Do you need to tumble dry?

Not everyone likes to run from the washing machine to the balcony with a basin and clothespins and hang up freshly washed clothes. More attractive is the prospect of taking dry laundry out of the drum and immediately putting it in the closet or on the ironing board. Drying and washing units offer this opportunity, but the high cost and small number of reviews cast doubt. Let's figure out whether it's worth buying a washer and dryer or whether it's better to do it the old fashioned way.

What is the “trick” of drying machines?

If conventional machines at the end of the cycle produce clean but wet laundry, then multifunctional machines turn on the dryer after washing and allow you not to waste time hanging clothes. This becomes possible by equipping the machine with an additional heating element. In addition to the first heating element, located below the drum and heating the water, a second one is provided for heating the air. The procedure for drying clothes is simple.

1. The heating element heats up, and the heat is distributed by a fan through a special air duct system.
2. Hot air passes through the wet laundry, the condensate released settles in the provided tank, and then exits through the drain.
3. The drum rotates slowly in different directions, ensuring uniform and complete drying.

The dashboard is also changing, with a separate regulator for setting the drying function. There are no other significant differences - the rest of the washer-dryer device does not differ from the usual machine.

Features of drying

It is worth understanding that multifunctional units are much more technically complex, so there are many shortcomings and pitfalls. Drying is becoming an addition to the machine, which is why manufacturers pay more attention to the quality of washing and spinning, rather than drying technology. But leading home appliance brands say they are ready to provide improved products in the near future.

In the meantime, many machines have the simplest drying option - using a timer. The user, at his own discretion, sets the cycle time and evaluates the result. True, things often remain quite damp or, on the contrary, overdried, which is corrected by varying the duration of the regime.

Less common are “advanced” models that offer the owner automatic drying. It continues just as long until a certain residual moisture is reached. Here the technology is more complicated: a thermometer sensor is installed at the bottom of the condenser, measuring the amount of moisture released. Depending on the received numbers, the Fuzzy Logic intelligent system calculates the humidity level and compares it with the set value. If an equalization occurs, the cycle ends.

It is better to keep things damp, as when they dry out, the fibers of the fabric weaken and become brittle.

But the user does not need to calculate the desired humidity level as a percentage. Manufacturers have systematized the data, and the machine immediately offers you to choose the degree of drying: from “very dry”, “iron” to “closet”. All that remains is to turn the lever to the desired position and wait for the end of the cycle.

Dries less than washes

Combination washing units have a drawback - you can dry no more than half of the standard capacity.Thus, the Electrolux EWW 16781W model limits the maximum load during washing to 7 kg, and for drying the drum can only be filled to 3.5 kg. In everyday life, such a distribution of kilograms causes severe inconvenience.

Many people doubt whether drying in a washing machine is necessary if, after the end of one cycle, they have to make two “drying” passes. During a large wash, this nuance wastes precious time and consumes more electricity.

Drying and washing machines are less economical than standard models: the energy consumption class is often at the “B” level, and often drops to “C” and “D”.

Manufacturers are trying to solve the problem by improving drying technology. Theoretically, it is possible to equalize the indicators, and some brands are already making big steps forward. A striking example is the Hotpoint-Ariston ARMXX D129, which has a washing capacity of 7 kg and a drying capacity of 5 kg. But the vast majority of machines still dry much less than they wash, which is something you should be prepared for.

Do dryers break down more often?

Another argument against purchasing multifunctional units is their unreliability and short service life. There is an opinion that technologically “complicated” dryers often fail and are expensive to repair. On the one hand, this is logical, but on the other, it is unlikely that manufacturers would release a product of obviously low quality to the market, risking their reputation.

Repairers of large household appliances claim that the presence of a drying function does not affect the overall service life of the automatic machine. Combined units break down, but not because of their complex design, but due to illiterate operation.Failure by the user to follow the instructions and negligent attitude towards recommendations from manufacturers lead to premature problems and repairs. For example, most drying and washing machines “burn out” due to simply exceeding the maximum permissible load. Trying to finish washing faster, machine owners load all the washed laundry, forgetting about the restrictions in the instructions.

Should I buy such equipment?

Whether a drying-washing machine is needed in the house is something everyone decides for themselves. But experts advise choosing monofunctional units instead of combined units, that is, purchasing a separate dryer and washing machine. You just need to find enough space and buy machines of similar capacity to dry the entire washed volume at once.

In addition to the time saved, this option has several additional advantages: a large number of programs, the ability to select narrow models and a wide range of products. But there are also disadvantages: it will require twice as much space and money. You won’t be able to save your finances - a high-quality dryer is no cheaper than related ones, for example, Bosch WTE-86302BY will cost $450-470, and Gorenje D 65225 – $600-620.

A modern trend in the interior, when the dryer is placed directly on the washing machine, will help save space.

If space and finances are tight, and you don’t want to hang clothes on clothespins, it is recommended to buy a washing machine and dryer. An improved machine costs about 1.5 times more than a standard washing machine, but you can find an acceptable option for a price starting from $150.

When choosing a model, we focus on two key points: the presence of “advanced” drying for residual moisture and capacity for one cycle.We also try to find a machine with the highest possible energy consumption class and suitable modes. The main thing is not to neglect the manufacturers' recommendations and carefully read the user manual.

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