“It took over 3 hours to dry a 12-pound load in the combo we recently tested and over 2 hours for a 8-pound load,” says Handel. As noted above, it can take hours to dry a load of clothes in a combo machine. By comparison, the Whirlpool washer-dryer we tested costs about the same as a Whirlpool front-loader in our ratings.ĭrying times are long. The good news is, prices are leveling off (GE’s combo washer-dryer launched at nearly $2,900 now it’s priced at less than $2,500). All-in-one washer-dryers can cost well over $2,000. The three models we tested proved to be high-performing, quiet washers that are superb in energy and water efficiency, and very gentle on fabrics. Combos are convenient because they offer one-and-done loading and automatic wash-and-dry, and some machines don’t require lint filter cleaning (the LG and Whirlpool models in our ratings filter lint down the drain). All-in-ones promise no more cycle-chasing, tumble-watching, or needing to leap into action at the sound of a buzzer. (In our tests, we run the cycles separately.) But that negates one of their prime advantages. You can opt to run these machines as you would an ordinary laundry pair, using just a wash or just a dry cycle. You also may not need the 220-volt outlet required of most conventional dryers the three combo machines tested by CR all run on 110 volts. You can place them along any wall with a water line, even in a kitchen or bathroom. Because they are ventless, they aren’t hostage to an exhaust vent. Most measure within a few inches of traditional front-load washers (although the GE model we tested was significantly taller, so be sure to check the measurements on the model you intend to buy). As one unit, washer-dryer combos can save space in your laundry room, especially if you lack room for two machines. But, Handel says, "I think it would be safe to say that in general heat pump dryers are the most efficient, condensing dryers are in the middle, and then come traditional electric." Whether condenser dryers are more or less energy-efficient than traditional vented dryers is harder to say our tests are not conclusive. “Condenser dryers dry quicker and use a higher temperature, so they are less energy-efficient than heat pump dryers,” says Handel. While they generally cost more to purchase, heat pump dryers may qualify for some tax rebates.īecause they use lower temperatures, heat pump dryers also surpass condenser dryers when it comes to efficiency. This might be appreciated more in summer months than winter. For example, in our tests, the All-in-One GE Profile PFQ97HSPVDS heat pump washer-dryer took 3½ hours to dry a 12-pound laundry load but used half as much energy as the GE Profile PFD95ESPTDS, a front-load-style electric dryer that dried the same size load in less than an hour.īut heat pump dryers come with a bit of a quirk: They exhaust cool air as part of the drying process, which can have an effect similar to an air conditioner. Clothes from a heat pump dryer may not feel as dry or warm to the touch as those dried in a traditional dryer until they are shaken out.ĭespite the amount of time they take to dry clothes, heat pump dryers are highly energy-efficient, using at least 28 percent less energy than a standard dryer, according to Energy Star. (Most washer-dryer combos are ventless, and require a drain or water-collecting reservoir for moisture removal.)Ĭondensing dryers heat air in the drum to absorb moisture from clothes, then pass the hot moist air over a cool heat exchanger that condenses the moisture and drains it through a drain line.Ī heat pump dryer also uses hot air to absorb moisture, which is passed through an evaporator that collects the water and reuses the hot air in a loop system until clothes are dry. The combination machines we’ve tested dry clothes using either condensation drying technology or energy-efficient heat pump technology-both of which take longer to dry clothes than traditional dryers that vent moisture outside. Their mechanism for drying clothes, however, is different. Washer-dryer combos wash clothes the same way that traditional washers do-they wash, tumble, and rinse, then flush excess water and detergent down a drain.
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