It’s early in the morning, you’re about to leave for work. Before you leave the house you pop a load of dirty washing into your machine. When you get home in the evening your clothes are clean and already dry, straight from the machine!

Anything that makes laundry easier is a heavenly convenience. 

There are some serious advantages to owning a washing machine with a dryer. Especially if you’re on the go and getting your washing from machine to clothesline proves problematic.

Basically, a washing machine dryer combo is two appliances in one. But, is the combo washer dryer supposed to offer all the features of their stand-alone versions? What's better; a washer dryer combo, or separate machines? 

Let’s find out. 

Do Washer Dryer Combos Really Work?

The answer depends on what your laundry requirements are. If you do small loads of washing which you hang on a clothesline, but need a backup dryer for the odd occasion, then yes! A washer-dryer is definitely a great option for you!

However, if your laundry piles up quickly and you’re adding load after load to your washer-dryer, your answer might be somewhat less enthusiastic.

It really comes down to the size of your household and your lifestyle.

If you have a family of more than two, you might be in for an extremely long laundry day if the dryer is something you will need to use regularly. 

Does a washer dryer combo need to be vented? The short answer is no. So, you can install your machine wherever your electricity and water connections are.

Traditional dryers work with open vents where hot, damp air is released from the sides of the machine. Combo machines are sealed units with condenser dryers that extract water from the wash load. A heat exchanger helps to condense the moisture from the air in the drum which is released into a tank or the drain.

Pros

There are definitely some valid advantages to washing machine dryer combos. Below are four pros:

Performance

When it comes to the actual washer part, the performance is just as good as any conventional front loader washing machine. You definitely won't find that your clothes seem less clean with a combo machine

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Space

You save on space big time. Instead of having two separate machines, you only have one to install and make room for. This is ideal if you don’t have space for two standalone units.

Energy

You'll use about the same amount of energy if you do a wash and dry cycle in one machine as you would in two machines. Although energy consumption will vary according to machine performance, the costs of running a combo aren’t higher than running two separate machines.

Convenience 

The transition from the washing phase to the drying phase is effortless. And, even if you forget your clothes in the machine, at least they’ll be dry when you take them out!

Having a drying function that comes with your washing machine is such a bonus, even if you don't tumble dry frequently. It can be a real lifesaver during those odd unpredictable times, or when the washing line is full. In all, it's a great option to have.

Cons

The cons might not be anything major to you, or, they could prove quite significant. Either way, a dryer combo does present a couple of drawbacks you’ll want to know about.

Here are four cons: 

Drying 

On the whole, the drying capabilities of combo machines do not equal those of standalone tumble dryers. Perhaps it’s best to consider combos as machines that do washing as their first and foremost function (like Batman). They can do some drying as well, but it’s more a sidekick type of feature (think Robin) - source. 

Drying takes a considerable amount of time - up to six hours for certain models! The longer cycle doesn't consume more energy than normal tumble dryers, but it does use surprisingly more water. 

The water used by the condenser in the drying process can be even more than the wash cycle. Yes, it’s a bizarre concept. Putting it simply, the heat exchanger in the condenser passes hot air through metal fins. These fins need to be cooled, which is accomplished with water instead of air as found in normal tumble dryers. 

Combo machines use the water system that’s already in place for the washer function to complete the drying process. Once the water has been in contact with the hot fins a few times it gets too warm to do anymore cooling and it gets flushed out of the machine. New cool water is then drawn into the machine. And that is why the drying function uses so much water in washer dryers! (Source)   

On the other hand, some newer models use heat pump technology to reduce water consumption.

It's good to remember that water use isn’t included in a machine’s energy rating.

Capacity

In most cases, the dryer function can only handle half of the capacity of the washer. So you need to wash smaller loads, or, be prepared to take half the washing out and do the drying in two batches.

Reliability 

Reliability is a bit of an issue here as these machines have a reputation for needing more frequent servicing. The thing with having a washing machine and tumble dryer in one is that the technology is more complex making it problematic to repair. The standalone versions tend to be easier to fix.   

One Thing at a Time

The advantage of having one machine that does two things is also its disadvantage because it can only do one thing at a time. 

You have to wait out the drying cycle before you start a new washing cycle. If you have two standalone machines you can run the washing machine and the tumble dryer at the same time, while hanging a third load on the washing line. 

Washer Dryer Combo South Africa

Now that we’ve weighed up the pros and cons, let’s take a closer look at a front load washer and dryer product example. 

There are so many reasons to be impressed by Beko’s Integrated Washer Dryer. This machine has an increased drying capacity of 5kgs to a washing capacity of 8kgs, which is very good considering that most combos can only dry up to half of the wash load capacity.

• Dimensions: 820 X 600 X 550 mm  (Height X Width X Depth)

• Design: AquaWave Technology with a ProSmart Inverter Motor 

• Features: Woolmark Apparel Care, Wash and Wear

• Drying Type: Water Condensation

Beko’s Integrated Washer Dryer is well equipped with the design features that really matter. Its inverter motor means you get a durable, efficient machine that runs quietly. Inverter systems are the way to go for any appliance, as they offer better performance and lower running costs.

Our favourite feature on this machine is the wash and wear setting, which gets one kilogram of washing ready for you to wear in one hour. This is perfect if your favourite outfit is in the wash and you need it ASAP. 

This is one of the best washer dryer combos currently available on the South African market as an integrated option. 

Maybe a washer dryer isn’t your thing. If you’d prefer a standalone machine, take a look at the delightful BAW 100 Beko washing machine. 

Beko is relatively new to South Africa, but that doesn’t mean it’s a novice in the industry. Established in 1955, Beko is a top-selling appliance brand in Europe, famous for reliable products with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency.

A Matter of Perspective

Buying a washing machine and tumble dryer in one is a perfectly reasonable option if you don’t have huge laundry requirements. Or, if you’re short on space and wouldn’t mind having the option of a dryer. 

It all depends on how you look at it. 

A final word of advice is to add the items you like to your wishlist and do some product comparisons to find your best washing machine dryer combo. Whatever you decide, you can count on Beko’s reputation for quality and reliability.

Check out Beko’s online product range here.