European style combination Washer/Dryer (sets, store, best, buy)

[AK-Cathy]

Anyone used these long term? What did you think?

Same question about a condensing dryer. Seems to make sense in theory but the devil is in the details.

At present we have 8-10 y/o GE machines that came with the house. I hate them with a white hot passion. The washer is touchy, doesn't have a "Spin only" setting that I need, it goes off balance with a few towels or jeans, and it doesn't do that great of a job on the rest of the laundry.

The dryer's moisture sensor is iffy at best so we are stuck with the timed dry setting. The low temp is pretty darned hot so I have delicates hanging all over the house when I do laundry. We've been here less than a year and my husband has had to order parts and repair both a couple of times. Grrr. We are in replacement mode. Our one issue is the closet that is the laundry room. It will fit standard machines but it's fairly tight. The great big tall cabinet type are out.

I'm not inclined to think that newer is better. In fact every iteration of W/D we've gotten has been worse than the one before, the better sets left in homes we've sold when we've moved cross country rather than try to haul and store major appliances. We are here to stay (God willing) and want something worth what we pay for them.

Thanks.

[Quietude]

I used them during a couple of long vacations. Hate 'em. They do both functions poorly.

I suppose better results come from familiarity and practice, and I understand why they are popular in smaller European homes, but honest, I'd rather have a cheap apartment stack than a combined unit. Many also need 240V for operation, meaning they won't work unless they're in a space already wired etc. for a dryer.

[Ed Ferris]

I had a 120V dryer in one apartment I rented. The thing was pitiful. It would not dry blue jeans no matter how long you had it run.
Poor drying can be caused by a restricted air duct. If you have the flexible one, make sure that hot air is coming out of it freely at the outside wall.
A criterion I find useful is NOT to buy "Energy Star" appliances of any kind. They get the rating by not doing the job. It doesn't really save energy to have to do each load twice.

[markjames68]

I have a second W/D stacked set in my home - a compact (24") LG washer and condensing dryer.

The dryer works "ok" at best and has longer drying times. If you had the room for a stacking set, even without a dryer vent this is still a better option than the combo units though.