Washer dryer advice

Lauren555_2

Hi all,

I'm moving into my first owned home next week and the previous owners are taking their washing machine with them. My parents have very kindly offered to buy us a washer dryer and just wanted to get a couple of opinions:

1) I've heard a lot of negative things about combined washer dryers (break down a lot, don't dry very well etc etc). We would probably only use the dryer a couple of times a month, for sheets and towels mainly, and we usually do a wash once or twice a week (there are only 2 of us). This is the one we're thinking of getting (a Which? Best Buy: http://ao.com/l/washer_dryers-aeg/1-6/2/). Is it worth getting a washer dryer do you think, or better to go for a washing machine and carry on air-drying on a rack?

2) Installation. All the online stores I've looked at charge about £20 for installation. Is it worth paying this or is something we can do ourselves? The LAST thing I want is to do it wrong and flood the flat downstairs...

Thanks for any advice and opinions!!

Rodney_Trotter

You can fit it yourself.

Screw on the cold water supply and turn the water stop on
Drop the waste pipe into the waste
Plug it in

£20 saved if you can do that.

Never owned a washer dryer so will only say. The dry load maybe less than the wash load. So two dry cycles to one wash. That's maybe why they fail the simple fact they get more use.

teddysmum

On asking advice a few years ago (things have changed?) the following put me off :

Unless you only wash a small load, you have to take some out before tumbling, as the acceptable load is less for this part of the process.


If your separate dryer breaks down, you can use the washer and dry by other means, but if the combination breaks, you may have lost both facilities.


The drying process is less efficient and there are fewer programme options than with separates.

Lauren555_2

Thanks both.

Teddysmum, that's what I'm a bit worried about - can't decide whether the convenience of being able to (mostly) dry sheets and towels is worth the risk of having no functioning washing machine or dryer.

Rodney_Trotter

Lauren555 wrote: »

Thanks both.

Teddysmum, that's what I'm a bit worried about - can't decide whether the convenience of being able to (mostly) dry sheets and towels is worth the risk of having no functioning washing machine or dryer.

But if you only have room for one unit and the washing machine breaks down you are in the same position.

macman

As above-each full wash load requires two tumbler loads, and they take much longer than a dedicated drier. Avoid at all costs unless space limitations mean no option.

Lauren555_2

Good point Rodney, good point!

worried_jim

I bought my Ariston washer dryer 10 years ago and it is still going strong- the wash that is! The dryer packed up after about two years!

have a cheapo white knight dryer as well and this has never missed a beat.

GwylimT

We have a zanussi washer drier that is coming on 12 years old, in that time the only thing we have had to do is replace the seal twice, but that was our own fault.

We are meant to dry half a load of washing, we have never bothered doing that and will dry a whole load, every now and again it isn't quite dry after a whole cycle so we will pop it on for another 15 minutes and that normally does the trick.

JohnB47

We has a zanussi condenser type washer drier many years ago. We found that washing even small loads then moving on immediately to the dry cycle took ages - very inefficient. They're probably more efficient nowadays but electricity costs are much higher now too. I would never buy one again, but then I would never buy a drier either - far too costly.

Radsteral

we bought one from john lewis, a year ago 800 quid ,jl own brand .. have used it few times, doesn't really do what it says in the tin!! even if you remove half of the washing load, still not dry enough .. don't buy..best look for another solution