Two built-in Washer Dryers....or a Separate Washer and Dryer?

[SkipFeeney]

Hi All,

Just in the process of re-designing my kitchen. We were going to have a Washing Machine and a Separate dryer, but looking at costs its not much more to get two Washer/Dryers. Is that a bad idea? We have 2 kids under 3 so do a lot of washing, also a separate dryer will need venting so
core drilling will be needed.

We are looking at all integrated appliances

Thanks

 

[theoneandonlyspindoctor]

Washer dryers can be less efficient with respect to drying. The inner drum on a washer is smaller than a dryer drum. Therefore the space in which the air circulates around the clothes is smaller, thus a smaller load is dried in the same time in a washer dryer. Furthermore a washer drum rotates within a larger tub. This can mean a washer dryer with a 5kg load uses power to heat thr same as an 8kg dryer.
However the benefit of being able to wash two loads at the same time can be very important with small children

 

[OwainDIYer]

you can use a condenser dryer which doesn't need venting, just a drain hose.

If you have a washer-dryer you will usually have to empty half the wash load out at the end of the wash cycle and dry the load in two halves, so no greater drying capacity than one separate dryer.

 

[alan333]

I had a washer dryer years ago and it was dreadful compared to a vented dryer - as mentioned above it was slow and only took a half load. Maybe they've got better over the years but when I researched it again about 5 years ago it seemed the good old vented dryers are still the most effective at drying clothes. Maybe not the most energy efficient, but the best at doing their job.

Bear in mind if you have a seperate washer and dryer you can use both at the same time, ie wash a load for 45 mins, then wash another one and dry the previous one simultaneously for each subsequent 45 mins, then finish off with drying the last load for the final 45 mins. Even better if you get a washer with a time delay function so you can set the first wash to be ready for the dryer when you get home from work etc.

My vote is seperates, and drill the hole through the wall.