The pros and cons of a washer dryer combo

A washer dryer combo is a machine that can both wash clothes as well as dry them. Because the washing machine and the dryer are built into the same machine, it saves a lot of floor space. In addition, it saves you a little bit of time with every load since you won't have to take all of your wet clothes out of the washing machine and load them into the dryer. Unfortunately this added convenience is at a cost and it consumes more energy because you also have to spend power to dry the insides of the washing machine tub.

One of the things you should know about washer dryer combo is the difference between it's drying process and a traditional dryer's drying process. Instead of using high heat with a vent, a washer dryer combo uses what is called a condensation dryer which is much slower. This is great for houses and apartments without access to a vent for a standard dryer, but other than that it can be an annoyance. Some reviews of washer dryer combos say drying takes twice as long, and sometimes even up to five and a half hours. Some people suggest only drying half of a load at a time to increase the speed, but that requires washing half a load each time or taking half of the clothes out when a load is done washing. An advantage of having a condensation dryer is that a standard 120 volt electrical supply can be used instead of the 240 volt supply that most traditional washer and dryers require.

When buying a washer dryer combo you may want to look into buying a front loading machine. By loading in the front you will consume less water, less detergent as well as remove more water during the spin cycle which decreases your drying time. You may also want to look into buying a moisture sensor if your machine doesn't already come with one. By turning off the dryer as soon as the clothes are dry you'll save both time and money