Washer/dryer combis

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.

I think that's the problem with pretty much all Washer Dryers...  I work in electrical retail and that's the one machine that people moan the most about!  You'll probably be able to find one that has the same washing & drying capacity, but you'll be looking to spend stupid amounts of money (and still probably have to finish it off outside or on radiators anyway).     In all honesty I'd buy a separate dryer.  Do you have a garage or shed in the garden that you could put it in, so you don't have to rip out cupboards?

Don't do it Pebs...your clothes come out all hot and steamy...we had one and I won't ever have one again..

You defo need a seperate dryer!

Dh didn't have the extra space for a dryer in the house so he put the dryer in the garage.

Dh didn't have the extra space for a dryer in the house so he put the dryer in the garage.

Oy vey! That would never work for me...shlepping tons of laundry through the dining room and conservatory down the steps and out to the garage all day. Maybe if it were an attached garage.

Dh didn't have the extra space for a dryer in the house so he put the dryer in the garage.

Oy vey! That would never work for me...shlepping tons of laundry through the dining room and conservatory down the steps and out to the garage all day. Maybe if it were an attached garage.

Fortunately our garage is attached.   

We are going to be buying a washer/dryer when we move into our new flat in  a couple months. But that's precisely why... it's a flat.  I have never had a problem with the combination one we have now.  It's better than not having any drying system whatsoever.  No, it doesn't dry the clothes completely but that might also be because we only have 1000 spin.  The only load that ever dries completely is the whites for some reason. Even though I have to take the clothes out to dry the little bit of wet left in them I don't see that as any different typical family that doesn't have a dryer at all. We too are going with a a matching silver fridge and washer/dryer. We have ours all picked out. It's a hotpoint with a wash load 6kg and dries at 5kg. Can't decide yet if we want the 1200 or 1400 spin.  In our new flat there is no one below us so noise won't be a problem but the hotpoint we are looking at says it's quiet for using during low electricity times. The good thing about having separate machines is you can get more washing/drying done. Particularly with larger families. But since it's just DH and me this should work just fine.

We have a hoover washer/dryer.  It is ok but as everyone says it takes forever to dry.  Thank Goodness I noticed it has a "timesaver" button on it it was taking over two hours just to wash the clothes.  I have no idea what it does to make it shorter, less soaking maybe, but the clothes seem just as clean.  But at least 2 1/2 hours to do a load is too long for that big a family, plus you can't put in a load to wash while one is drying. 

the way I understand it is the higher the spin the more water it rings out of your clothes thus hoping (and helping) to make drying easier.

we are looking at says it's quiet for using during low electricity times.

Sarah,

After our discussion about the room/water heating as well, did you confirm that you have Economy 7 or a similar tariff?

Don't do it Pebs...your clothes come out all hot and steamy...we had one and I won't ever have one again..

You defo need a seperate dryer!

My clothes were coming out all hot and steamy, really too hot to touch, come to find out, that was one of the repairs that it needed! Some sort of switchy thingy went bad, and now it works fine, but I still hate it. Just because the loads have to be small, and it takes well over an hour to dry.

It still boggles my mind why they don't have separate washers and dryers here. Some of it is space-related, but I've lived in five different places here, most of which had room for a dryer, but they didn't. It's the 21st century of living in the dark ages.

We hate the drying function on our washer/dryer so much that we haven't used it since last year!  We use the machine to wash them, then line dry (or dry on a rack inside if the weather acts up).

We're not bothered by line drying, though, especially since there are only two of us.  It takes about the same time for the clothes to dry on the line/rack as it does for that machine to dry them!     Saves electricity, and the machine does the washing part pretty well, at least. 

It sucks that you might have to lose cupboard space to fit a separate dryer in there.    We have a similar amount of kitchen cupboards, judging from that photo, and I can't imagine trying to squeeze food for 4 more people into them!

It still boggles my mind why they don't have separate washers and dryers here. Some of it is space-related, but I've lived in five different places here, most of which had room for a dryer, but they didn't. It's the 21st century of living in the dark ages.

I never had a washer/dryer combi 'til I moved to this house, last October. Prior to that I always had separate machines.

Sarah,

After our discussion about the room/water heating as well, did you confirm that you have Economy 7 or a similar tariff?

I have been ringing and ringing them trying to find out answers but no one has been picking up. I imagine it probably is Economy 7. I suspect you have some advice  either way!  Most curious to know...

I have been ringing and ringing them trying to find out answers but no one has been picking up. I imagine it probably is Economy 7. I suspect you have some advice  either way!  Most curious to know...

I can't think why a contractor building a house with the heating system you'll have would not have requested one of the low night-rate tariffs when ordering the supply, but it's been known to happen. 

Economy 7 (so named for the 7 hours of cheap rate power each night) is the most well-known tariff as it's been around the longest, but there are others, such as Economy 10 which gives the 7 hours night rate plus a 3-hour afternoon boost at slightly reduced rates. 

It's complicated by the fact that even within each of these basic plans there can be multiple rates now.  I've just changed my tariff -- I'm still on Economy 7 but I've accepted a very slightly higher day rate in return for a much reduced night rate (ideal here as I have storage heating).