Combo Washer Dryer - How It Works

As I noted in my last post, a washer dryer combination is a different animal than a conventional setup, where you have the washer and dryer as separate units sitting side by side. These regular units have the washer connected to dedicated water and flush lines, and the dryer has a dedicated high voltage outlet with a vent to the outside. The conventional dryer heats air that circulates through the clothes, picking up the lint and moisture and pushing it outside.

The washer dryer combo unit can connect to any standard electrical outlet, and an inexpensive coupling piece can connect it to any standard water faucet. In the drying cycle, a ventless machine typically uses water based condensers. After the air is heated and circulated through the clothes, the air is sent to a chamber (or drum) where the air is cooled and moisture is condensed out of it. This moisture is then pumped down the same drain as the wash water and the process begins again with dry air circulating through the clothes.

Most combo units are Energy Star Certified. Partly because of their size and partly because of the design, they are very energy efficient, using much less energy than most conventional washers and dryers, and 60%+ less water. Combo units tend to wash better as well. The horizontal axis drum that comes with the front load design eliminates the agitator mechanism. The agitator tends to be hard on clothes and not very functional for cleaning. The front load design works more like a washboard, raising the clothes out of the water and soap and them pushing them back in. The high RPMs (like 1000 or more) of the spin cycle tend to get water and soap residue out of clothes better than standard washers.  Also, because the clothes are not super heated as with conventional dryers, clothes come out softer and tend to keep colors better.

Most combo washer dryer units come with wheels on or with casters that can easily be attached. This makes them easily portable around the house. They are so compact that many people store them in closets or under cabinets until needed. Be sure to check the unit dimensions against your available space, to be sure.