Is drying in the washing machine necessary?

Not everyone likes to run from a washer to a balcony with a basin and clothespins and hang up just washed clothes. More attractive is the prospect of pulling out already dry laundry from the drum and immediately putting them in a cupboard or on an ironing board. Drying and washing units offer such an opportunity, but the high cost and the small number of reviews make one doubt. Let's figure out whether to buy a washing machine with dryer or is it better to act the old fashioned way.

What is the “trick” of machines with drying?

If ordinary cars at the end of the cycle give out clean but wet linen, then multifunctional ones include drying after washing and allow you not to waste time hanging clothes. This is made 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 heater is provided for heating the air. The scheme for drying clothes is simple.

1. The heater is heated, and heat is distributed by the fan through a special duct system.
2. Hot air passes through the wet laundry, the condensate generated settles in the provided tank, and then leaves through the drain.
3. The drum rotates slowly in different directions, providing uniform and complete drying.

The dashboard also changes, where a separate regulator is made to set the drying function. There are no more significant differences - the rest of the device of the washer-dryer is no different from the usual machine.

Features of drying

It should be understood that multifunctional units are much more complicated technically, therefore there are many shortcomings and pitfalls. Drying becomes an addition to the machine, which is why manufacturers pay more attention to the quality of washing and spinning, rather than drying technology. But the leading brands of household appliances declare their readiness to provide improved products in the near future.

In the meantime, many machines have the easiest drying option - on the timer. The user at his discretion sets the cycle time and evaluates the result. True, often things remain quite wet 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 lasts exactly as long until a certain residual humidity is reached. Here the technology is more complicated: a sensor-thermometer is installed in the lower part of the condenser, which measures the amount of released moisture. Depending on the numbers received, the Fuzzy Logic intelligent system calculates the humidity level and compares it with the set value. If adjustment occurs, the cycle ends.

It is better to keep things moist, since when dried, the fibers of the fabric weaken and become brittle.

But the user does not need to calculate the desired moisture level in percent. Manufacturers systematized the data, and the machine immediately suggests choosing the degree of drying: from “very dry”, “ironing” to “in the cabinet”. It remains only to turn the lever to the desired position, and wait for the end of the cycle.

Dries less than it erases

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

Many doubt whether drying in the washing machine is necessary if, after the end of one cycle, you have to make two “drying” calls. During a large wash, due to this nuance, precious time is wasted and more energy is consumed.

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

Manufacturers are trying to solve the problem by improving the drying technology. Theoretically, it’s realistic to compare performance, and some brands are already taking big steps forward. A striking example is the Hotpoint-Ariston ARMXX D129, which has a capacity of 7 kg for washing and 5 kg for drying. But the overwhelming number of machines still dry much less than they do, which is worth being prepared for.

Does a drying machine more often break down?

Another argument against the purchase of multi-functional units is their unreliability and short service life. There is an opinion that the technologically “complex” drying often fails and is expensive to repair. On the one hand, this is logical, but on the other hand, it is unlikely that manufacturers released obviously poor-quality goods on the market, risking their reputation.

Masters repairing large household appliances claim that the presence of a drying function does not affect the overall life of the automatic machine. Combined units break, but not because of the complex design, but due to illiterate operation. Non-compliance by the user with the rules of the instructions and neglect of recommendations from manufacturers lead to premature problems and repairs. For example, most drying and washing machines “burn out” due to the banal excess of the maximum allowable load. Trying to finish the wash faster, the owners of the machines load all the washed laundry, forgetting about the restriction in the instructions.

Should I buy similar equipment?

Whether a washing machine is needed in the house - everyone decides for himself. But experts advise instead of combined units to choose monofunctional, that is, purchase separately drying and washing. It is only necessary to find a sufficient place and buy machines with similar capacities in order to dry the entire washed volume.

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 take twice as much space and money. Save your finances will not work - a high-quality dryer is not cheaper than adjacent ones, for example, Bosch WTE-86302BY will cost 45-47 thousand rubles, and Gorenje D 65225 - 60-62 thousand rubles.

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

If space and finances are tight, and there is no desire to hang clothes on clothespins, it is recommended to take a washing machine with dryer. An advanced automatic machine costs about 1.5 times more expensive than a standard washing machine, but you can find an acceptable option for a price of 15,000 rubles.

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