One of the main criteria for choosing a modern washing machine is a plastic or steel drum. There is a certain bias against plastic options, however, it should be noted that they have a lot of advantages.
Instructions
Step 1
The wording "plastic drum" is not entirely correct. The drum of a washing machine is always made of steel, a tank can be made of plastic, that is, a container where the drum is located.
Step 2
Numerous studies of heat transfer from tanks made of different materials have shown that the smallest parameter is observed precisely in plastic, which is not surprising, since metal conducts heat much better. This parameter affects energy consumption and electricity costs. Less heat dissipation guarantees lower energy costs, so we can say that cars with plastic tanks save a lot of money during use.
Step 3
The next important parameter is the noise level of the tank. Again, it is not surprising that plastic has the lowest noise level, since it is more flexible and has a higher noise reduction. True, it should be noted that in this case the difference between metal and plastic tanks is not so great, but if you are sensitive to loud sounds, choose a machine with a plastic tank.
Step 4
Unfortunately, there is a parameter by which metal tanks are unconditionally ahead of plastic ones - this is strength. Of course, steel tanks are much stronger than plastic ones, because the latter react rather poorly to heavy loads. During the vibration of the washing machine, the counterweight can break and, therefore, depressurize the plastic tank with water. So the durability of such washing machines does not shine. In addition, the guarantee given by the manufacturer for machines with plastic tanks is much less than for machines with steel tanks.
Step 5
Another interesting parameter is the interaction with chemicals and their absorption by different materials. On this issue, the opinions of experts differ. It is impossible to unambiguously establish the level of reaction of materials with chemicals contained in washing powder or bleach, and, accordingly, to assess how harmful the resulting harmful and toxic substances are. Typically, steel for washing machine tanks is made from high-quality, chemical-resistant alloys. With plastic, things are not so simple, since manufacturing companies keep their plastic manufacturing technologies secret, while claiming that their plastic is not as toxic as steel, which is rather doubtful.
Step 6
It should be noted that, on average, washing machines with steel tanks are more expensive than plastic ones, which is easy to explain. Either way, if you are not going to transport the machine from place to place, and want to save money and reduce noise, you can easily choose a washing machine with a plastic drum.
