If you don’t have room to hang laundry or install two appliances, a washer-dryer gives you both functions in one machine. Start by checking how much laundry it can dry, as this is usually less than its washing capacity. Then check the dimensions, cycle time and consumption for a complete wash-and-dry cycle. A heat-pump model still needs to meet these checks. If you could fit two appliances after all, compare that option too, especially for larger loads.
You want to wash and then dry your clothes in one appliance, without making space for a second machine. Before choosing one, measure the available depth, check that you can open the door and make sure it will fit through the route to its intended spot.
If you usually wash large loads, compare them with the drying capacity rather than the washing capacity alone. As UFC-Que Choisir points out, the two capacities differ on a washer-dryer, so you may need to remove some of the laundry before drying it.
You want to look at the drying technology, as well as the water, electricity and time needed for a complete cycle. The figures on the label for the specific model matter more than the fact that it has a heat pump.
If your home has no separate space for drying laundry, start with the amount you usually need to dry. Then check that the appliance fits its intended space and that the complete cycle’s duration and consumption suit you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Space and continuous cycles | Measure the space, its depth and the room needed to open the door. Check whether you can run a wash and dry cycle back to back with your intended load. | Without room to hang laundry, I want to wash and dry it in one machine. Around 42% of consumers would make saving space their priority. |
| Drying capacity in practice | Compare the washing and drying capacities, in kg, with the loads you usually do. For example, the AEG France and Electrolux France product pages list a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity for their LWR98B166X and EW9W1166RA models. | When my loads are large, I want to know whether I’ll need to remove some laundry before drying. Around 33% of consumers would prioritise this capacity. |
| Time, water and electricity | For comparable loads, compare the figures for the complete wash-and-dry cycle, not just the wash. The European energy label shows these uses separately. | If I often dry clothes at home, I want to know how long it will take and what resources it will use, while also considering my fabrics. Around 25% of consumers would put these factors first. |
A machine advertised as 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying cannot dry a 10 kg load in one go at its stated capacity. You’ll need to remove some of the laundry or dry it separately.
If you plan to run the cycles back to back, first compare the drying capacity in kg with the loads you usually do.
The rating for washing alone doesn’t tell you how the machine performs when drying is included. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing protocol looks at factors including water, electricity and the duration of the different stages.
To compare two models, check the figures for a complete cycle on their energy labels.
AEG, Electrolux and LG all offer heat-pump washer-dryers in France, but their washing and drying capacities are still different. The technology alone doesn’t tell you whether a cycle will be shorter or use less energy.
Check the drying capacity, dimensions and complete-cycle figures for the exact model reference.
An appliance may fit the available width but still be too deep for an alcove, or its door may not open fully. AEG France and Electrolux France list a maximum depth of 660 mm for the 10/6 kg models mentioned in this article.
Measure the space and access route, then check the installation instructions for your chosen model.
AEG France lists the Series 9000 LWR98B166X as a heat-pump washer-dryer with a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
Electrolux France lists the heat-pump EW9W1166RA PerfectCare 900 with a 10 kg washing capacity and a 6 kg drying capacity.
LG France lists the LG SIGNATURE LSWD100E heat-pump washer-dryer, with a 12 kg washing capacity and a 7 kg drying capacity.
These appliances combine washing and drying in one machine, but their drying capacities vary considerably. Compare them with the amount of laundry you need to dry, then check the dimensions and complete-cycle figures for the model you’re considering.
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A way to combine washing and drying in one appliance when the load you need to dry is no more than its stated 6 kg capacity.
Stated capacities: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Check the dimensions and complete-cycle duration and consumption to make sure they suit your home and how you’ll use it.
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For anyone who wants to run both functions in one machine and can keep each dried load to 6 kg.
Stated capacities: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. Check the dimensions and complete-cycle figures before comparing it with another model.
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A practical replacement for two appliances if the loads you want to dry fit within its 6 kg drying capacity.
Stated capacities: 10 kg for washing and 6 kg for drying. To check whether it suits your home and needs, look at the dimensions, clearance and complete-cycle figures.
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Designed for very small loads rather than drying a typical load of laundry in one go.
Stated capacities: 1 kg for washing and 0.5 kg for drying. Check the dimensions and complete-cycle figures before deciding where to put it and how you’ll use it.
It shows that the stated washing capacity is 10 kg and the drying capacity is 6 kg for the specified programmes. If you wash a 10 kg load, you’ll need to remove some of it before drying or dry it in separate batches. For a continuous wash-and-dry cycle, follow the drying limit.
Compare the figures for the complete wash-and-dry cycle separately from those for washing alone. The European Commission’s energy label shows the classes and consumption figures for these uses. Also check the duration and capacity associated with the figures shown.
Yes. AEG France, Electrolux France and LG France list heat-pump models including the LWR98B166X, EW9W1166RA and LSWD100E. You’ll still need to check the separate washing and drying capacities, the dimensions and the label for your chosen model.
Measure the height, width and, especially, the available depth, as well as the space needed to open the door and connect the appliance. Check that it can be moved through the access route to its intended spot, and follow the installation instructions for the specific model.