The built-in washer-dryer is no longer a new product and is extremely popular. It helps solve the problem of wet laundry that has nowhere to hang. Drying things in a room means getting excess humidity in the room, which will adversely affect the condition of the walls.
Over time, fungus and mold will appear on them, and the room will be constantly stuffy. Another nuance - not every home is equipped with a balcony; it is inconvenient to go outside, so a built-in washing machine with dryer is the best option. This is a technologically complex device, since the compact body contains all the necessary elements for washing and drying things.
Not all brands produce built-in washing machines; finding a high-quality household unit is not easy.Consumers' requirements for these washing machines are quite specific: small sizes, suitable even for a small apartment, several washing modes, high-quality drying of clothes and the absence of stains after the end of the process.
Washing machine with and without dryer, main differences
The main advantage of a model with a drying function is the combination of two equivalent ones in one device: an automatic washing machine and a drying unit. A regular “washing machine” performs three basic stages of caring for things:
- wash;
- rinsing;
- spin function.
A washing machine with an automatic dryer dries items after the spin phase is completed. Unfortunately, there is not yet a single household appliance capable of implementing the fifth cycle of laundry care - ironing. If the developers had thought of such a possibility, the joy of housewives would know no bounds.
An automatic washing machine with a drying option will appeal to residents of large cities who do not have the opportunity, or rather the time, to dry things on the street. In addition, clean, damp things are saturated with exhaust gases, and there is no need to mention their pleasant aroma and environmental safety.
Interesting! Experts have read that such a household assistant with a minimum of useful modes, including drying, can save the housewife about 20 hours of time per month. She will gladly spend it on more pleasant things.
Which machines are better fully or partially built-in?
Manufacturers mainly offer consumers built-in front-loading washing machines. Devices with vertical loading are very rare, the reason is the inconvenient location of the loading hatch on top.You can integrate appliances in order to save space and add an aesthetic component to the bathroom space.
Even those models that do not have a specific front part and a removable top cover can be placed in a closet or under a countertop, depending on the design idea of the housewife. Washing machines with an automatic drying option and front loading are divided into three categories:
- free-standing, they can be placed without being tied to the furniture in the room;
- fully built-in - special hinges are placed on the front part, the furniture facade is attached to them;
- partially built-in - the design includes a top cover that can be removed if you install the machine under the countertop.
Some housewives manage to integrate free-standing equipment into furniture sets, the main thing is to maintain the distance between the housing and take into account the several centimeters by which the shift is caused by vibration during the spin cycle.
Operating principle of a washer-dryer unit
A washing machine with drying function has several basic elements:
- heating element. This is an additional structural component that promotes rapid and uniform heating of the air inside the housing, which is intended for drying things.
- Fan with air duct. After the heating element of the washing machine with dryer heats the air to the desired temperature, the fan turns on and pumps it into the air duct. The last element is designed to direct hot air into the drum with already wrung out laundry.
- Humidity sensors. They automatically detect how wet the laundry is and when the time comes to turn off the drying option.
- Blades.They are compact in size and are located inside the drum of the washing machine and dryer. It rotates while drying things, which prevents things from caking and promotes optimal and uniform drying of each item in the machine. Machines from trusted manufacturers are of high quality, so wrinkles do not form on the surface of the laundry and it is quite easy to iron it.
- Storage tank. It collects condensation formed during the evaporation of moisture from things. This liquid can be easily removed by removing the reservoir.
Depending on the model of washing equipment, the clothes drying function can be activated manually by selecting the appropriate program on the front panel, or it will turn on automatically. Drying programs differ in time and intensity of exposure to hot air; you need to find out more from the equipment dealer.
Pros and cons of drying machines
Housewives are happy to give preference to built-in appliances, as they save space and time on drying things. There are other features in such units that are worth paying attention to when choosing a model.
- Technical complexity of the device. The body of such machines cannot be larger than the average, given the size of modern bathrooms. In addition to a capacious drum, many parts are embedded in the metal box. Their close location to each other can cause vibration during the washing or spinning process. As a result, the washing mashine makes noise or moves a few centimeters in any direction.
- The design of most drying machines does not provide counterweights or their analogues are too light and compact.This is done in order to free up as much space as possible inside the case. The resulting vibration contributes to damage to other parts.
- The built-in machine has a significant drawback - the walls of the furniture prevent its optimal heat exchange with the environment. This leads to overheating of the housing during frequent and intensive operation of the unit. To keep parts sensitive to high temperatures (for example, sensors) in working condition, it is necessary to leave approximately 3-4 cm of margin between the wood, drywall and metal body of the unit.
Important information from manufacturers
Manufacturers have different names for programs for drying clothes in automatic machines. The most common mode is “intensive (or fast) drying.” It is present in almost every household appliance of this type. After spinning, activating the drying function allows you to dry things in 45-60 minutes. Immediately after this, they can be removed from the drum of the washing unit and laid out in the closet or started ironing.
The presence of a "gentle" or "closet" program allows you to get perfectly dried laundry, with no wrinkles or wrinkled areas. It takes much longer and can last up to one and a half to two hours.
The “Ironing” function means that after the drying mode ends, the blades of the washing machine drum vigorously shake its contents again.
More expensive models have a “Dry Wash” mode, which will help the housewife if there is no water in the tap. This program has several components that allow you to sterilize things (remove dust mites and germs from them) and remove unpleasant odors.
Please note: it is better to choose a washing machine with the “Sterilization” function for those who have small children. This is the fastest, simplest and only possible method to disinfect tissue of any structure. Such a powerful effect on the material can be compared to boiling. But compared to the latter, the brightness of the color is not lost, and the fibers do not become thinner.
How reliable are washing machines and dryers?
Every consumer is interested in how reliable the purchased washing machine with drying function will be. High cost is not a predetermining factor for quality. You need to pay attention to the brand and its business reputation. Washing machines and dryers break down more often than washing units themselves. The reason is simple - the more options a washing machine has, the more parts, the greater the risk that they will fail during intensive use.
However, purchasing certified equipment reduces this risk. A brand that respects itself and consumers necessarily conducts a factory check of each model before it goes on sale. This is the key to the uninterrupted functioning of the washing machine with the drying option throughout its entire service life, and even more.
The service life of a washer-dryer depends on how it is used. The intensity of work matters; if you turn on a washing machine with the option of drying clothes several times daily, then the parts will naturally wear out faster.
Among the rules regulated by each manufacturer are:
- you cannot overload the drum of the machine with things, if in dry form they weigh an acceptable 5 kg, then when wet, the weight increases up to three times;
- the control unit of washing equipment with a drying option must be protected from children's pranks;
- The connection of such a machine to the outlet should be in a single quantity; during the washing and drying process, you should forget about using a microwave, coffee maker and other energy-intensive appliances;
- the contents of their pockets must be carefully removed; forgotten paper clips and coins can easily damage the washing machine;
- There is a list of materials prohibited for drying: foam rubber, down, wool, nylon, satin, silk.
The energy consumption of a drying machine is one of the main concerns of users. The heating elements in such a machine work more intensely, so energy consumption is often increased. This stops some consumers who are accustomed to saving every kilowatt of electricity.
The minimum energy consumption class for such machines is C; if there are more functions, then D or E. The more energy a washing machine takes, the more innovative modes it can implement.
What additional options do dryers have?
Very interesting from a consumer point of view are the child protection or delayed start functions. The first implies that a child cannot accidentally press a button, which will lead to a failure of the washing process. The panel is locked for a certain time and unlocked at the end of the washing process. The delayed start option allows the housewife to load the required amount of laundry and go about her business, and the machine will start exactly at the time for which the timer is set.
Washing machines with a drying function from time-tested brands Gorenje, Candy, Siemens, Electrolux, Hansa, Beko have such convenient options.Another interesting innovation is leakage protection. Even if you don’t control the process and leave the drying machine on while going about your business, accidental leakage of liquid is excluded. This means that the liquid will not leak to the neighbors, and the owner of the built-in machine will not pay for new repairs.
What weight of items is allowed for washing and drying machines?
The quick or standard drying function has a significant drawback, which sometimes affects the consumer's choice. It is possible to dry approximately half of the load. For example, if a unit can successfully wash about 5 kg of laundry, then for complete drying it should contain no more than 2.5 items.
This entails additional waste of time, since the washed volume will have to be dried in two passes, and an increase in energy consumption.
LG brand washing mashines
The LG brand has been producing combination washing machines equipped with a drying function for several years now. They have fundamental differences compared to other brands.
The first and only of its kind is the “We take care of what is dear to you” technology. The user studies the instructions for the dryer and all the options available for a specific model of built-in washing equipment. This is where the housewife’s work ends, and during washing, the machine automatically selects the sequence in which the drum rotates during washing and drying. The movement is based on information received from sensors about the percentage of soiled laundry. As a result, things are washed quickly, stains are removed effectively, and the fabric does not wear out. Built-in washing machines have modes for almost all existing materials - cotton, wool, silk.They have options for washing children's clothes (usually an intensive wash) and delicate modes for blouses and other items made of light fabrics.
Recently, brand specialists presented six patented programs that are unique only to LG washing machines:
- Reverse movement. When the built-in machine is filled with the initial wetness of the laundry, the water flow is directed by a vortex method. As a result, the entire contents of the drum become wet at the same time, and the detergent is distributed evenly. This function is inextricably linked with improving the quality of washing.
- Saturation. All items are saturated with detergent (dry powder from the compartment or liquid gel) evenly. This algorithm has proven itself very well when the drum is half filled with laundry.
- Washing machine drum shaking. Gentle movements allow the laundry to be washed more efficiently; the laundry has virtually no contact with the metal walls. The metal surface is perfectly smooth, things are not damaged even during intensive use.
- Torsion. They promote the formation of tiny air bubbles in the mass of laundry, which allows stains to come off the fabric faster and easier.
- Smoothing. Things are carefully straightened out in the drum until it is taken out. This innovation is ideal for washing bed linen, which is very difficult to iron after intensive rotation in the drum.
- Standard rotation. The gentle movement of the washing machine drum around its axis guarantees the quality of the wash.
LG washing machines have a wide price range. You can choose any color from the manufacturer’s range, focusing on the color scheme of the bathroom interior.
Drying machines from the Samsung brand
This brand has been pleasing customers for many years with the quality and stylish design of its equipment. The consumer has access to many shades of built-in washing machine facades - traditional white, metallic, red and others.
The shapes of drying devices are smooth, there are no sharp corners. Most washing machines are equipped with an inverter motor, which is efficient and durable in operation. The standard guarantee for uninterrupted operation of the unit is 10 years.
The presence of automatic balancing in the built-in washing technology allows it to operate silently, there is no vibration or noise. Even during spinning at high speeds, the washing machine does not move.
An innovative new product is models of washing machines in which tiny air bubbles are formed during washing. Their task is to penetrate between the fibers of the material and literally displace dirt. This allows you to successfully get rid of even the oldest and most difficult to remove stains from tea, juice, wine, and grass.
Ariston brand washing machines
The Ariston brand produces washing machines with a large number of functions. This parameter is directly related to the cost of the unit - the more options, the more expensive the model of built-in equipment. Experts have developed innovative washing algorithms that allow you to carefully remove stains without damaging the fabric structure.
The accelerated wash function is often found in built-in washing machines and dryers. The laundry rotates at a speed of one hundred revolutions per minute, which guarantees significant water savings. This algorithm is optimal for those housewives who wash a lot of wool items. Accelerated rotation does not damage the structure of the fibers, so pellets do not form on the products.A good bonus for buyers is the silent operation of the unit. It does not vibrate during spinning and does not change location, so it is ideal for embedding into a furniture set.
Candy brand washing machines
The Italian company Candy produces washing machines with a drying function that can be easily built into furniture. A wide range of models allows you to choose a model to fit the existing dimensions of the countertop or bathroom cabinet.
Reduced product costs combined with the wide functionality of washing machines bring Candy appliances to the top of popularity. Built-in models with electronics are very popular among housewives, as they allow you not to waste time selecting certain elements of the mode. Just select one of the existing ones, load the laundry and wait for the result. Some models are equipped with a function to notify you that the wash is complete (a loud beep).
Choosing a built-in washing machine is not easy, as brands show a wide price range. If you need a large number of functions, you should pay attention to the Samsung or Ariston brands. For those who are used to getting good quality washing equipment for little money, the Kandy brand is suitable.
