Advice needed on combo washer

[richardlxixxx]

Dear Members,

I am now living in a smaller apartment in New York that does not have a washer/dryer hook up. I am seriously thinking about purchasing a combo washer dryer that I can wheel over to my sink and connect to the faucet.
After substantial research, I have decided upon 3 units. In order of preference - 1) LG 2) Splendide 3) Equator.
What are your recommendations that are not vintage?
The extensive knowledge available from the membership on this site is impressive and very valuable. I thank you in advance.

Richard

 

[launderess]

Welcome To My World!

Or at least NYC! *LOL*

Instead of a combination unit are you sure there isn't room for a nice compact front loader and a vintage Whirlpool/Kenmore dryer? Say this just from reading less than enthusiastic reviews of combination washer and dryer units.

There seems to be a never ending supply out there of vintage Whirlpool/Kenmore compact dryers and am here to say you cannot kill the things. Mine at least runs at 1400watts or so which while not high heat is enough to get the job done, especially with well extracted (high spin speeds) laundry. When not in use a tablecloth will turn the dryer into a nice table or whatever.

If you are set on going the combo route used Malber, Equator and even Asko/Eurotech units are/were popular in NYC (especially Manhattan) so you can often find them on CL or fleaPay.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[cleanteamofny]

I have used the Malber combo and it cleans well but drying took longer than the actual wash and uses cold water to condensed.
It would be better to get a portable ken/Whirlpool dryer to get the job done quickly.

 

[combo52]

New Compact Combos

Sadly I can not recommend any, for starters the ones available in this country are all only 120 volts, so they are just too slow for much serious drying, this coupled with the drum size they are far less than satisfactory.

Durability of the drying system is the other big problem, most of the ones sold here in the last 20 years or so are pretty decent for washing, rinsing and spin drying loads of clothing, but that is about as far as it goes.

Launderess idea to have a separate WP-KM 24" 120 compact dryer is the way to go if you can't get something larger, 240 volts or gas in your apartment.

If I had to get a new Combination machine I would probably go the LG route based on customer feedback [ not my own direct experiences ] but I would be ready for disappointment if you expect it to act like American made dryers that you are probably used to using.

John L.

 

[cuffs054]

I wonder if the new vented combos dry faster? I have the 120v kenmore stack at the trailer and it does a great job BUT you only wash or dry at one time. Its still faster than my last combo but not as user friendly.

 

[laundromat]

LG makes a full size, twenty seven inch wide combo  It uses condensor drying and has a full 4.0 cu ft capacity. These work great as long as the cold water is lower then seventy eight degrees. The colder the incoming water, the faster the condensor drying works. I sold at least twenty of them in my time and no complaints. tlThat was because I made no promisses on their speed of cycles ,only their performance,durability,design and dependability. I see them on ebay and Craigs list under $1000

 

[launderess]

There is another thing

NYC tap water will become quite warm as the summer progresses. Yes, during the winter it can down right frigid, but once things heat up....

My biggest gripe with condenser dryers in general is they take far too long to get the job done, using electric at rates from Con Edison that are very dear. My AEG unit really is only useable from late Fall until mid-Spring or so depending upon the weather.

 

[revvinkevin]

LG full size 27" condensing combo

 

 

Yes they are nice, but let's not forget about the 3+hour total wash/dry time per load.

 

Richard, one thing to think about is (I could be wrong) there are no combo machines that are designed to be "portable".  

 

While I suppose it could be done and you rig up the usual "portable dishwasher" type of connections, you'd need to stay near by when running it to change the water temp at the faucet for the rinse. 

 

You would also need a way to "lock" the machine in place when it's connected to the sink because it will move around.  Also, there could be vibration issues as these machines most likely spin at 1000+RPM.

 

Just something to think about.

 

Kevin

 

[peteski50]

Combo!

I have a LG 2.3 capacity - it works for me because I do a lot of line drying. Make sure you get a good warentry in case of problems. The Equator used to be good. It is ashame with all the technology these companies dont make them with a 220 volt option.
I am sure they are not being made is because the companies would loose to much money on the dryers they are selling. Also I had spoke to a Whirlpool rep and I expressed how stupid it is that a machine can be set to tumble for 12 hours after a wash cycle but why cant it be drying? He admitted with the current dryer technology it would be a loss. Even with a 120 volt most of these machines should have a drying option.
Peter

 

[combo52]

New Combos

LGs 27" machine is still ONLY 120 VOLTS, ridiculous.

Several of the 24" combos sold here are designed to be used as portables, they are made this way so you can get rid of them easily when you find out how badly they work, LOL.

 

[launderess]

Don't know about anyone else but at one time Malber offered a "kit" to make their front loading washing machines & combo units portable. It consisted of caster and so forth.

IIRC the idea was to accommodate tight living spaces such as Manhattan and much of NYC where either kitchens are too small to fit the thing, and or leaving it near a water source was just not practical.

The downside to this is that for the duration of use that Malber tied up one's kitchen or at least sink/faucet. With the combo unit this could be for hours as the thing required cold water for the condensing process and the drain hose needed to go somewhere as well.

http://portability

 

[mickeyd]

 

 

 

I searched and searched this stuff last winter, and indeed there are portable models. If drying times and sink use are an issue, just let the sucker rock 'n roll while you sleep; they're all pretty quiet, the LG just a barely audible whisper.

 

Ken Bajespuma said he used one during a hotel stay and loved it. Not sure if it was a Faygor (doubtful) or an Equator (probable).  

 

Bought an LG after Christmas, not a Combo though, and can not stop talking about it.  Imagine that the Combo is just as wonderful. 

 

Good Luck, and welcome to New York State. 

 

 

 

[richardlxixxx]

Combo Washer and Dryer

Good Evening,

Thank you all for the information. I have decided to sneak the electrician in to my apartment and have a 220 line installed. That way I can purchase an LG compact condenser dryer and also the 2.3 cubic foot compact LG washer. I will attach a portability kit to the washer and hook it up the kitchen faucet. Guess I will have to wait for the landlord to disappear for a while so I can facilitate this situation. I am so used to having my own washer and dryer, and I cannot tolerate using common area machines. God knows what has been washed in those machines. I am very particular about the laundry and prefer my own equipment.

Again, thank all of you for the information.

Richard

 

[NYCWriter]

RICHARD ...

Do NOT "sneak" an electrician in for ANYTHING without permission.

If it's a rental, your landlord can (and will) sue your ass off if and when he finds out (and especially if anything goes wrong).

If it's a co-op, doing anything without prior board approval can invalidate your proprietary lease and lead to immediate eviction proceedings (and I speak with a degree of authority, being a co-op board president).

Frankly, any reputable licensed electrican won't do any work for you unless it's cleared with whomever has ownership jurisdiction over the unit; failure to do so could result in the loss of his license to do business in New York City.

New York City does NOT piss around when it comes to electricity, and regulations and permits, for good reason. There are just too many of us living on top of each other, and too many things that can go wrong that could result in catastrophic loss of life and property.

 

[NYCWriter]

And ...

"Launderess idea to have a separate WP-KM 24" 120 compact dryer is the way to go if you can't get something larger, 240 volts or gas in your apartment."

"Getting" 240 volts into a NYC apartment where 240 volts don't exist is a very difficult, if not impossible proposition. From what I understand, it's often an easy switch to convert a 120v to 240v, but usually at the expense of precious amps. Most NYC apartments have, at best, only 60 amp service (with older buildings whose wiring hasn't been updated in more than 20 years, it's sometimes as few as 20 amps). Often the only solution is bringing more amperage up from the basement, which would require extensive permits and cracking into the walls of all the apartments under yours to physically bring those lines up into YOUR apartment, at considerable cost to you and inconvenience to your neighbors (a ballpark figure I was quoted to do this in my apartment was $25,000).

A GAS dryer, therefore, would sound like the perfect alternative -- if not for that whole VENTING requirement. If you don't already have a vented hookup, most buildings would never let an individual tenant punch a hole in an exterior wall (and I seem to recall there being some sort of recent NYC ordinance against doing this as well).

The bottom line: if you don't live in a modern building with laundry hookups in your unit already, you're pretty much out of luck.

And believe me, I wish it weren't so; I cannot stand shared facilities, either. It's a major inconvenience having to work around other people (waiting in line for a handful of machines), and God only knows what was in those machines before you got there.

 

[launderess]

Installing Gas Devices Such as Dryers and Ranges

By NYC codes must be done by a licensed plumber. That alone will add an expense unless one knows such a person willing to do the job as a favor or something.

When a new range was being installed in our kitchen the original intent was to have our building's "super* do the job. Promptly informed all and sundry there would be none of that and thus be told. A licensed plumber is what the law calls for and that is what will happen, and in short order, it did.

Am all for saving money but not when it comes to things that can go *BOOM* or leak vapor that will carry me off in the night. I've seen the film Gaslight. *LOL*

NYCWritter's post illustrates something one has been saying on this board since first days in response to why Miele had problems selling in NYC. It doesn't matter what comes into the building or whatever, many NYC apartments barely have 100amp 120v service much less 208v-240, and the cost of doing such an upgrade *legally* was dear, so much dear than the cost of a Miele washer and dryer.

Only times one heard of such upgrades is as part of total renovation of a kitchen or even better entire apartment.

OTOH you have often the other side of the coin today. Many new luxury buildings and or conversions of former commercial spaces into residential in Manhattan offer 208v-240v service for say the laundry and or kitchen areas; but it comes with a trade off. Because of odd floor plans made necessary from carving out apartments from what were once factories, office buildings, warehouses and other commercial spaces laundry areas are not always located near an outside facing wall or courtyard/shaft. This means the dryer will have to be ventless (condenser) and that drives many up the wall. People are living in condos say in the Meatpacking District that cost tens of millions are "stuck" with Miele, Bosch or even AEG condenser dryers and they hate the things with a passion.

In some instances the ventless dryer is given the push and a vented one installed. For a vent it is either those horrible bucket jobs or run a hose to the nearest window. To disguise the hose one of those window vents for portable ACs is used. During winter months when the vapor from a dryer vent would be noticed is another worry.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I'm in a similar situation

I'm in a similar situation. I'm in the process of purchasing a co-op. Washers and dryers are definitely permitted, but there's some question about whether or not I can install a vent. There's also a question as to whether or not 240v comes into the unit. It supposedly does, but I'm having an inspection done to make sure that's the case. Given what I find, here are my preferences in order of priority:
1) vented gas dryer
2) vented electric 240v
3) vented electric 120v
3) ventless electric 240

On a slightly separate note, I was in Best Buy a few hours ago and saw an LG ventless unit. There appeared to be no inlet for cold water. I looked up LG DLEC855w on ajmadison.com, checked the owner's manual, and found NO mention of any use of cold water! Just a bucket to be emptied when full. Have I missed something?

In the event I'm stuck with no 240v AND no venting, I'll pick this up to help me out:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Tier-Elec...092?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c39977b44

I had an Equator years ago and I had no problems other than the lint build-up. the drying times really weren't an issue.

FYI, in NYC you can assume that any modifications you make, even with full permission, need to be done by electricians, plumbers, etc. who are fully licensed, bonded, insured, etc. Make sure your OWN renter's/homeowner's insurance covers any and all damage caused to ANYONE/ANYTHING by work you have done.

Jim

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[NYCWriter]

Jim ...

"FYI, in NYC you can assume that any modifications you make, even with full permission, need to be done by electricians, plumbers, etc. who are fully licensed, bonded, insured, etc. Make sure your OWN renter's/homeowner's insurance covers any and all damage caused to ANYONE/ANYTHING by work you have done."

EXCELLENT point. Thank you for the reminder.

We had a guy in our building doing some illegal plumbing work (no city permit, no board authorization, plumber without a license) that burst a pipe and destroyed nearly everything in the apartment below him -- total property damage over a million dollars.

He also had no homeowners' insurance.

The downstairs tenant sued him. The co-op board sued him. The tenant's insurance company sued him.

How did it end? The board rescinded his proprietary lease (which allows a co-op owner to live in the unit they've bought), forcing him to sell his shares (essentially he was forced to sell his apartment). He didn't have anywhere near enough after the sale to satisfy the judgements against him, so his wages are now being garnished until he does.

All that just to save a few bucks and have work done under the table.

Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's an invasive pain in the ass. But all these rules, laws, regulations, permits, authorizations, licenses, etc. are designed to protect everybody -- including YOU -- from any problems that may arise.

 

[NYCWriter]

Launderess ...

"OTOH you have often the other side of the coin today. Many new luxury buildings and or conversions of former commercial spaces into residential in Manhattan offer 208v-240v service for say the laundry and or kitchen areas; but it comes with a trade off."

LOLOLOL!

Yes indeed. That "tradeoff" is usually the price of the apartment. Most of the apartments in these shiny new Manhattan "luxury" buildings START in the seven figures.

A great frustration with New York City is that you can spend MILLIONS on your apartment and still not have your own laundry facilities!