Combo washing-machine/dryer

Forums › Off topic › Combo washing-machine/dryer

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 125

#96448 27-Jan-2012 14:22

Has anyone had any experience with these beasts? The concept sounds almost too good to be true *if* they work well.

I'm moving into a place where installing a separate dryer would be problematic due to space constraints, so an all-in-one unit would be marvellous.

The obvious unit is the Indesit IWDC7125B that Noel Leemings have, LG apparently make them as well and they seem to get good reviews, whereas I can find no reviews (of any use anyway) for the Indesit unit.

Thoughts\caveats?

@KnightNZ

1 | 2

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4795

#574136 27-Jan-2012 15:39

stevenz: Has anyone had any experience with these beasts? The concept sounds almost too good to be true *if* they work well.

I'm moving into a place where?installing a separate dryer would be problematic due to space constraints, so an all-in-one unit would be marvellous.

The?obvious unit is the Indesit IWDC7125B that Noel Leemings have, LG apparently make them as well and they seem to get good reviews, whereas I can find no reviews (of any use anyway) for the Indesit unit.

Thoughts\caveats?

I think you are better with 2 units, should be cheaper, and you get dedicated units that perform well. You can also install the dryer above the washing machin eif there are space constraints.

Not a fan of combo units, and they don't tend to be succuessful eitehr. Look at microwave/oven combos, the oven is usually hopeless. TV/dvd combos, if the tv or dvd player packs up you are left with half a defective unit. etc

JamesL

956 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 342
Inactive user

#574139 27-Jan-2012 15:42

My parents had one in London, mum said it was utter rubbish

Dratsab

3964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1728

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#574140 27-Jan-2012 15:45

I have an LG WD-1438RD, which I brought in 2007. It's a front loader and as a washer it gets used very regularly and the clothes come out feeling much cleaner than any top-loader I've ever used.

However, as a dryer it's completely hopeless. The reason I brought it was because it supposedly condenses water inside a compartment away from the clothing and this condensed water is fed out through the drainage hose, eliminating the moist air output that other dryers.

What I have found, through only using the dryer a couple of times very early on in the piece, is:
- the clothes did not dry - they got quite warm but came out quite wet
- just using the dryer function 3 times in a month doubled my electricity bill

Obviously I have experience with only this one model of machine, so I can't speak for any others. Plus we're 5 years on from my purchase so things will have (or at least should have) changed quite a bit in the intervening time. My only suggestion is, be cautious and do your homework - search out lots reviews on teh interwebs before committing to anything.

From a personal standpoint, when I need to replace this machine I'll probably get another front loader but I wouldn't buy a washer/dryer combo.

EDIT: Hate noticing grammatical errors *after* posting...

Dratsab

3964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1728

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#574144 27-Jan-2012 15:48

defnz: My parents had one in London, mum said it was utter rubbish

The whole unit or just the drying function? What brand was it?

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 125

#574152 27-Jan-2012 16:08

Front loaders from my limited experience are definitely better at getting things done although they take twice as long to do it, I believe they use less water and aren't as rough on clothes as well.

I did have my doubts about the condensing system. I'll have to wait until I get there to see if it's possible to wall-mount a front-venting dryer or if it's safe to just perch one on top of a front-loading washing machine, maybe with a restraint to stop it walking off the side...

@KnightNZ

JamesL

956 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 342
Inactive user

#574158 27-Jan-2012 16:26

Dratsab:
defnz: My parents had one in London, mum said it was utter rubbish

The whole unit or just the drying function? What brand was it?

I didn't ask. Her issue was obviously being a front loader you can't add clothes in once it starts, takes too long to wash and the clothes didn't dry properly

My old man's opinion was that they don't wash as good as top loaders as the clothes having nothing to grip on

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#574159 27-Jan-2012 16:34

They are really common in the UK. My experience with them has been an average one, but I know people who love them.

On the other hand front load washing machines are IMHO vastly superior to top loaders. Infact I really question why top load washing machines even exist.

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#574185 27-Jan-2012 17:19

Had one in Korea. The drying function does not work if you have more than a couple of items in there (was an LG something)

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1425

Subscriber

#574191 27-Jan-2012 17:50

I have used them many times while overseas on holiday and I think they are a pain in the *rse.

People always say - 'they are gentler on clothes' - for the record have never had a top loader wear a hole in my jeans (or any other item of clothes)!

Front loader/driers seem to take about 6 months to complete the cycle from wash to dry (alright - 6 hours! - seems like it anyway).

The clothes have never been actually what I would call dry. Warm and moist maybe. (any brand from personal experience - Bosch/Samsung/Electrolux).

Once started you cant lift the lid and drop in that sock that fell out at the laundry doorway - the door is locked for 6 hours!

They are great if you inist on one applinace in the kitchen or bathroom - if you arent pressed for space get a drier AND a decent (top) loader.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Hammerer

2480 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 802

Lifetime subscriber

#574193 27-Jan-2012 18:02

stevenz: Front loaders from my limited experience are definitely better at getting things done although they take twice as long to do it, I believe they use less water and aren't as rough on clothes as well.

I did have my doubts about the condensing system. I'll have to wait until I get there to see if it's possible to wall-mount a front-venting dryer or if it's safe to just perch one on top of a front-loading washing machine, maybe with a restraint to stop it walking off the side...

Don't use front-venting if you can at all avoid it. All that humid air is a problem in any house. External venting is also much more efficient. Well worth the extra cost.

Also make sure that you get a drier with a low heat setting. High heat usually wastes energy, reduces the life of your clothes and, as a result, produces way more fluff/felt.

Driers are very light so you can usually put it on top. I'd hang it because the space between the washing machine and the drier is useful e.g. storing wash basket. You can also hang them above a sink or bench.

They're so light because they're essentially two layers of sheet metal with the strongest part of the frame at the rotor. We had one of ours stolen at dusk without anybody noticing - back door was unlocked. They would have walked in, unplugged it, lifted it off the wall mounts, and walked it out through the rear neighbour's property.

kiwijunglist

2983 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 135

ID Verified

#574282 28-Jan-2012 00:35

Had one in my old flat it was absolute crap and was a no name brand, had one at a hotel more recently it seemed ok. I'm sure you can get a front loading w/machine and get the dryer installed above it.

HTPC / Home automation (home assistant) enthusiast.

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

Aaroona

3204 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 169

#574338 28-Jan-2012 10:49

I would go for 2 seperate units for a couple of reasons;

1. I've never heard a good review about the all in one units.
2. If one breaks, and you want it repaired, you then are without a washer as well.

These are the 2 main reasons why.

but as far as a washer is concerned, I will only ever buy a front loader now. I've used top loaders for years because thats what mum has, but I often found buttons missing etc. Didnt find holes as such, though a couple of my shirts do have holes, but from what I dont know. Washer maybe.
I used a top loader for a short time while I was in a fully funished place. But once I moved out about a month ago, looking at efficentcy etc, I chose a front loader.

None of my clothes are missing buttons, no new holes, and I find that my clothes are coming out just about dry.

I was lucky enough to get my Electrolux on a managers special. Got it for $799, down from $1,399 for that day only.
Power and water ratings are 4.5 and 4 out of 5, respectively.

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 125

#575005 30-Jan-2012 16:42

I ended up buying 2 separate units, there were some good deals to be had so got a Samsung frontloader ($850 down from $1200) and a Haier dryer ($440 down from $550) which will either be perched right on top of the washer or if possible mounted above it on the wall.

Another big thing with frontloaders is that in my admittedly limited experience with them, they seem to be noticably quieter than toploaders which in a small place is a big plus. The dryer doesn't need to be too flash as it'll only be used when it's too wet/windy to have the clothes outside. It'll be locked in a combo laundry\bathroom with the vent pointed in the general direction of the extractor fan so moisture shouldn't be an issue.

I bought a Samsung fridge\freezer as well, but that's another story.

Cheers for the tips guys.

@KnightNZ

Dratsab

3964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1728

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#575010 30-Jan-2012 16:53

stevenz: I bought a Samsung fridge\freezer as well, but that's another story.

Cheers for the tips guys.

And the beers are chilling as we speak? What time shall we come round?

RickD

280 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 8

#577793 6-Feb-2012 10:57

We recently moved into a 1 bedroom apartment in Wellington with an Indesit brand combo washer/dryer.

We used the washing machine probably 7 times in a month and the dryer 3 times for sheets and towels, which took 2+ hrs to dry, and our power bill for the first month was $170. That seemed high for a small apartment in summer and I blamed the dryer.

What would you expect an average power bill for 2 people in a 1 bedroom apartment to be? We have the usual appliances and no air con.

The washing machine only has a cold water hose going into it, so if we select a warm wash (you can select 30, 40, 50, 60 degs etc), is the washing machine heating the water itself or just doing a cold wash? You can't open the machine to check once it has started a cycle.

1 | 2