No, top-load washers are not relics, especially now that they are more energy-efficient.
Some had predicted the eventual demise of top-loaders as government regulators imposed ever-stricter water- and energy-use limits on washing machines. But most manufacturers stepped up and redesigned top-load washers to provide greater efficiency, and now compete with front-loading models.
If you want a new top-loader, buy a model with an Energy Star label. That means it’s more energy-efficient.
There are two types of top-load washers: agitator and impeller/high efficiency (HE). In agitator models, the agitator rubs against the clothes to get them clean. Impeller (or HE) models utilize drum motions to rub the clothes against each other.ent than a traditional machine. Top-load high-efficiency machines use 12 to 17 gallons of water, whereas a standard top-load washer averages 40 gallons per load.
An Energy Star certified top-loader tumbles or rotates clothes through a stream of water rather than filling the drum. The temperature and water level are monitored through sensors. A high-pressure spray rinses the garments rather than soaking them in a tub full of water.
