What does that Energy Rating Label mean?

To find out what the label actually means, I went to the website on the label and they explain it fairly well. Below is a copy of the explanation from the site www.energyrating.gov.au

The Energy Rating Labelling Scheme is a mandatory scheme for a range of appliances, these currently include:

•     Refrigerators
•     Freezers
•     Clothes Washers
•     Clothes Dryers
•     Dishwashers
•     Air Conditioners
•     Televisions.

When offered for sale, these appliances must display a label that shows the star rating and other useful information about energy consumption. The label gives the appliances a star rating between one and ten stars. The greater the number of stars the higher the efficiency. It enables consumers to compare the energy efficiency of domestic appliances on a fair and equitable basis. It also provides incentive for manufacturers to improve the energy performance of appliances.

The Energy Rating Label was first introduced in 1986 in NSW and Victoria. It is now mandatory in all Australian states and territories and New Zealand for refrigerators, freezer, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers and air-conditioners (single phase only) to carry the label when they are offered for sale. Australia also applies a mandatory label to televisions.  A mandatory label is proposed for adoption in New Zealand on 1 October 2012.  Three phase air conditioners and swimming pool pumps may carry an energy rating label if the supplier chooses to apply for one.

The Energy Rating Label has two main features that provide consumers with the following information:

The star rating gives a comparative assessment of the model’s energy efficiency.
The comparative energy consumption (usually kilowatt hours/year) provides an estimate of the annual energy consumption of the appliance based on the tested energy consumption and information about the typical use of the appliance in the home. Air Conditioners show the power consumption of the appliance (kW or kWh/hour).

The Star Rating of an appliance is determined from the energy consumption and size of the product. These values are measured under Australian Standards which define test procedures for measuring energy consumption and minimum energy performance criteria. Appliances must meet these criteria before they can be granted an Energy Rating Label.

There is a calculator on the website, if you have the Brand, Model Number, and type of appliance, the calculator will give you that machine’s energy consuption. Here is the link to the Calculator.

Fisher and Paykel the Brand

Fisher & Paykel Washer

The Fisher and Paykel brand which comes from New Zealand is commonly referred to as F&P. Fisher and Paykel is a large company in New Zealand and has a large range of products including it whites goods range. The company was founded in 1934 by Maurice Paykel & Sir Woolf Fisher and they imported products from  Crosley Appliances, Maytag and Pilot products. In 1938 they began manufacturing their own Kelvinator washers under licence with the introduction of import tariffs. In 1956, their manufacturing was moved to a purpose-built factory in Mount Wellington, Auckland.

Fisher & Paykel began exporting to Australasia and East Asia around 1968. In the 1980 the company became more focus more on research and development and this resulted in the development of the ECS direct drive motor assembly washing machine and highly-automated production lines.In 1989, the company opened its first overseas manufacturing facility in Cleveland, Brisbane, Australia. In 1992 Fisher & Paykel entered the European Market and by 1994 was exporting to over 80 countries. Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd was listed publicly in 2001, following the separation of Fisher & Paykel Industries Ltd into Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd and Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd that same year.

Fisher & Paykel has acquired other manufacturers over the years to improve and expand into other markets and these include:

• In 1955 a Duneden electric oven manufacturer call H. E. Shacklock Ltd.
• In October 2004, Dynamic Cooking Systems Inc, a United States manufacturer and distributor of cooking appliances.
• In June 2006, the Italian cookware business called Elba from DeLonghi

Fisher & Paykel Appliances announced the closure of three manufacturing facilities in Dunedin, New Zealand, Cleveland, Australia and Huntington Beach, USA on 17 April 2008.

Fisher & Paykel Appliances currently manufactures cooking applinces, smart drive washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigeration products and dishwashers including their famous dish draw. A large number of Fisher & Paykel products utilise microprocessor and brushless DC motor technology  to improve efficiency. Fisher & Paykel now holds over 420 patents and based on it’s innovative design, particularly in the areas of usability and environmental awareness. Even with these patents it appears many other manufacturers are following in Fisher & Paykels design strategies with the brushless DC motor technology.

Fisher & Paykel Dish Draw

Since Fisher & Paykel first came to Australia, I have been a fan of their products and innovation. I have been servicing their products since the first washing machines came to Mackay. Although some products have given me a headache at stages I believe for the most part their products and well made and worth the investment. Most of the information I researched for this post came from Wikipedia. For service to your Fisher & Paykel washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers and cooking equipment in Mackay area call me Rod Swan at Andergrove Appliance Service.

Simpson Clothes Dryer

Simpson products have been one of the most popular Australian made products and their clothes dryers were right up there in their range of products. The Simpson clothes dryers is one of the simpliest and reliable brands for many years. I have been repairing the Simpson clothes dryer for over 30 years. Even as an apprentice I was repairing these appliances.

As with most brands an electric clothes dryer tumbles the clothes in this action it is lifting the clothes up from the bottom as the drum rotates and drops them down through the center of the drum. As this is happening a fan is blowing heated air through the drum and this air is filtered and then pumped out of the dryer. So as far as components of a clothes dryer there are the following.

• Motor and associated belts.
• fan usually belt driven except on the later models.
• Heating element and associated thermostats.
• Timer to control the drying time.
• Door switch and other safety switches.

All of these components can give trouble, but on the older Simpson clothes dryers the most common fault was the nylon fan belt on the back of the dryer. If the belt became worn or broke the fan would not blow air through the dryer and it would not dry the clothes. The heater would over heat and cut out on an overload. I will be going into further  faults in future posts.