Home improvement- Free tips for all Home improvement- All free home improvement and maintenance tips.

Fix your hot water issues and save a trip to the laundromat.Washing machines need access to hot- and cold-water plumbing to adequately clean clothes during the wash cycle. Problems with hot water entering the wash at the wrong time could be due to a mistake in choosing the right wash option or an incorrect plumbing configuration. Solving these problems can help correct water temperature issues without having to call in a professional technician and potentially saving you money. Incorrect water temperature, during the rinse cycle, can damage non-color-fast clothes and shrink certain fabric types.Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedThermometer1

Examine the washing machine's controls and verify that the temperature settings match the washing instructions for your clothes. Turn down the water temperature, if possible, with the "Wash Temp" or "Temp" dial or button. Your washing machine could be set up to use warm water in the wash and rinse portions of the cycle. "Heavy Duty" or "High Soil" cycles often use hot water to remove stubborn stains.

Move the washing machine away from the wall so you can see the water supply pipes. Verify that the hot and cold pipes are hooked up correctly; the pipes could be swapped around, making the appliance use hot instead of cold water and vice-versa. Turn off the water at the wall valve, unscrew the pipes and swap them over, if necessary.

Check the temperature in your home's water supply by running the tap onto a thermometer. The hot water should be between 120 and 140 Fahrenheit or 48 to 60 Celsius. Adjust the temperature on your water heater thermostat if the water is too hot or cold. Contact a plumber if you are hesitant about making changes to your water heater.