Washer/dryer combis

I know there was a thread on this ages ago but too lazy to dig it up.
We have a dishwasher, washing machine and a condenser dryer in our kitchen at present but in a few days when we move (touch wood nothing changes) we wont have so much space for all these appliances in the kitchen.
Has anyone found a good washer/dryer combi unit? We're replacing all our white appliances with silver and was hoping to avoid bringing my old white condenser dryer which is total crap to begin with and having to hook it up in the conservatory. 

I seem to recall I think Britwife mentioned you have to take half the load out of the washer before it goes into drying mode? Is this still the case or have they since improved this machines?

I just got a brand new washer dryer this week, and it takes a max 6kg load for washing, but only a max 4kg load for drying. 

Honestly Pebbles, with a family of your size, unless you do a lot of line-drying as well, I'd steer clear of the combi.

We have a combo in Japan, and I hate it.  But even the washing capacity is tiny...  I'd rather go back to the old separate washing tub and wringer.  (Note to self:  stuff that falls off the back of the truck isn't necessarily a good deal.)  I've heard some people say they liked theirs, but not sure if they can wash their duvets in them.  Ours beeps like crazy and starts leaking if I wash ONE pillow.  My husband doesn't understand... "Me provide machine, why woman complain?"

If space is an issue, can you build a lean-to out back for the w/d?   

I've had no probs with the Candy washer/dryer combo that we bought.

It's true that it takes longer to get it all done but it does the job well and I like it.

If we were to move to a bigger place I'd definitely get separate machines though.

Honestly Pebbles, with a family of your size, unless you do a lot of line-drying as well, I'd steer clear of the combi.

I agree. You will waste a lot of time splitting loads to dry them. I have a problem with ours and there is only 2 of us.

Yeah that would be a problem. With six of us Im doing washing nearly daily. I just don't know where to put a tumble dryer in that house. I don't want it out in the open and I would hate like hell to have to start removing precious cabinet space to make room for it in the kitchen. I wish we could afford a huge house with a nice sized kitchen!
This is our new kitchen.

[old attachment deleted by admin]

You'll never find a combination unit which will dry (in one load) as much as it will wash, and by the very nature of the compromises which have to be made in the design, the dryer section will never be as efficient as in a purpose-built dryer.   

Additionally, the condenser dryer sections in many combination units work by using copious amounts of cold water during the drying cycle.  If you're on metered water, not only are you paying for extra electricity due to the less efficient dryer, you'll be paying for all that water too.

I would never advise a combination unit unless there is absolutely, positively, no way you can find the extra space for two separate appliances.

I seem to recall I think Britwife mentioned you have to take half the load out of the washer before it goes into drying mode? Is this still the case or have they since improved this machines?

Yes that was my experience of the one that was in our flat in London (we went on and on at our lnadlord til he got a proper dryer!).  My parents have a Zanussi combi which my mother says is great at drying stuff ... so I am not sure why she is forever hanging things in front of their radiators "to finish them off" after the machine has been running all morning!

You'll never find a combination unit which will dry (in one load) as much as it will wash, and by the very nature of the compromises which have to be made in the design, the dryer section will never be as efficient as in a purpose-built dryer.   

Additionally, the condenser dryer sections in many combination units work by using copious amounts of cold water during the drying cycle.  If you're on metered water, not only are you paying for extra electricity due to the less efficient dryer, you'll be paying for all that water too.

I would never advise a combination unit unless there is absolutely, positively, no way you can find the extra space for two separate appliances.

Well that settles it then. Looks like we'll be ripping out a cabinet in the kitchen. I would rather do that than have the dryer out in the open somewhere.
Thanks everyone 

  My parents have a Zanussi combi which my mother says is great at drying stuff ... so I am not sure why she is forever hanging things in front of their radiators "to finish them off" after the machine has been running all morning!

 

We've got a washer dryer combo, came with the flat, and I hate it. We've had to have it repaired three times, in two years. Haven't had to pay for the repairs, but it's still annoying to have it break down all the time. The second time I called for repairs, the man said he would NEVER buy a bosch combo unit, because apparently there are LOADS of problems with them.

If i had room for 2 seperate machines, i'd definitely have them.
But i dont, so a washer dryer it is!
I cant comment on the quality of my new one, as i've only had it 2 days, but id agree that with a big family like Pebbles' ... a washer dryer probably wouldnt be very efficient.

If i had room for 2 seperate machines, i'd definitely have them.
But i dont, so a washer dryer it is!

Yeah, that's my feeling. I get by with a combination unit, but I'd prefer to have 2 machines.... With a family I'd definitely not be able to cope. Drying even a single towel takes about 45 minutes if it's been spun to within an inch of it's life. I go out of my way not to use it....

We put our dryer in the bedroom at one point as there was no spare cabinet space at all. I've also heard of people putting them in closets (such as under the stairs ones) and bathrooms.