Washer-dryer combos — 5 reasons to buy and 5 reasons to skip

Are you contemplating the purchase of a washer/dryer set? First, peruse this.

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(Image credit: Whirlpool)

What could possibly be better than pairing the world’s top washing machines with clothes dryers? There’s a lot more to it than what you’ve just read. Although they’re not as widespread in the US as they are in Europe, washer-dryer combos are nonetheless commonly accessible and come in a broad variety of brands and types.

However, these appliances have their advantages and disadvantages, and they won’t work in every home. A washer-dryer combo has its advantages and disadvantages, and we’ll go over them all so you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s worth the money you’ll spend.

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Reasons to buy a washer-dryer combo 

There is no doubting that this gadget is a space-saver in the first place. By consolidating two large appliances into a single unit, you can free up half of your laundry room’s floor area.

To save time, you won’t have to go back into the laundry room to empty and transfer the load to the dryer. Everything can be done in one machine, and it can be set to begin drying automatically after the wash cycle is complete, saving time and energy. When you think about it, you save half the time by not having to go on your hands and knees.

Ventless condenser dryers don’t require access to an exhaust duct, making them ideal for use in a home without an exhaust duct. They use hot air to extract moisture, which is condensed and then drained from the drum. Depending on the model, the water will either be pumped away or held in a tank that needs to be manually emptied.

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Washer dryers are more expensive than buying each machine alone, but they are less expensive than purchasing both machines separately. You’ll have to decide which brand and features you want to go with.

It is still feasible to wash and dry in separate cycles, even if you use a washer dryer that has a program for washing and drying in a single cycle. To put it another way, a washer dryer can be used to wash and dry small loads in the sun or to speed up drying time after hand washing.

Reasons not to buy a washer-dryer combo 

When it comes to washer-dryer combos, the biggest and most critical disadvantage is their poor drying ability. Despite the fact that the wash cycle is on pace with standalone washing machines, the drying cycle falls short, especially when running the complete wash and dry cycle at once. A lot of the time, clothes don’t come out of this program completely dry. When you consider the lower capacity, which we’ll discuss in the next section, this is very disheartening.

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Limited drying area – A washer dryer combo has a less drying capacity than a standard clothes dryer. The best-case scenario for washer dryers is only 4.5 cubic feet, whereas clothes dryers can accommodate up to 9 cubic feet of washing. Most of them have a capacity of about 2.5 cubic feet each. This capacity can also be reduced to half for drying, which is a common practice. For those who frequently use their machines for huge loads, a washer-dryer set is not the greatest choice.

Washer-dryer combos are notoriously slow, taking up to an hour or more to complete a single cycle. However, a full wash and dry cycle can take anywhere from three to six hours, making it more time consuming than utilizing separate machines. Aside from that, add any additional drying time you may need as well.

There are certain drawbacks to having just one washing machine, such as the fact that you can’t wash more than one load at once if you’re drying your clothes. The next wash cannot be started while the previous one is drying, for example. You should keep this in mind if you do a lot of washing.

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For those that prefer the typical gas-powered vented dryers, these washer/dryer combinations aren’t the best bet. Electric, condenser dryers often have these features.

Should you buy a washer-dryer combo?

As a result, if you have enough room and the ability to install separate machines, we do not recommend washer/dryer combos. When compared to a standard clothes dryer, washer-dryers work similarly to stand-alone machines, but the drying results are often subpar.

A washer/dryer combo may be a good option if you’re short on space yet have a light laundry load. These appliances might require some patience to use, but they do have a place in some households.

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