Combo Unit Washer Dryer: Understanding the Function of a Washer Dryer Combo
People living with space constraints may need a separate washer and a dryer unit. Additionally, owning a dryer becomes compulsory if they live in wet climatic conditions. This is where a combo unit washer and dryer comes into play.
A washer dryer combo can be the ultimate solution for your laundry needs especially if you have minimal space and are in dire need of both a washer and a dryer. In this article, we shall discuss the washer dryer combos and understand their advantages.
What is a Washer Dryer Combo and How Does It Work?
A washer dryer combo also known as an all-in-one washer-dryer combo combines a washing machine and dryer into a single appliance. You should not confuse this with a stacked washer and dryer.
Stacked units have a regular dryer unit stacked on top of a washing machine. But a washer dryer combo is a single machine that can perform the tasks of a washing machine and a dryer.
These combo units enable you to select either a wash cycle and a drying cycle or a combination of both washing and drying. This means you can use the combo machine as a standalone washer and dryer.
How Does a Washer Dryer Combo Work?
A combo washer dryer unit is designed like a front load washer for washing clothes. It has a horizontal drum that tumbles the laundry and washes exactly like a front load machine. As for the drying unit, there are two types of washer dryer combos:
- Vented Unit
- Ventless Unit
A vented washer dryer has air vents through which the surrounding air is drawn into the machine. This air is heated and circulated in the tub for drying the laundry.
A ventless washer-dryer works in the following manner:
- A ventless washer dryer combo has a condensing chamber and a dryer drum. The dryer drum has the wet laundry and the air inside this drum is heated.
- When heating the drum, the water in the laundry gets evaporated due to the hot air.
- The condensing chamber surrounding the dryer drum is cooled simultaneously.
- Due to the cold condensing chamber on the outside, the evaporated water vapor in the dryer drum is condensed.
- This condensed water in the condensing chamber is drained out of the machine through a drain tube.
- The process is then repeated and your laundry is dried.
Pros and Cons of Washer Dryer Combo Units
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Combo washer dryer units are space efficient. They are ideal for small homes and apartments | Combo units have long drying times than separate dryers |
| Load the clothes only once. No need to remove wet clothes and transfer them to a separate dryer | Wear and tear of the machine is higher compared to individual units |
| Highly convenient for washing and drying clothes simultaneously | Very low capacity when compared to full-size washer and dryer. Therefore, you must be careful about your load size. |
| Energy Efficiency is higher when compared to using individual washer units and standalone dryers | Drying efficiency is much less than standalone dryers |
| Combo units are easy to install and ventless models are much easier. | The initial cost is very high which makes it less affordable |
| Very little maintenance compared to maintaining two separate appliances | Wash cycles and drying cycles are longer |
| Portability is very high and you can even use them in RVs | Very few models to choose from compared to separate washer and dryer machines |
What is Better Washer Dryer Combo or Separate?
The washer and dryer sets are a great choice if you don’t have space to keep two machines. This one machine can do all the necessary washing and drying. The combo unit capacity is relatively less and they don’t take up much space like a full size washer and separate dryer.
The performance of a combo washer dryer is relatively less when compared to individual units. The washing machine part of the combo unit works pretty well and you will have all the necessary washing programs for a variety of laundry. But the drying unit might not be very efficient and takes a very long time to dry your clothes.
Washer dryer combo provides convenience and can be energy efficient to some extent. But if you want better performance, you have to choose separate units.
How to Use a Washer Dryer Combo?
The washer dryer combo doesn’t need any human intervention in the middle of the laundry cycle. Once you load the laundry, the combo unit will wash, rinse, spin, and dry it completely. You just have to remove the completely dry and clean clothes from the unit.
Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to use a washer and dryer combo:
- Sort your laundry and Load into the machine
- Add detergent and fabric softener to the dispenser draw
- Choose the appropriate wash cycle and drying cycle. You can also configure the wash options if required.
- Then press start, the machine will first perform the wash cycle
- After completing the wash cycle, the machine will start the drying cycle
- Once the drying cycle is complete, the machine will stop and you can remove the laundry from the unit.
This machine is highly convenient and doesn’t require you to unload the clothes for drying. If you have a busy schedule, you can simply load the combo unit, select the appropriate cycles, and let the machine do all the work. You can remove the laundry whenever it is convenient for you.
