Best Washer Dryers (great for those short on space!)

If you’re looking to buy a washing machine and a tumble dryer, it can be a very expensive exercise. Then you’ll need to find the room to put both of these appliances. A great way to save money and space is to buy a washer dryer.

You might not have considered buying a washer dryer because you don’t know much about them. If that’s the case, keep reading, because we’ve done all the hard work for you. In this article you’ll find our unbiased findings on washer dryers.

Top Washer Dryers UK

Here are our recommendations for the best washer dryers:

How Does A Washer Dryer Work?

When in wash mode, the washer works just like a standard washing machine. The drum fills with water and gets mixed with the detergent before soaking the laundry. The drum agitates the washing to get dirt out before draining and rinsing the clothes. The machine then finishes with a spin cycle.

The dryer works just like a heat pump tumble dryer – The moisture is removed from the clothes, cooled so that it condenses into a liquid again and is drained out of the drum and either pumped directly down the drain or stored in an on board water reservoir (which will need to be emptied regularly). The air is then reheated to pass over the clothes again.

Advantages Of Washer Dryers

The main advantages of a washer dryer include;

• Costs Less Than Buying Two Separate Appliances
  It will cost marginally less to buy a washer dryer than it would to buy a separate washing machine and tumble dryer.
• Clothes Can Be Washed & Dried Without You Having To Intervene
  No more removing damp laundry from the washing machine and taking it to the tumble dryer.
• The Washer & Dryer Can Be Used Independently
  You can use each part, the washer or the dryer independently of each other. You don’t have to tumble dry every load you wash. Or you could hand wash clothes and then just use the tumble dryer on the washer dryer.
• Takes Up Less Room
  A washer dryer only takes up as much room as one appliance, not two.

Disadvantages Of Washer Dryers

The main disadvantages of a washer dryer include;

• Can Be Larger Than Stand Alone Appliances
  Many washer dryers have larger dimensions than stand alone washing machines and separate tumble dryers. This could be a problem if you were planning to site your washer dryer under a work surface or in a cupboard for example.
• The Dryer Can Only Handle Half As Much As The Washer
  The amount of laundry that can be dried in the washer dryer is around half as much as can be washed. This can be inconvenient, especially considering that the dryer takes a long time.
• The Dryer Uses An Extremely Large Amount Of Water
  Due to the design and how the appliance functions, the dryer uses a huge amount of water compared to many stand alone tumble dryers which use no water at all. In some cases, washer dryers use more water to dry clothes than to wash them!
• You Can’t Dry A Wash Load When The Washer Is Operating
  Obviously, with a separate washing machine and tumble dryer, you can be drying one load in the dryer as another is washing in the washer. This is not possible in a washer dryer. You have to wait for the washer to finish before you can use the drying function.
• Complicated Components Which Can Be Expensive To Repair/Replace
  Due to the design, many of the component parts of a washer dryer are far more complex than those found on regular stand alone washing machines and tumble dryers. Complex parts can cost more to replace and as they often require a specialist technician, repairs can be costly.
• Long Drying Times
  The dryer on a washer dryer is based on heat pump tumble dryers which take the longest of all three types of stand alone dryers.
• Used To Have A Bad Reputation
  When washer dryers were first introduced, they had a bad reputation for reliability. This has improved over recent years but the stigma still remains.

Washer Dryers Buyers Guide

If you’re thinking of buying a washer dryer there are a few things you should consider. These include;

Freestanding Or Integrated?

An integrated washer dryer will (or should) slot under a worktop and is often (but not always) covered by a cupboard door. In some cases, integrated washer dryers protrude from the worktop so you’ll need to measure up correctly before buying to make sure it will fit snugly.

Freestanding washer dryers tend to be larger than integrated models and therefore often have a larger capacity too. This means you can usually wash and dry more laundry in a freestanding washer dryer compared to an integrated model.

Overall Size

The overall size of the washer dryer will dictate where it can be placed. Remember it will need to be plumbed in so access to water and drainage pipes is essential.

If you’re planning on placing the washer dryer under a worktop make sure it will fit.

Wash Capacity

The amount of laundry a washer can take depends on the capacity. If there are only one or two people in the home a wash capacity of around 6 kg is more than ample. 

For three to four people you’ll need 7 to 9 kg and for larger families you’ll need a 10 kg or above capacity.

Drying Capacity

The majority of washer dryers have smaller drying capacity than washing capacity. If you intend to use the tumble dryer function often, you should opt for a washer dryer with the highest drying capacity you can find.

Spin Speed

The higher the spin speed on the machine, the more water will be extracted from the laundry. This reduces drying times and running costs as well.

Noise Level

Check the decibel rating on the washer dryer, the average is around 60-80 dB. For guidance, a normal conversation is around 50 dB. It’s worth checking because depending where the washer dryer is placed, in comparison to where you spend most of your time, the noise level could affect your daily life.

Energy Efficiency

Look for an energy efficient machine so that your electricity bills don’t rise too much on wash days. As of march 2021 a new energy rating system was introduced in the UK.

Appliances are now rated from A-G as opposed to A+++. Under the new ratings, what was A++ is now F which means that now a D or E rated machine is actually pretty energy efficient!

Warranty

Modern washer dryers are much better than earlier models and are overall, built to last. However, if something does go wrong it’s reassuring to know it’s covered by a decent warranty.

The average warranty is for two years but many can be extended, while some even have a 10 year warranty on certain parts (like the motor). However, you should always read the smallprint to see exactly what’s covered and what’s not.

Quick Wash

This is a handy feature which allows you to give clothes that are not really that dirty a short wash cycle just to freshen them up. Quick wash cycles typically run for 15-30 minutes.

Automatic Detergent Dosage

Many modern appliances have sensors that can detect the weight of the wash load and automatically dispense the correct amount of detergent for that size load.

Smart Connectivity

Many of the top brands include the ability to connect to their appliances via smart technology. This allows you to control the functionality of your appliance via an app on your phone or tablet.

Environmentally Friendly Production

Many manufacturers are building appliances that are sustainably made with environmental issues firmly at the forefront. Some have programmes designed to use less water or energy efficient motors. Whilst others even use recyclable components in the drum.

Price

Washer dryers range in price from around £450 for a D rated 7 kg washer/4 kg dryer with a 1400 RPM spin speed. Rising to around £1,100 for a D rated 10 kg washer/6 kg  dryer with a 1400 RPM spin speed.

Is It Worth Buying A Washer Dryer?

If you live in a small home, with a limited amount of space, a washer dryer could be the perfect solution to your washing and drying requirements. Likewise, if you have mobility issues, a washer dryer eliminates the need to transfer the wet washing to the dryer.

However, if you have a large family or just wash lots of clothes regularly, separate stand alone appliances might be a better choice. Also if you’re on a water meter, a washer dryer could prove to be expensive due to the excessive water usage when drying clothes.

You could save a few quid by buying a combined washer dryer, but it could be more expensive if it does break down to replace some of the complex components.

It’s also worth mentioning that separate washing machines and tumble dryers can dry more clothes at one time, allow you to wash and dry clothes at the same time, have faster drying times and are generally more energy efficient and use less water.

SEE ALSO: 

• Is It Worth Buying A Washer Dryer?
• Washing Machine Vs Washer Dryer – which is better?

Frequently Asked Questions