This could go in Annoyed Thoughts, but it’s a question that probably has a reasonable answer, so I started a new thread.
Our washing machine, on the cycle I almost always use, predicts the cycle will take 44 minutes. That itself could trigger an Annoyed Thought, since the built in timers on my Apple watch are 40 and 46, but I do know how to set one for 44, so that issue is just a :yawn:. I just set the timer for 46.
Then question, or Annoyed Thought, is that it’s NEVER done in 44. Probably 48 is closer, or maybe even a little longer. The same time each time? I’m not sure. But what’s taking the extra time? Do machines now (or machines bought about 6 years ago) try to detect how much cleaning the clothes still need? Or is it more likely to be the spin cycle, concluding there’s still to much absorbed liquid? Something else?
Usually i’m running it quite full, if that makes a difference. Seems like that could make the spin cycle take longer. I haven’t paid enough attention to know how quickly it concludes it will need extra time, or how often it’s off by over 2 minutes with predicted less than 10 to go.
Same thing with dryer. The predicted cycle time doesn’t seem to vary with load size so it’s not surprising that my consistently large loads consistently take longer than expected. But the predicted end time (only remaining time is displayed, but a manageable calculation if I’m wearing the apple watch) can be more than 5 minutes off with predicted less than 10 remaining (from an original prediction of 50). That seems like a lot of error for that late in the process.
it’s like windows copy or update time. the new washers weigh everything and somehow monitor the water to see if the exit water is clear enough to be done and…oh well. progress!
My 10+ year old machine will run long. It shows time remaining and the final spin cycle will often take longer than stated. It is a front loader and sometimes has to spin up/down a few times to balance everything out properly so it can run the final spin. It might do the same after each other wash/rinse, but I only notice it at the end since that is when I might be waiting for it to run before I leave the house.
For the washer, I also thought that there might be some additional time to balance the load enough to do the high-speed spin cycle.
As for the dryer . . . I wonder in what environment was the “timing” calibrated. I know it takes far longer for the dryer to complete in very humid environment (and far less time in a very dry environment). I’m going to guess that the OP lives in an area that is generally more humid than the calibrated environment.
I used to work in an office that had free microwave popcorn. And the microwaves had the ‘popcorn’ button, but if you used that button, it would often burn the popcorn and stink up the area. But I guess folks who sat far enough away and didn’t have to deal with any smell they made didn’t much care, burnt popcorn was a weekly thing.
Someone made a sign that said ‘THE POPCORN BUTTON IS A GUIDELINE, NOT A GUARANTEE’ and hung copies all over the break room. I guess this is kind of like that.
I dry essentially everything on delicates b/c heat is bad. I take the difference between the estimated cycle time and actual cycle time to be the dryer telling me that my load is too big.
My concern is not so much that the estimated cycle time, before starting the load, is too low. It’s that the adjusted time, well into the cycle, is wrong. And this is not just a an initial estimate counting down. Last night, a single cycle and only one intermediate observation: estimated before start, 44 minutes. Estimate after 54 minutes: 4 minutes remaining. (I saw it change from 5 to 4, just under 54 minutes into the cycle.) Actual remaining time from that point: almost 8 minutes.