU's excellent energy rating system as a guide to how energy efficient your new machine will be. With constantly spiraling energy prices and the importance of conserving energy, it's a stat that's important when you're buying your new washing machine / washer dryer.
The energy rating scale runs from A to G. I'm sure everyone knows that A is the best! Meaning that it uses the least energy and is the most cost effective. Modern washing machines and dryers will be around the A and B mark. It's pretty much impossible to find a product with a D or worse rating these days. The Hotpoint AQ113D697S has a wash rating of A.
The more energy efficient an appliance is, the more money you save and the more you can help the environment. The Energy rating label also displays energy consumption. This is shown in kWh / year. You can work out the average running costs of this unit by multiplying the kWh consumption figure by 9p. Although most people prefer to use the A-G scale as their guide.
