Washer + Dryer Unit with Non-Condensing Dryer

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MikeAqua

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#237787 18-Jun-2018 12:47

I'm looking for a washer and dryer combination unit for the apartment. My motivation is to create additional storage space within the laundry cupboard compared to a separate washing machine and tumble dryer. Currently have a top load washer and an externally vented tumble dryer.

But ... I don't like condenser dryers because they are slow and have a limited drying capacity, also most of them use water for the condensing function and I pay for all water I use.

So I'm looking for a combo where the dryer is not a condenser. I've seen such a unit once, when staying in serviced apartment, but I don't remember the brand. Haven't had much luck finding one in an appliance shop

Mike

mdf

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#2039649 18-Jun-2018 13:00

I strongly suspect this won't satisfy the "space saving" criteria, but this was the only "combo" unit I came across with a vented dryer when I was looking a while back. All others I've seen are condensing units since you need to plumb in for the washing machine anyway and "no need to vent" is seen as a positive. Maybe you could find something (stupidly expensive) with a heat pump dryer unit?

http://www.home-laundry.speedqueen.co.nz/media/88956/NES3078-Retail-Brochure-ATEE9-ATGE9-NZ.pdf

MikeAqua

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#2039652 18-Jun-2018 13:05

mdf:

I strongly suspect this won't satisfy the "space saving" criteria, but this was the only "combo" unit I came across with a vented dryer when I was looking a while back. All others I've seen are condensing units since you need to plumb in for the washing machine anyway and "no need to vent" is seen as a positive. Maybe you could find something (stupidly expensive) with a heat pump dryer unit?

http://www.home-laundry.speedqueen.co.nz/media/88956/NES3078-Retail-Brochure-ATEE9-ATGE9-NZ.pdf

Yeah that wont cut it. My plan is to build a 316 shoe rack for under the unit (bringing the front load up to a back-friendly height) and shelves above for light weight stuff.

I have seen a heat pump combo unit but it was $2.5k.

I just wish I could remember the brand of the combo unit with a tumble drier. Best dryer I have ever seen

Mike

njm

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#2039695 18-Jun-2018 13:29

You will need to be mindful when raising the washer dryer to build a extremely sturdy shelf as they create a lot of vibration during the spin cycle and could potentially walk itself off the a shelf that can not handle that level of vibration.

MikeAqua

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#2039733 18-Jun-2018 13:39

njm:

You will need to be mindful when raising the washer dryer to build a extremely sturdy shelf as they create a lot of vibration during the spin cycle and could potentially walk itself off the a shelf that can not handle that level of vibration.

As above it will be made from 316 - i.e. 316 stainless steel. Specifically from angle bar - something like 3mm x 30mm.

I hadn't thought of walk off but I'll add some up stands to preclude that.

Mike

mdf

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#2039743 18-Jun-2018 13:47

In that case, something else to be aware of is that heat pump driers weigh a tonne. Even condenser ones are heavier than the average dryer.

richms

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#2039976 18-Jun-2018 19:02

My LG condensor dryer is fast as to dry things. Most things are done quicker than the washer can make the next lot unless I use a tepid warm wash cycle that is fast.

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Scott3

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#2039990 18-Jun-2018 19:22

Everything I have read about combo units is critical of their performance & energy efficiency, particularly slow drying, and relatively small dryer capacity relative to washing capacity.

Are you comfortable with the performance trade off, for the relatively small amount of extra space gained compared to a wall mount, or vertical stack dryer?

chevrolux

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#2039993 18-Jun-2018 19:27

Yea we have an LG combo unit - we picked it because it was relatively cheap compared to the Bosch "heatpump" version which was about $4k from memory.

No complaints for drying time. We use pretty irregularly, but generally an hour of drying is enough to do a load of work shirts/pants.

lxsw20

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#2040105 18-Jun-2018 23:04

The one at my last place was a combo unit, and didn't seem to have any sort of outlet for the dryer, so things just came out hot and damp, total waste of time.

nickb800

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#2040153 19-Jun-2018 07:46

MikeAqua:

But ... I don't like condenser dryers because ... most of them use water for the condensing function and I pay for all water I use.

Are you sure you have this around the right way? Condenser dryers remove water from clothes, and this either goes into a container which you empty periodically, or plumbed into into the waste like your washing machine

njm

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#2040185 19-Jun-2018 08:54

nickb800:

MikeAqua:

But ... I don't like condenser dryers because ... most of them use water for the condensing function and I pay for all water I use.

Are you sure you have this around the right way? Condenser dryers remove water from clothes, and this either goes into a container which you empty periodically, or plumbed into into the waste like your washing machine

A lot of condenser versions of Washer Dryers run cold water through the condenser unit when condensing the air within the dry cycles. You will notice that they will have two WELs water star rating labels, one for the wash cycles and the other for the drying cycles.

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MikeAqua

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#2040192 19-Jun-2018 09:23

nickb800:

Are you sure you have this around the right way? Condenser dryers remove water from clothes, and this either goes into a container which you empty periodically, or plumbed into into the waste like your washing machine

Most use a water to air heat exchanger to drop the water out of the air circulating through the clothes. This warms the water up, so it can no longer cool effectively and has to be dumped and replaced.

Mike

MikeAqua

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#2040225 19-Jun-2018 09:31

Scott3:

Are you comfortable with the performance trade off, for the relatively small amount of extra space gained compared to a wall mount, or vertical stack dryer?

It's quite a bit of extra space, as we currently have the washer and dryer vertically stacked in a full height cupboard. Removing the dryer and replacing the top-load washer with a front load combo frees up the space occupied by the dryer plus the space between it and washing machine. That's close to cubic meter of space. In a 50m2, two bedroom apartment space is valuable.

But at $2.5k for a heat pump combo unit, perhaps still not worth the trade off ... I wonder how much money I would get for the existing units second hand.

I could just replace the top loader with a front loader and still gain some space between the two units. Better than nothing

Mike

mdf

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#2040271 19-Jun-2018 10:05

How often do you use the dryer? If it's just occasionally, you could downsize to a mini dryer? I've seen these in flatting situations, but found this one on an RV/caravan website.

MikeAqua

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#2040329 19-Jun-2018 11:00

mdf:

How often do you use the dryer? If it's just occasionally, you could downsize to a mini dryer? I've seen these in flatting situations, but found this one on an RV/caravan website.

4 times per week. Being an apartment there is no clothesline and we only use the clotheshorse for things that can't be machine dried - like my gym gear. A smaller tumble dryer is a possibility - it has the same drying capacity as a combo unit. But I think I would gain as much space replacing the top load washer with a front load

Mike