Whirlpool RAM5243A User Manual

Home Appliances

Use And Care

A Note To You
Understanding

Washer Safety 3
Knowing Your

Washer's Features 4
Operating Your

Washer 5

Other Features 9
Laundry Tips 11
If You Need

Assistance
Or Service 21

Warranty 24

1-800-44-ROPER

Call us with questions or comments

TWO SPEED AUTOMATIC WASHER

MODEL RAM5243A

A NOTE TO YOU

A Note To You

Thank you for buying a Roper* appliance.

You have purchased a quality, world-class home appliance. Years of engineering experience have
gone into its manufacturing. To ensure that you will enjoy many years of trouble-free operation, we
have developed this Use and Care Guide. It is full of valuable information on how to operate and
maintain your appliance properly and safely. Please read it carefully. Also, please complete and
mail the Ownership Registration Card provided with your appliance.

Your safety is important to us.

This guide contains safety symbols and statements. Please pay special attention to these symbols
and follow any instructions given. Here is a brief explanation of the use of each symbol.

Awarning

This symbol will help alert you to such
dangers as personal injury, bums, fire and
electrical shock.

This symbol will help you avoid actions
which could cause product damage
(scratches, dents, etc.) and damage to your
personal property.

Acaution

Our toll-free number, 1-800-44-ROPER (1-800-447-6737), is available 24 hours a day.

If you have a question concerning your appliance’s operation, or if you need service, first see ‘If

You Need Assistance Or Service” on page 21. If you need further help, call us. When calling, you
will need to know your appliance’s complete model number and serial number. You can find this
information on the model and serial number plate (see diagram on page 4). For your convenience,
we have included a handy place below for you to record these numbers, the purchase date from
the sales slip and your dealer’s name and telephone number. Keep this book and the sales slip
together in a safe place for future reference.

Model Number
Serial Number
Purchase Date

Dealer Name
Dealer Phone

UNDERSTANDING WASHER SAFETY

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

AWARNING

To reduce the risk of fire, electrical shock or Injury to persons
when using your washer, follow basic precautions. Including
the following:

• Read all instructions before using your
washer.

• Do not machine wash or machine dry
items cleaned, washed, soaked in, or
spotted with wax, paint, gasoline, oil, or
other flammable fluids. The fumes can
create a fire hazard or explosion. Always
hand wash and line dry items containing
these materials.

• Flammable fluids (dry-cleaning solvents,
kerosene, gasoline, etc.) should not be
used or stored in or near your washer. Do
not add flammable fluids to your wash
water. These substances give off vapors
that can create a fire hazard or explosion.

• Do not allow children to operate, play with,
or crawl on or inside your washer. Super

vise children closely when your washer is

used near them.

• Before your washer is removed from

service or discarded, remove the lid to

prevent accidental entrapment.

• After starting a cycle, do not reach into the
basket unless the Cycle Control Knob is

pushed in and all motion stops.

• Do not tamper with the controls.

• If your hot water has not been used
recently (usually 2 weeks or longer),
hydrogen gases may build up in your
water heater and your hot water pipes.
HYDROGEN GAS IS EXPLOSIVE. To
prevent injury or damage, before using

your washer, turn on all hot water faucets
and allow water to run for several min

utes. This will allow gases to escape. Do
not smoke or use any open flame near

your faucet while it is open.

Please ...

• Have only a qualified repair person install,

repair, or replace parts on washer.

• Maintain washer properly.

• Protect washer from the weather and

keep it where the temperature will not fall
below freezing.

• Install and level washer on a floor that

can support the weight.*

• Connect washer to the correct 3-prong

outlet, electrical supply, water supply, and
drain.*

• Ground washer properly.*

*See the Installation Instructions.

Understanding your responsibilities

• store detergent, laundry aids and other
materials in a cool, dry place where

children cannot reach them (in a locked
cabinet if possible).

• Read and follow instructions on pack

ages of detergent and laundry aids,
especially warnings and precautions.

• Do not wash or dry items that are soiled

with vegetable or cooking oil. These

items may contain some oil after laun

dering. Due to the remaining oil, the
fabric may smoke or catch fire by itself.

- SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS -

• Do not use chlorine bleach and ammonia
or acids (such as vinegar or rust re
mover) in the same wash. Hazardous
fumes can form.

• Unplug power supply cord before
attempting to service your washer.

• Do not machine wash fiberglass
materials. Small particles can stick to the

fabrics washed in following loads and

cause skin irritation.

KNOWING YOUR WASHER’S FEATURES

Knowing Your Washer's

Features

The parts and features of your washer are illustrated below. Become familiar with all parts and
features before using your washer.

Load size Temperature

selector selector

Toll-free number

1-800447-6737

Fabric softener

dispenser
Bleach

dispenser

Cycle control knob

Model and serial

number plate

(under lid)

Agitator

Tub

Basket

Manual clean lint filter, not shown
(Inside agitator)

OPERATING YOUR WASHER

Operating Vbur Washer

In This Section

Before starting your washer
Starting or stopping your washer
Selecting a load size

Selecting wash-rinse temperatures......

Operating your washer properly ensures maximum washing efficiency. This section gives you
important information to help you to select a cycle, time, and temperature for your wash load.

____________

_____

__

--­____
_____6

Page

.5

5

Selecting a cycle and time
Using rinse and spin----------------­What happens in each cycle

_____

___

______
__

__ _ _

Before starting your washer

Add measured detergent. Then place a sorted NOTE: Remove any hang tags or temporary
load in the washer before starting. See page 11 labels before using your washer,
tor additional “Before you wash" information.

Starting or stopping your washer

starting your washer:

1. Select a load size and water temperature.

2. Push in and turn the Cycle Control Knob
clockwise. Stop when the indicator on the
knob’s outer ring points to the number in the
wash cycle you want. The numbers are
minutes of wash time.

3. Pull out the Cycle Control Knob.

Refer to pages 6 and 7 for additional informa

tion to help you make selections.

Stopping and restarting your washer:

• To stop the washer at any time, push in the

Cycle Control Knob.

• To restart the washer, close the lid (if neces

sary) and pull out the Cycle Control Knob.

HEAVY SOIL

DELICATES e OfF

OFF

^^10 NORMAL SOIL

6 LIGHT SOIL

Page

7

PERMANENT

6

8

PRESS

Selecting a load size

Position the Load Size Selector at the setting
that corresponds to the size load you want to
wash.

Select a load size based upon the size of the
load and the fabric you are washing. See
page 11 for additional loading information.

To change the load size setting after the
washer has started to fill, move the Selector to
the desired new setting.

OPERATING YOUR WASHER

Load size tips

• Items should move freely in the washer. Do
not overload the machine or select a load size
that is too small for the wash load.

• Use a large load size setting for best results
with permanent press clothes.

• Reduce wash time when using a small load
size setting. Loads with only a few small items
need less wash time.

Selecting wash-rinse temperatures

Match the water temperature to the type of
fabric and soils being washed. The top tempera
ture is the wash water and the bottom tempera
ture is the rinse water.

Water temperature tips

• Use warm wash water with the Permanent

Press and Délicates cycles.

• Always use cold rinse water for permanent

press fabrics.

• For heavily soiled permanent press or knit
clothes, prewash or presoak before washing in
warm water.

See the ‘Water usage guide” on page 15 for
more information.

Selecting a cycle and time

You will find information you need to help you
make correct cycle selections in this section.

• Page 7: Use the information on this page to
guide you when selecting a wash cycle and
time.

• Page 8: Use this page to help you understand
what happens during a wash cycle.

LIGHT SOIL

NORMAL SOIL

HEAVY SOIL 14^1

DELICATES a Off

Regular cycle

The Regular cycle features high agitation and
spin speeds.

• Use HEAVY SOIL, 14 minutes of wash time,
to clean sturdily constructed cotton and linen
fabrics that are heavily soiled.

• Use NORMAL SOIL, 10 minutes of wash
time, to clean cottons and linens that are
moderately soiled.

Permanent Press cycle

The Permanent Press cycle features a cool
down rinse and shorter spins to reduce
wrinkling.

• Use NORMAL SOIL, 10 minutes of wash
time, to ciean permanent press and some
synthetic fabrics that are moderately soiled.

• Use LIGHT SOIL, 6 minutes of wash time, to
clean permanent press and some synthetic
fabrics that are lightly soiled.

NOTE: The washer pauses briefly during
the wash cycle. This is normal for washer
operation.

OPERATING YOUR WASHER

NÜHMALSÜIL

HtAVVSOlL H

o

Regular cycle

Permanent press cycle

Délicates cycle

The Délicates cycle features a reduced
agitation speed for gentle soil removal. Shorter

spins reduce wrinkling.

• Use 8 minutes of wash time to clean delicate

items and washabie knits that are iightly to
moderately soiled.

Using rinse and spin

When using extra detergent for heavily soiled
clothes, or washing special-care items, you
may want an extra rinse and spin.

1. Push Cycle Control Knob in and turn

clockwise to one of the dots, as illustrated.

2. Pull Cycle Control Knob out. The washer

will fill to selected load size, agitate, drain,
and spin.

DELICATES e

Ì

Délicates cycle