Model
Whirlpool WFW4090N**
Rank #76 means 75 of the 388 washing machine models we track cost less to run each year; the 13th efficiency percentile means it uses less energy for its size than 13% of those models.
What does the Whirlpool WFW4090N** cost to run per year?
At $17 a year to run, the Whirlpool WFW4090N** is among the cheapest washing machine models we track, ranking #76 of 388. Its 13th size-adjusted efficiency percentile is well below the class median, worth weighing against the raw cost figure above. The IMEF figure of 2.07 on this model captures integrated modified energy factor, the main efficiency lever ENERGY STAR tracks for this class.
Immediately around it on the leaderboard, the Samsung WH46DBH1**G* at $17/yr runs a little cheaper and the Lg WM3470C* at $18/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 WFW4090N**'s $17/yr adds up to roughly $170 in electricity alone, before purchase price or repairs.
By the numbers
The Whirlpool WFW4090N** 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 $17/yr, here is what the Whirlpool WFW4090N** 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 WFW4090N** costs about $170. That is roughly $30 less than the class median, which would run closer to $200 over the same ten years.
How the Whirlpool WFW4090N** compares
The washing machine class we track runs from $7 to $58 a year. At $17/yr, it runs about $3 a year cheaper than the class median of $20, and it is about $10 a year more than the cheapest washing machine to run at $7.
What drives its running cost
At 2 cu ft, the Whirlpool WFW4090N** is a small washing machine for its class, which spans 1.9 to 6 cu ft with a median of 4.5 cu ft, at the small end of the class, capacity itself is doing a lot of the work to keep that figure down, separate from how efficient the unit actually is. The IMEF of 2.07 on this model, below the class median of 2.76, measures integrated modified energy factor; it is the number to compare directly against another model's IMEF if capacity is similar.
- 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 WFW4090N** cheap to run?
Yes, relatively. At $17 a year it ranks #76 of 388 washing machine models we track, in the cheaper part of its class to run.
How much does the Whirlpool WFW4090N** cost per month?
Roughly $1.45/mo, spreading the $17/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 94 kWh from ENERGY STAR and multiply it by the US average residential electricity rate of $0.1856/kWh, giving about $17 a year. It is an electricity-only estimate and does not include purchase price, water, or installation.
How efficient is the Whirlpool WFW4090N** for its size?
13th 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | Samsung WH46DBH1**G*4.6 cu ft | $17 |
| 74 | Samsung WH46DBH1**E*4.6 cu ft | $17 |
| 73 | Samsung WF46BB67**A*4.6 cu ft | $17 |
| 72 | Samsung WF51CG80**A*5.1 cu ft | $17 |
| 71 | Samsung WF45B63**A*4.5 cu ft | $17 |
Source
ES_22856_WFW4090N**_030820221006462_2382787View certified washing machine listingsENERGY STAR data as of July 2026Whirlpool and WFW4090N** 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.