Are Washing Machines a Better Choice Than Washer Dryers?
Laundry is an essential task for every household. You need to have laundry appliances that are reliable, efficient and convenient to use. Today’s manufacturers give you two main options when it comes to washing and drying your clothing – opt for either a washer dryer combo model or two separate appliances. Consumers wonder whether combo models have performance levels similar to washing machines and tumble dryers. Which is a better investment in terms of quality, convenience and efficiency?
Quality and Performance
Both the combo models and separate laundry appliances are designed and built with the same quality in mind. They often have similar warranty coverage as well. The differences arise when longevity is considered – combo models cannot be expected to last as long as separate appliances. This is due mainly to the shared workload between washing machines and tumble dryers. A washer dryer combo has to take on both laundry tasks and therefore works twice as hard for each load of laundry that comes through. The parts are prone to wear faster and even with improved designs and construction, you will get more years of service from a washing machine than from a washer dryer.
Performance is another area where the combo appliance may need to compromise. Because of the fundamental differences in function between a washer and a dryer, the design of a combo machine isn’t likely to clean or dry as well as the single appliance can.
Think of it this way – in order to be effective washing machines need to rub the clothing together with water and soap. Alternatively, in order to be effective tumble dryers need to create space between the clothing to create airflow. It is difficult to create both of these conditions in one machine with the same load of laundry inside.
Convenience and Efficiency
In terms of convenience, a washer dryer combo is difficult to beat. You can install this appliance in the kitchen or utility room with plenty of space to spare. This design also eliminates the need to switch the load over, resulting in less work for each individual load of laundry.
Using a washer dryer does take more time, however, since you cannot be washing another load while the first is in the drying cycle, as you could with a separate laundry set. Some people can live with that fact, considering they can load the appliance once and leave it alone until both cycles are finished.
Many would argue that using washing machines and tumble dryers separately is a more efficient way to go since the appliances are designed for only one purpose. You can find washer dryer combo models that are extremely efficient, though, making this factor less significant in the scheme of things.
It depends on your lifestyle, but many homeowners find the convenience of washer dryer combos is a top priority in their choice. For durability and quality of clean, you need to purchase washing machines and tumble dryer separately and simply accept the fact that they require more room and more physical work during the laundry process.
Home owners have got to make a decision between washer dryers and washing machines and it depends on the space that you have available.