A washer dryer combo is a front load washing machine and a condenser clothes dryer rolled into one. If you live in an apartment, or if you have a small laundry area, a washer dryer combo is a great choice because it will help to save space.
You can use a washer-dryer combo just like you would a normal washing machine. Once the wash cycle has finished, you can then use your combo to get your clothes dry. You also have the option of setting your machine to wash and then dry your clothes all in the one cycle, so you can wake up in the morning to find that your clothes are clean, dry, and ready to be put away.
Washer dryer combos incorporate a condenser dryer - which is different to a vented dryer in that it won't pump humid air into your laundry space. Instead, condenser dryers work by extracting moisture from your clothes and then draining it away as condensed water. Most washer dryer combos include a drainage hose which will automatically drain this water down the sink. There will also usually be a lint filter which will need to be emptied periodically.
For more information about condenser dryers, please read our Condenser Clothes Dryer Buying Guide. And for more information about front load washers, please check out the Front Load Washing Machine Buying Guide.
A combination washer-dryer is a great idea if you need to save space. By combining a front-load washing machine and condenser dryer in one compact unit, it takes up half the total space and removes the need for buying two separate appliances.
Washer dryer combos also share all the advantages of front load washing machines - they're water and energy efficient, and they deliver excellent wash results. Unlike a top loading washing machine, you could potentially incorporate one of these machines beneath a kitchen bench - which is especially useful if you don't have a dedicated laundry space.
Other benefits of a combination washer dryer include:
This table will provide a rough guide to sizing:
| Washer capacity | Suits |
|---|---|
| 6kg-7.5kg | 2-4 people |
| 7.5kg or larger | 4+ people |
Please note that the washing capacity will always be larger than the drying capacity. This means if you want to run a full wash and dry cycle, you should only half-fill the drum. This gives the clothes space to move, making the dryer safer and more efficient.
Before you buy, we strongly recommend that you read the product information closely to make sure that the size of the machine will suit your requirements.
Good question! Before you make a purchase, please:
You may have found the best clothes dryer in the universe, but if you can't get it into your laundry, it's of no use to you. All dryers are different - therefore you always need to measure before you buy.
The length of time it takes to dry a load will depend on the weight of the damp clothes. The heavier and wetter the fabric, the longer the drying cycle will take. The size and efficiency of your dryer are two features which will affect cycle times - but generally speaking, the more room inside the drum, the faster your washing will dry.
On average, the average wash and dry cycle will be in the vicinity of 2.5 - 3 hours.
If you have a large family and you tend to use your dryer a lot, a washer dryer combo would not be suitable. Many families like to save time by washing a second load while the first load is in the dryer -something you simply can't do with a washer dryer combo. Additionally, these machines are not able to handle large drying loads, which is no good if you want to dry large volumes of towels and linen at a time.
Combos work best with relatively small loads. For best results, you will need to pull about half of the damp washing out of the drum when the wash cycle finishes before starting the drying program (this is because the drying capacity is generally half the wash capacity).
Therefore, washer dryer combos are excellent for small households of around 1-3 people, and for apartment living.
However if your laundry needs are more heavy duty, you would be better off with a separate washing machine and dryer.
Benefits of a washer dryer combo
How to choose a clothes dryer: buying tips
And remember, you can call our Customer Support Centre 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Just give us a bell on: 1300 000 500 to speak to an appliance expert.