Washing Machine plus Tumble Dryer or combo?

david39

After having three quite expensive combos in about 10 years and all three going expensively wrong during the second or third year to the point of not worth repairing, I recommend separate units.

An independent repairer we called out on the last one told me that the heat generated within the machine on the tumble-dry, cooks the printed circuit boards which then become brittle and are subject to vibration damage during the spin part of the washing cycle.

All three of these machines went wrong because of the printed circuit boards failing, which proved the point as far as we were concerned.

After that, we bought one of the cheapest wash-only machines and we've had that for at least 5 years and never had to have anyone out to it.

If you buy a combo you've effectively got two machines to go wrong, either of which means replacement of the whole unit. With separates, one machine going down does not affect the other.

daveyjp

Separates - to do a full cycle in a washer/drier can take hours as you often have to split the washing load and dry in two loads. With separates you can be washing and drying at the same time. Our dryer holds two washing machine loads and takes 45-60 minutes to dry a full load.

Condensers are great, especially if you can get them near a drain as no emptying of water holder is required - get a fully auto sensing one so you don't have to guess how long to put it on for. Our Bosch is 7 years old and no problems to date.

sunshinetours

Your mother already has a dryer you say so how is that connected? If its vented then go with that. Other s have covered why washer dryers are bad ideas

As originally mentioned are you sure she does need new ones? Does the dryer still dry well? Do the clothes still come out clean from the W/M?
Unless your mother does a lot of washing she iwll never see the running cost savings of newer A rated appliances so don;t change for that reason

Any modern "cheaper" makes and also some not so cheaply priced ones, and you are taking a gamble. Just look at these pages for repairs on various models

If she is insistent on changing the consider makes such as Bosch, Siemens or if budget permits Miele and check out your local independent electrical retailer for end of line sales and ask for discounts or to match interenet prices. You may be surprised how mucgh you can get off ticket prices this way

harz99

Go to Dixons.co.uk and look at the Zanussi ZWG6165 and associated ZDC37200 condenser tumble dryer - I've just spent ages going through the reviews to buy new machines and they are my choice for our new house next month.

HTH