Impeller vs. Agitator: Everything to Know Before You Buy a Washer
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If you're preparing to purchase a new washing machine, there are many questions to consider. Where should you buy your washer? Which washing machine brands should you consider? Even if you've already narrowed your search to a top load washer versus a front load washing machine, you still have to choose between an impeller or agitator washer.
Impeller and agitator washers have many similarities: they are both top load washing machines, they also energy-efficient, and capable of handling large loads of laundry. The primary difference between these two washers is not what they do, but how they do it.
Read on to find out how these agitator and impeller washing machines work, their pros and cons, as well as which washer is the best fit for you.
Agitator Washer
An agitator washer is a familiar type of top load washing machine that uses a tall post at the center of the wash basket to clean your clothes. This is your classic top load washing machine. The central post agitates the laundry by twisting back and forth, rubbing your clothes, towels, and such with soap and water to effectively remove stains.
How Agitator Washers Work
The agitator refers to the tall column in the center of your wash basket. It features fins or blades that circle the agitator, running from the base to the top. These help jostle items and break apart stains as the agitator twists back and forth during the wash cycle.
The agitator washer has more of a "hands-on" approach to washing. The agitator cleans via direct contact with your clothes, rubbing against them with the fins and back-and-forth movement to free stains and smells. Consequently, agitator washers are traditionally known for being hard on clothes, but advancements in design are rapidly changing their reputation. Today, these top load washing machines are very effective at removing tough stains without being tough on your clothes.
Pros
Since agitators use multiple features for washing clothes, the wash time is typically shorter than with an impeller washing machine.
Agitator machines are more common and better known than impeller washers, so it may be easier to find and maintain an agitator washing machine.
Agitator washing machines are typically more affordable than newer impeller models.
Agitator washers can be especially ideal for heavy-duty items and tough stains, since the agitator itself provides multiple motions to loosen trapped stains and smells.
Cons
Since agitators stand in the center of your washing machine, removing wet clothes can be a little more difficult than with impeller washers.
While agitator washers are designed to clean your clothes without damaging them, impeller washing machines generally provide a gentler clean than agitators.
Agitators take up more space in your washing machine than impellers, so these machines may hold less laundry than impeller washers.
Impeller Washer
An impeller washer is another popular type of top load machine, but unlike the agitator washer, the impeller uses a short cone at the base of your machine to clean clothes. Unlike the twist motion of the agitator, the cone in an impeller washing machine spins to rub the clothes against one another with detergent and water.
How Impeller Washers Work
An impeller washing machine uses a low-profile cone or disc across the bottom of your machine's wash basket to clean clothes. While the agitator's blades rub against clothes to clean them, the impeller moves items against each other to lift dirt and odors from the fabric. Additionally, an agitator washer moves clothes back and forth to free trapped stains and smells. An impeller, on the other hand, pulls clothes to the center of your wash basket and then back towards the outer edge, creating a subtle friction to clean your laundry. This allows for a gentler clean, less water, and sometimes even larger loads of laundry.
Pros
Impeller washers typically use less water than agitator washing machines.
Since impeller washers rub clothes against each other to lift stains and smells, they offer a gentler clean than agitators.
Without an agitator taking up space, there's more room in the impeller machine's wash basket for large loads, and washed laundry is generally easier to remove.
Impeller washers typically have a shorter dry time, because the spin cycle is very effective a removing moisture.
Cons
Since impeller washers provide a gentler clean than agitator washing machines, the wash cycle often takes longer to complete.
Agitators are more common machines, while impellers have gained popularity in recent years. Consequently, an impeller machine may be harder to find and maintain than an agitator washer.
Since impeller washers are newer and more modern than agitators, they are often more expensive.
Due to their gentle cleaning technique, some sources say impeller washers are not quite as effective at removing stains and smells as agitator washing machines.
How to Choose the Right Washer For Your Home
At the end of the day, both agitator and impeller washers are effective, energy-efficient machines. Although agitator and impeller washers use different mechanisms and techniques for cleaning your laundry, the machine that's best for you and your family ultimately comes down to preference.
Some benefits of an agitator washing machine may include:
More affordable
More common, classic design
Known to offer a more powerful clean
Typically cheaper to maintain
On the other hand, you may want to choose an impeller washing machine for:
Newer, more modern design
Less water waste
Often more energy-efficient
More space for larger loads of laundry
Gentler clean for delicate items
Frequently Asked Questions
Which uses less water, an impeller or an agitator?
Impeller washing machines typically use less water than agitator washers.
Can I take the agitator out of a washing machine?
Yes, you can remove the agitator from a washing machine, and the process is relatively simple. Nevertheless, experts recommend you hire a professional.
Do impeller washers clean as well as agitators?
Agitator and impeller washers are both very effective at cleaning laundry well. That said, some sources say agitator machines are the superior option, because they offer a more robust cleaning technique.
Read the original article on The Spruce.
