Buyer's Guide: Combination Washer Dryer Basics 
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Combination Washer Dryers
A combination washer dryer is one appliance that both washes and dries clothes. These units have only one chamber for clothes; they are not stackable washer/dryers. Washer dryer combos have been popular in Europe and the Far East for many years; due to the small apartments and living spaces common in these areas, compact appliances were developed to fit the smaller spaces. Many combos are also designed to be portable, offering even more options for storage and use of the unit.
Ventless Drying
Combination washer dryers come in two forms: vented and non-vented (ventless). Non-vented combos have a two-drum system. The hot air is forced into the outer drum where a condensation process is used to cool the air and condense the water vapor out of it. The water is then flushed out the drain hose to the sink or plumbing lines. Because no venting is required of the ventless washer dryer, this unit may be easily installed under a cabinet, in a closet, or anywhere water and electricity are available.
Laundry Loads
The laundry load capacity of a combo washer dryer varies depending upon the size of the unit you purchase and the bulkiness of the fabric of the load. A "full size" washer can hold 22 pounds of clothes (more than 3.5 cubic feet), so you can compare other size units to that. You should be aware that you only want to fill your unit up halfway with clothes; they can only dry half as much as they can wash, so putting in more clothes than this will cause them to not be able to dry.
Benefits of Combo Washer Dryers
The number one benefit is the compact size: they are smaller than most washers or dryers. In fact, many people install these units under their kitchen counter, because they only take up about as much space as a normal size dishwasher! In addition, some combo units have the option to be portable - casters allow the unit to be rolled around with ease whenever needed.
The efficiency of combo units not only saves you money by using much less energy and water to operate than standard washers and dryers, but many utility companies offer rebates for purchases of energy efficient appliances. Check with your local utility companies for eligibility.
Not only are these units extremely energy efficient, but they wash much better (and gentler) than standard washers. Combos use a front load washing design that utilizes a horizontal axis drum. This eliminates the agitator common to top load washers. In top load washers, the agitator is both very inefficient at cleaning and very rough on clothes. The horizontal axis drum on combos mimics washboard clothes washing, raising the clothes out of the water and soap and plunging them back in. The high RPMs of the spin cycle of these units gets water and soap residue out of your clothes much better than normal washers do. This efficient and thorough cleaning process is especially helpful for people with sensitive skin or allergies to laundry soap.
An added bonus to front-loading combo washer dryers is their ease of accessibility. With the combo door on the front of the machine rather than the top, positioned at an extra-compact height, those with disabilities or in wheelchairs will find it much easier to load and unload their laundry using the combo unit. Any extra work effort is eliminated by the fact that there is only one load and unload action necessary to get your clothes from dirty to clean and dry using a combo unit. The combo user will never have to handle the clothes while they are wet!
