Washer Dryer advice please

marlowtech

Please could someone recommend a good washer dryer...needs to be good rather than inexpensive! (young family so it's going to get a lot of use!)

Thanks in advance

bluekp

My mum has said from experience that a more expensive washer/dryer generally isn't any better than a cheaper one (she's a mum of three). I've lost count of how many we've been through that I can remember - they always break down at some point and it seems to be cheaper to replace than repair the majority of the time.

Having just bought our first house my OH and I have gone for a mid-range washer/dryer from LXDirect with a £30 discount with vouchers.

Definitely shop around and see what bargains you can find using tips and codes from here

xx

letsbehonest

Washer dryers , Whirlpool I find are well built and functional. But having repaired quite a few washing appliances over the years I would not recomend a washer dryer, they tend to go wrong more often,and they are not that efficient you would be better off buying separate units.

uncle_buck_3

Totaly agree with letsbehonest.

....go for seperates everytime.
Shop around & you will more than likely get the pair for the same price as as combined unit.

wealthsaver

marlowtech wrote:

Please could someone recommend a good washer dryer...needs to be good rather than inexpensive! (young family so it's going to get a lot of use!)

The problem with a washer drier is that once the load has been washed, you have to remove part of it to dry efficiently. Also Washing/Drying takes twice as long than if you had two separate machines - if you know what I mean.

If it goes wrong - and because it is working twice the duty of two separate machines this could be more likely - at least there is only the one appliance to get repaired.

The major plus is the space saving.

The one we own = Hotpoint WD61 - no venting required for the tumble action since it condenses the vapour. 1200 spin. We owned ours for nearly 5 years before it needed a repair. Family of 4 (active children). Turned out to need replacement graphite bushes on the spin motor.

Hotpoint have newer models available.
WD640, WD420, WD860.

socks_uk

I completely agree with wealthsaver...

Because I'm a working mum I tend to do all my laundry at the weekends. So, while one load is washing (takes about 1 1/2 hours) another load can be split in half and dried. One load takes about the same amount of time to dry when split.

To do a 3 load wash completely in seperate washer & dryer takes me about 4 hours but, I would imagine, it would take at least 6 hours in a washer/dryer combined. Someone might correct me there.

I suppose if space is a problem or if you just do one load at once a combined dryer is the best option.

I noticed ASDA are now selling washer/dryers but can't remember how much they are (once I saw they weren't washers or dryers seperate I didn't bother with them).

Jill

p.s.

With seperates, should your washer break down you still have your dryer to finish the job after you have washed at a laundrette or friend's washer. The same if your dryer breaks down... you can still wash and then use a washing line, radiators ar go to the launderette. If a washer/dryer breaks down your stuffed!

cat70_3

If you have room, def get a seperate dryer - it will dry twice as much and you can dry while another load is washing, perfect for a young family.
I've recently bought a Siemens IQ washing machine, expensive but it's been excellent so far. Plus it's so intelligent that it uses less water, energy, even detergent - it measures precisely how much you need rather than having a "one size fits all" approach. So there are savings for you and the environment. Best of all, ia the moment it comes with a free 10 year guarantee which itself is worth hundreds. So despite being pricey I'd say it's excellent value if you want a washing workhorse.

itgirlinuk

I don't have children or big loads of washing.

Can anyone tell me what specific features I need to look for in a washing machine? Water saving feature is the only thing I know I want. Anything else specifically to look for?

speedy_gonzalez

We've got a washer dryer as there is no space for separates. Features we looked for were energy rating and a timer so we could set the washing to go off at night making use of the cheap rate electricity. The manufacturer's warranty ran out on ours last year but we were offered a further six years for about £60.
We haven't got children either. We bought ours so we didn't have have to have wet washing hanging around the lounge in the winter! Depending the weather in the summer it gets dried on the line.