Tumble Dryer / Washing Machine - combined or separates?

Possom

Obviously the benefit of a machine which is a combined washing machine / tumble dryer is that it takes up the space of only one machine. Excellent if needed for a small kitchen.

What is the advantage of having two separate machines i.e. a washing machine and a separate tumble dryer?

tattycath

Possom wrote: »

Obviously the benefit of a machine which is a combined washing machine / tumble dryer is that it takes up the space of only one machine. Excellent if needed for a small kitchen.

What is the advantage of having two separate machines i.e. a washing machine and a separate tumble dryer?

1) A separate dryer is more efficient.
2) You can put another load on to wash whilst the first load is drying.
3) If one appliance breaks down, the other appliance still works...

Possom

tattycath wrote: »

1) A separate dryer is more efficient.
2) You can put another load on to wash whilst the first load is drying.
3) If one appliance breaks down, the other appliance still works...

Thanks. Advantage 1) would be the one that I'd be most interested in.

By more efficient, do you mean the wattage is lower on each of the separate machines compared to one combined machine?

Torry_Quine

Separate machines mean you can be washing a load and drying another at the same time. Also a combined machine usually dries a smaller amount than it washes.

Possom

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Also a combined machine usually dries a smaller amount than it washes.

So if you fill the machine with clothes, then wash these, then do you have to remove some in order to tumble dry them in the same machine?

Torry_Quine

Possom wrote: »

So if you fill the machine with clothes, then wash these, then do you have to remove some in order to tumble dry them in the same machine?

That's it exactly.

Possom

Torry_Quine wrote: »

That's it exactly.

I didn't know that.

ic

Only if you always wash full loads. My machine is 8kg wash, 6kg dry. There's only two of us, and we generally line dry. The wash and dry feature is generally used only for the bed sheets in winter, and for doing a quick wash and dry of something we want quickly. If you plan to dry all the time, I'd recommend a separates if you have the room.

If you want a combined, try and get as big a capacity as you can. That way you can wash and dry bigger loads. One thing to note is a combined washer dryer is very slow at drying, compared to a separate dryer - so make sure you get a high spin speed so that the dryer has less drying to do!

Possom

I just had a look at what's available on the Argos website. There's a small number of tumble dryers and a large number of washing machines.

However, I don't see any washing machines which explicitly state that they have an integrated tumble dryer.

Rolandtheroadie

Search for washer dryer? 39 results.

London50

http://www.argos.co.uk/browse/home-and-garden/large-kitchen-appliances/washer-dryers/c:29613/