Should You Buy a Washer-Dryer?

Author: December 17, 2015

Electrical Goods

The days are getting colder and shorter, drying on the line might not be a good idea with winter weather conditions, especially in this country with unpredictable weather patterns. Perhaps a better option would be to purchase a dryer, or maybe a condenser dryer depending on where you want to put it in your home and the ventilation in that room.

What about the homes that don’t have space for a washing machine, and a dryer? Lets think about those smaller flats where there might not even be room to hang up laundry, with the exception of a small rack in the bathroom maybe? A good solution would be to buy a washer-dryer combined, which would save space and would solve the problem of drying clothes in the winter.

But what about the drawbacks v the benefits?

Pros:

  • In accommodation with little space, a washer-dryer is a viable solution.
  • Washes and dry’s the clothes in the same cycle, no need to empty and dry separate.
  • Depending on the cost of the unit, buying a single washer-dryer machine could save you money, as opposed to buying two individual washing machine and dryer units.

Cons:

  • Washer-dryers may be costly to repair if they go wrong.
  • If the unit breaks, you will lose both the Washing and drying functionality and have to buy a new unit.
  • Washer-dryers have a tendency to be overcomplicated and the instructions of operation may be confusing.
  • The Dryer part of the washer-dryer will be a condenser dryer, so this will take longer to dry the clothes, and may consume more electricity.

Conclusion:

The best solution should always be the one that fits your situation, such as the space you have available in your home, and the budget you have to spend on electricity.

If you have limited space and a washer dryer is your best option, but be prepared to accept when it goes wrong and needs repair; save a little each week just in case if outside warranty.

If your concerned about electricity consumption then use your smarts; the smaller items you can hang in your bathroom on a small rack over the shower rail, or however it’s put up in your bathroom. With the longer cycles however a really good solution is to part dry the clothes and hang up the ones you can in the bathroom, or wherever your going to hang it (preferably in a wet room to avoid damp problems later).