The Mini Washer Dryer

Residents of small apartments, condominiums, houses and mobile homes understand the value of owning an appliance with a very small area footprint but is able to do the same tasks as a full-sized machine. The stackable washer dryer is an example of a small foot-print device, typically configured as two separate units stacked on top of each other with the washer on the bottom and the dryer on top.

But some homes cannot even fit a stacked unit because of height restrictions. The stackable washer dryer is in fact quite tall, more than 6 feet in some cases. The alternative is to use a mini washer dryer which is also often called a washer dryer combo (or combination). Why is the washer dryer combo even better for small homes than a stackable washer dryer? The reason is because the mini can do both washing and drying in the same, small unit. Whereas one must remove clothes from the washer and put them into the dryer when using a stackable, the mini completes both wash and dry cycles by itself.

Disadvantages

There are indeed a few disadvantages that come with using the mini washer dryer. One of them is tht many of the models we have seen come only with a non-vented or condensation-driven drying. This means that the dryer does not have an exhaust outlet that pipes the hot, moist air from the interior of the dryer as clothes become dry. In general condensation dryers take twice as long to finish their cycle as they are more inefficient, which also results in higher energy costs. Furthermore, when a load is undergoing the dry cycle, one cannot start a new wash load.

Advantages

The greatest advantage in using the mini washer dryer is the space-savings. Instead of having to deal with a towering appliance at 75 inches or more in height, one can manage with a single unit at only half the height. The most compact ones end up being only about 30 inches tall and therefore can fit into absurdly small spaces such as beneath a counter where one does not usually find an appliance lurking. Newer models are beginning to acquire features that help offset their smaller size. For example, LG has made a combo unit with steam cleaning, a process entailed by the use of hot steam in the wash cycle. The hot steam is touted to remove particulates such as allergens (possibly caused by dust mites), and if working as advertised, would help reduce the wash and dry cycle, save water and electricity.

The Verdict

Although mini washer dryers certainly have a place in the small home, consumers are cautioned as many former customers of the mini end up being dissatisfied with the performance of their combo units. The main reason is the much smaller loads, the inability to do both wash and dry on two loads, and the wear and tear on clothes which must spend twice the amount of time tumbling around the interior of a dryer.

Cost

One might expect that the cost of the mini washer dryer should be much less than a tall, stackable two-unit system. The answer is a bit more complicated actually. A new stackable from the low-end of companies might be around $1400, but that is in fact also the cost of a high-end mini washer dryer. Moreover, dryers that use condensation heating are notoriously inefficient. A full comparison of the energy costs may indeed help one decide.