Washing Machine Vs Washer Dryer

lizziebell*80

I have a indesit WD12 washer dryer and have had it since 2003 and it is still going fine. Got it due to small kitchen in my first flat.

I don't use the dryer function often as have never actually tried it for the longer cycles to see if it will actually give me dry clothes. I am a bit of a scrooge and have only tried the shortest time available to "start off" things like big towels of bed covers drying so they then dry quicker on an airer and yes this means that they come out very hot ans steamy, but that was what I wanted. As someone else mentioned they aren't designed to dry the same size of load as they can manage as a washer.

The only time it has been broken so far is when my husband did not realise that washing machine doors lock for a set time after a cycle finishes and he managed to snap the handle off, so nothing related to actual functioning

I have since discovered though that if you put your washing on an airer in a room which can be isolated (eg close the door and have it all enclosed) and us a dehumidifier, stuff dries well quickly so if you don't have space for a drier then this might be another option (I got my dehumidifier off ebay for about £80 I think, to help with condensation prior to getting double glazing). So I reckon once my W/D dies I shall only be getting a washer and use the dehumidifier option if required.

edgex

david39 wrote: »

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.

be interesting to know what their advice would be if a w/d was the only option


were your machines all the same brand or manufacturer?
i cant see heat being a factor affecting circuit boards, what about the heat given off during the wash cycle, machines will wash at 90degrees.
theres pcb's in microwaves, ovens etc




you wont get a decent w/d for the price of just a washer
youll have to look at things in the same price range as a washer & seperate dryer would cost.

david39

"be interesting to know what their advice would be if a w/d was the only option"


I was just passing on the advice that was given to me.
The washer/dryers concerned were Hoover, Electrolux and Indesit.

Currently have a Zanussi washer-only - much cheaper than the above and still going strongly for longer than any of them. Electrolux is part of Zanussi now, but the above-mentioned machine was prior to the merger.

Yes, pcbs are in other appliances with heating elements, but not subject to the extremes of vibration that washers have. We don't use the 90 degree wash cycle except to occasionally wash the machine out.

Meadows

I had a Zanussi washer dryer a few years ago and would not recommend a two in one machine, the washer did not last very long and the clothes always felt damp unless I dried them for a long time.
Luckily I had my older tumble dryer which I would use as I gave up trying to dry clothes in the washer dryer. Also it takes longer to do the laundry if you only have one appliance.

I would always go for separate appliances, if you don't have room for a full size dryer the compact ones are ideal to fit into that little space (hopefully).

debtmuncher

i had a washer dryer a few years ago and it was a total waste of space, you have to wait until your washing is done, take out the load, put half back in and have the joys of say two hours later of pulling damp clothes back out of the dryer lol.

had mine back in the 2004 when i just had my twins so of course when i got up through hte night i would be doing the familys clothes.

you can get mini dryers these days that might fit into a big cupboard, fixings that you can put another machine on top of the existing washing machine, or you could get a rotary washing pole cover for about £40 and is supposed to be good.

MUMMYTO2BOYS

We had an Indiset waher drier. It was usless for drying, would only take a very small load and it'd still be damp after 2 hours. We don't have room for a drier so we just manage with the line and airers.

Did look at the Tornado Dry Mk 2 recently as an alternatiive but read mixed reviews.

Mark_Hewitt

As you say the washer/dryers can only realistically dry less than half the amount they can wash. Plus they take a long time to do it too. But if you are short of space, they do work. And for most of them you don't have fluff filters and hot air outlets to worry about.

You're only doing a small amount of washing so it would be fine for you I think. (I know you said you're doing a fair amount but I usually put at least 2 loads per day through so yours is nothing )