Jules. Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 My washer gave up last Sunday- FIL came this morning ( He's stiil here & not in France because of his poorly dog) & it's not worth mending even though it's only 5 years old- circuit board or something has gone. I currently have a small tumble dryer situated next to the table & the patio doors because it's the only place it will go spacewise, & I vent it through the cat flap. Spacewise a washer dryer makes much more sense as we have a kitchen diner & don't have a utility room, ideally I would have wanted an integral washer dryer but seeing as we won't be getting the kitchen done for at least 2 years now then I'll have to have an ordinary washer dryer. I'll be grateful of it as currently I'm treking to my parents to wash & even thuogh it is only down the road it's still a bit of a pain. I have heard that washer dryers are unreliable- does anyone have one & what do they think of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 My parents had one and it was a nightmare. You would always have to put things on to dry for ages as they seemed to get wetter before they started to dry. Not great for finishing things off which I liek to do. I dont know if theyre all like that though. I hope not for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 My brother has one too, same nightmare. It has to be repaired at least three times a year for the same fault. They don't bother using the dryer function now as it just breaks taking the washing machine down with it. We (the royal we ) go for the washing line/radiator combination for drying it hasn't broke down yet! Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I had a hotpoint electronic one at my last house. Here we have a neff one. Both have been excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 We (the royal we ) go for the washing line/radiator combination for drying it hasn't broke down yet! Kev. Me too Personally I am a bit suspish about combination type appliances, as Kev said if one breaks down it takes down the other, I bought a tv/dvd combination, telly broke, so no dvd either Also if you do a fair bit of washing, you can't put one load in after the other because you need to dry the first lot when it turns into a dryer, if you get my drift Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 Yep,I agree - not a fan of the washer/dryer combo. But,if you really need one then look at the John lewis own brand - we have a washing machine from them & its really good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I had one then when I got the kitchen remodelled I put in a proper dryer. I wouldn't ever have one again. The dryer was awful and took forever so very uneconomical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I had one a few years ago and regretted buying it very quickly. I found that it took ages to do the laundry because with two seperate appliances you can be drying one load while another is washing and of course with the combined one you have to wait for the drying to be done before you then wash the next load. It took far longer than my seperate tumble dryer had taken to dry things and couldn't dry the same amount of washing you had just done [had to dry it in two halves]....I can't remember what the make was but I always felt it cooked my clothes rather than dried them...they came out very stiff. Ended up just drying towels in it and bought a seperate dryer again. Ireally wouldn't recommend one at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelicano Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 Totally agree with what has been said. Due to lack of space, I always had to buy washer driers, and they used to give up the ghost pretty regularly. Also, the drying took forever, as it is a completely different system of drying to normal tumble driers. I now still have a washer drier, but don't use the drying function - I have a tumble drier out in the shed instead! I'd never buy a washer drier again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 A friend had a washer/dryer (Hoover I believe), but the dryer function soon broke down so she just used it as a washer. She also moaned about the dryer capacity, which was less than the washing capacity, (I think you are not supposed to dry the same amount of washing as you have just washed) and got fed up of removing half the damp washing just to dry the other half still in the machine. I have a separate dryer, and would now always find space for one. If you are going to buy a new washing machine, then consider one with a 7kg capacity as these are the same exterior size as a normal one but have a larger drum, usually slightly tilted, and are able to take larger bedding items. My mums new Hotpoint Aqualtis came with a duvet bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I forgot to say my Granny has one and she likes it. But then she wold say that because we told her not to get one after my experience! Also we don't call her "daft old bat" for nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelicano Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 A friend had a washer/dryer (Hoover I believe), but the dryer function soon broke down so she just used it as a washer. She also moaned about the dryer capacity, which was less than the washing capacity, (I think you are not supposed to dry the same amount of washing as you have just washed) and got fed up of removing half the damp washing just to dry the other half still in the machine. Oh yes, that's true too - I'd forgotten about that one. It's a bit mad though, as you can set it for the drying to come on automatically as soon as the load finishes, despite the fact that the load is too over-full really to use on the drying cycle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 sorry Jules, I can only add to the above tale of woe - had one years ago, never again! The main problem was having to take out half the wet washing and leave it sitting around while the other half dried, then swap it over, and meanwhile you can't start another load of washing. Invariably I'd go out halfway through and come back later to realise I still had a basket of wet washing. I don't have a tumble-drier at all now, just use a clothes-horse/washing line. Sorry to be so negative - if you are desperate for space then perhaps it's the only option, as long as you are prepared for the problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 I considered a washer dryer when I was putting in my kitchen (trying to make room for a dishwasher, sigh), but decided against it - mainly because I had just repaired the washing machine and the dryer, and didn't want to see all my hard work go to waste. My friend has a brilliant hotpoint ultima washer dryer, which can dry almost the same load as it can wash, which is fantastic. Just underload the washing cycle a bit, and you're sorted. Hers has now broken, but it is ancient and it's only the dryer function, she's still washing merrily. When I used to sell them, we would always recommend people bought a separate TD and WM, but they really are much better now. Here is a good review of five WDs, and I think the Hoover looks the best personally. Clicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
