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Canon Image Challenge | all galleries >> CIC 278: Jan 2026 Cold >> Eligible > Don’t Touch The Settings
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07-Jan-2026 Paul

Don’t Touch The Settings

For fear of retribution I’ve been warned never change the settings, just load and push the start button (out of frame).
I’d be toast if she knew I moved it from Cool to Cold for the photo.

Apple iPhone 16 Pro
1/60s f/1.8 at 6.8mm iso100 full exif

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comment
Canon Image Challenge11-Jan-2026 03:39
I figured you guys were pulling my leg when the water temperature creeped into the conversation then I realized you probably weren’t. The washer briefly opens the hot water valve with the cold water line to blend the two together. I don’t know if the solenoids are controlled by time or if it’s actually thermostatic controlled.

The oddity is the water heater is like 30+ pipe feet away and it’s 3/4 inch pipe and we do not have a hot water loop so by the time hot water gets there the blending call would long be over so hot water would be ambient basement temperature. Paul
Canon Image Challenge10-Jan-2026 17:06
I checked our clothes washer (a 17-year-old front-loading Whirlpool, which I'm allowed to use), and it doesn't have a cool setting between cold and warm. The temperature of cold water is seasonal. One of my favorite things about winter is the cold, refreshing drinking water directly from the tap.

My observation about the appliances is that color choices are more limited today. My mother needed a new dishwasher and refrigerator, and almost all were stainless steel. When we bought our washer and dryer, stainless steel cost and extra $200/unit. Getting white was an easy decision.

Dave
Canon Image Challenge10-Jan-2026 14:05
Nice idea! I'm also puzzled about the difference between cool and cold. We do all our washing on cold, which is just whatever temperature the water is coming out of the tap. There is no 'cool' setting. After cold, I think the other settings are labeled with specific temperatures. Maybe, instead of refrigerating already cool water to make it cold, this machine slightly warms cold water to make it cool?
Alastair
Canon Image Challenge08-Jan-2026 22:32
First, let me say this time of year, Mother Nature does a pretty effective job of providing adequate cold water; no pre-chilling is necessary.

Our 15-year-old Maytag, which had been progressively giving us grief, finally shot craps a couple of days before Christmas, and my last-ditch repair efforts were less than stellar. In fact, I may have made it worse; no, I did make it worse.

In our efforts to research a new washing machine, I discovered that all the newer machines were taller by about 3 inches when the lid was up. That was a problem since we have built-in cabinets above the washer, and the lid would not open all the way, and that would have been a PITA since we didn’t have room to move it out further. More research was necessary, either we removed the soffit and raised the cabinets (no) or tried to find a washer that fit. Speed Queen to the rescue. Factor in that they are built like a tank since that’s what they use in laundromats, and they are very quiet (43 db)…sold. When can you deliver it? It was the next day and I had to hustle to replace the water shutoff valves that weren’t fully shutting off.

Ultimately, I can’t yet tell you about our experience with reliability, but like you say, they have a long history of survival. Did I mention quiet, you can hardly tell it’s running. That feature alone impresses me. Paul
Canon Image Challenge08-Jan-2026 11:31
Cold vs. Cool? Does your washing machine have the ability to refrigerate water?

I've heard good things about Speed Queen. Has it proven reliable for you?

Dave
Canon Image Challenge08-Jan-2026 05:20
lol....T
Canon Image Challenge07-Jan-2026 23:35
Good idea, and nicely executed.
I'm still in the search mode.

Jim