Washing Machine Vs Washer Dryer

space_rider

I have washer with high spin speed but do have a tumble dryer that lives in the garage as my new build doesn`t have space. I only use the dryer for bedding and towels due to the cost of it. I put clothes on an airer in the bath and they dry pretty quickly. Bath hardly used as we have seperate shower.

zzzLazyDaisy

I've had two washer dryers over the years, both hoovers, both lasted 10+ years. both worked well.

I'd recommend getting the highest spin speed you can afford, so the clothes are as dry as possible when they go in the dryer (it is much cheaper to use electricity to spin wet clothes, than to tumble dry them!). Also remember that the drum will wash about twice as much volume as it can dry, so you have to divide the washload and dry it in two lots.

Also, try popping the clothes on an airer overnight, and then finishing them off in the dryer the next morning.

ic

Mine and my parent's Zanussi washer/dryers are working five years later. My parents previous washer/dryer managed to handle the demands of a family of four for ten years...

moonrakerz

Many washer dryers are designed to dry only half the load they have just washed - that is probably why so many people say they don't dry properly !

RTFB !

PS: and they break down a lot.

edgex

as ive said already, we have a Zanussi
its over 5 years old, & has been repaired a couple of times, but they were parts that would wear out anyway.
we use a local guy for the repairs, someone we've always used, & he recommends the Zanussi's.

as for drying, if its a load of stuff that can all go through the dryer, you can usually set it so that the dryer will start at the end of the wash cycle.
that way, you dont have to be there to start the dryer, & it starts the drying cycle with a drum & clothes that are already warm or hot.

when looking at the prices, remember that you will not get a decent w/d for the price of a washer alone
work out your budget for a washer & a dryer, then look at w/d's at that price & a bit under.

cherryaa

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Also, try popping the clothes on an airer overnight, and then finishing them off in the dryer the next morning.

Good advice, IMO

When I used to go to the gym every night (what was I thinking of??!), I'd give my kit a quick hand-wash, stick it in the machine to spin & dry, and it was all done by the time I'd finished eating.

I've had 2 Zanussis, a Bosch and a Hoover (all washer/dryers) over the years. The Hoover was like a troublesome child ... but the others were great. I second your pro-Zanussi respondents, above

hth

scrunch

I would seriously miss the dryer function. I have had a Hotpoint and a Hoover - each with some problems. I now have a Miele - cost an arm and a leg but it is wonderful.

sunshinetours

Hotpoint W/D - couple of call outs under guarantee in the first year but nothing since (about 4 years old now). washes Ok / Dries OK

Given the choice you would have separate appliances this just saves space

i wouldnlt buy one of the very cheap ones however as I think the better quality motors etc can be worth paying for as is a decent warranty - its the only appliance I still pay an extended warranty for

Ebe_Scrooge

Personally I would go for a washer and a separate drier. If space is an issue, there may be a couple of possibilities. Many years ago I had a washer and a drier both made by the same company, and they sold a stacking kit to allow you to sit the drier on top of the washer - worked well in our situation. Failing that, it's not too difficult to fit a "shelf" yourself above the washing machine where the drier can sit. Obviously it'll need to be rather more sturdy than your average bookshelf, but you should be able to figure something out - assuming you have the height to do this. Just a thought ?

david39

When the dryer function of the washer/dryer is in action, the heat slowly bakes the printed circuit boards and they eventually fail because they then become prone to cracking caused by the vibration from the spin cycle. -I have had three different well-known models and all went the same way after less than three years.

Advice from an independent washer engineer was - don't buy a combined unit for that reason.

I know some people get much longer out of their w/ds but Sod's Law says that the one that you buy (like the ones I bought) will fail in a much shorter time than two separate units.