Washer-Dryer Combos

Unvented washer-dryer combos use one tub

Besides stacked washer-dryer units, there is another class of combined washer and dryers called washer-dryer combos, clothes processors or all-in-one machines, which wash and dry clothes in the same tub. You load the dirty laundry, make your selections and then remove the clean, dry items when the drying cycle is done. These washer-dryer combos are compact, use a standard 120-volt electrical supply and do not need to be vented. Rather, water is pumped out of the drum and out a hose, so you need a sink, drain or tub nearby.

Although washer-dryer combos are an option for those who cannot use standard washers and dryers, there are some significant drawbacks. Capacity is much smaller than full-sized washers. Most models are 24-inch compact washer-dryers. It also takes much longer to process a load of clothes. The standard drying cycle is one hour, but many owners report that clothes are still not dry. Part of the problem is that these washer-dryer combos can only dry about half as much laundry as they wash, so you have to either wash half-loads of laundry or remove some of the wet laundry before the drying cycle. Opinion sites like Epinions.com are full of owners complaining about this cumbersome aspect of washer-dryer combos.

But if you are limited to 120 volts and can't vent the dryer, a washer-dryer combo is your only option besides the laundromat or a laundry service. Combo washer-dryers are more popular in Europe. The U.K. consumer magazine Which? has tested 39 units. Although some of the brands haven't made it across the pond, a few are recognizable: AEG-Electrolux, Bosch, Hoover, Miele and Whirlpool. Units from Miele and AEG-Electrolux are rated as best buys, but they are not marketed in the United States.

The Malber WD1000 compact washer-dryer combo is one of the least expensive models we saw. The 24-inch Malber washer doesn't take up much space, but it also doesn't hold a huge amount of laundry (up to 11 pounds). The Malber holds a little more than half the amount of a full-size washer. There's a stainless steel drum on this front-loader, which has eight wash/rinse cycles and two drying temperatures. Reviewers say that although manufacturers claim combo machines are quiet, most are quite noisy when drying, and the Malber washer-dryer is no exception. At Epinions.com, this machine receives a mixed overall score from about 30 owners, many of whom say customer service from Malber is a big problem. A few owners complain that the controls are confusing and the manual is cryptic.

Alternatively, LG makes some washer-dryer combo units. The LG WM3431HW (*Est. $1,350) and WM3431HS (*Est. $1,500) are identical, except the more expensive model comes in a titanium finish. They are 24 inches wide, with a 2.44-cubic-foot capacity. Both have nine wash/dry cycles. Water levels are automatically set -- a water-saving feature admired by experts. These models are reviewed together at Epinions.com, where they receive an average score of 3.5 out of five stars from more than 50 owners posting reviews. The complaints we read here are common to all of these washer-dryer combos -- the cycles take a very long time compared to conventional models, and they seem to need repairs more often that regular washers and dryers. However, we didn't read the same type of customer service complaints about LG as we did for Malber.

LG also offers a larger model, the LG WM3988HWA (*Est. $1,600). This 27-inch unit has a capacity of 4.2 cubic feet. It has nine washing cycles and five wash/dry programs. At Good Housekeeping magazine, editors say that an earlier 27-inch LG model "outcleaned some standard washers." Like most washer-dryer combos, the LG models use a standard 120-volt power supply and need a nearby tub or sink for drainage. Some owners say the LG washer-dryer combination is also noisy when pumping out the water.