Model
Whirlpool WFW5605M**
Rank #266 means 265 of the 388 washing machine models we track cost less to run each year; the 45th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 45% of those models.
What does the Whirlpool WFW5605M** cost to run per year?
The Whirlpool WFW5605M** is a relatively costly runner for its class: about $24 a year, rank #266 of 388. Once capacity is factored in, its efficiency percentile of 45 is fairly typical for the class, neither a standout nor a laggard. Its IMEF of 2.76 reflects integrated modified energy factor, one of the class's core efficiency levers.
Immediately around it on the leaderboard, the Samsung WF56H91**C* at $24/yr runs a little cheaper and the Ge GTW490ACJ2WS at $25/yr runs a little more, a sense of how tightly models are packed at this point in the ranking. A washing machine typically stays in service for somewhere around 10 years; over that span, the Whirlpool WFW5605M**'s $24/yr adds up to roughly $240 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
By the numbers
The Whirlpool WFW5605M** normalized against its whole class, so each figure means something.
What it costs you over time
Running cost is an every-year number, so it compounds. At $24/yr, here is what the Whirlpool WFW5605M** adds up to before purchase price, water, or repairs enter the math.
Left running for a decade at today's US average rate, the Whirlpool WFW5605M** costs about $240. That is roughly $40 more than the class median, which would run closer to $200 over the same ten years.
How the Whirlpool WFW5605M** compares
The washing machine class we track runs from $7 to $58 a year. At $24/yr, it runs about $4 a year above the class median of $20, and it is about $17 a year more than the cheapest washing machine to run at $7.
What drives its running cost
At 4.5 cu ft, the Whirlpool WFW5605M** is a mid-size washing machine for its class, which spans 1.9 to 6 cu ft with a median of 4.5 cu ft, neither the size advantage of a small unit nor the size penalty of a large one applies here, so its running cost is a fairer test of efficiency alone. Its IMEF of 2.76, above the class median of 2.76, reflects integrated modified energy factor: a higher figure means it wrings more useful work out of every kilowatt-hour, so it is the efficiency lever to weigh against raw size.
- Spin and wash efficiency (IMEF). A higher Integrated Modified Energy Factor means the machine wrings more useful washing (and a drier spin) out of every kilowatt-hour and gallon it uses.
- Drum volume. Drum volume sets the ceiling on how much a single cycle can wash, and it is usually the first driver of a washer's per-cycle energy use.
- Water heating. Cycle temperature, more than drum size, is usually what separates a cheap wash cycle from an expensive one on models with an internal water heater.
Common questions
Is the Whirlpool WFW5605M** cheap to run?
Not especially. At $24 a year it ranks #266 of 388 washing machine models we track, in the pricier part of its class to run, though its size and features may still justify that for your needs.
How much does the Whirlpool WFW5605M** cost per month?
Roughly $2.01/mo, spreading the $24/yr estimate evenly across twelve months at $0.1856/kWh. Actual monthly bills swing with your rate and usage pattern.
How is this running-cost figure calculated?
We take the model's published annual energy use of 130 kWh from ENERGY STAR and multiply it by the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, giving about $24 a year. It is an electricity-only estimate and does not include purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the Whirlpool WFW5605M** for its size?
45th percentile once size is factored in. That means its size-adjusted efficiency is not the main reason for the running-cost figure above; its capacity plays a large role too.
Cheaper to run in the same class
| Rank | Model | Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|
| 265 | Samsung WF56H91**C*5.6 cu ft | $24 |
| 264 | Lg WT7850H*A5.2 cu ft | $24 |
| 263 | Lg WT7800C*5.5 cu ft | $24 |
| 262 | Lg WT7600H*A5.2 cu ft | $24 |
| 261 | Lg WT7500C*5.2 cu ft | $24 |
Source
ES_22856_WFW5605M**_081820210741136_5908275View certified washing machine listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Whirlpool and WFW5605M** are used here for identification only and are not endorsements. Figures are computed by WattWise Labs from public ENERGY STAR data, not measured in our own lab.