With space a rare commodity in many apartments and homes, appliance makers have introduced space-saving clothing washers and dryers.
There is a surprising dearth of reliable research on the bewildering array of models, how they operate and how their features compare. Buyers hoping for guidance from organizations such as Consumers Union will come up dry. That independent organization has not tested or rated space-saving machines in recent years.
The units come in five basic types: standard-size washers and dryers made to stack one on top of the other; single units made up of a standard-size dryer sitting on top of a standard-size washer; single units made up of a smaller dryer above a washer; smaller-scale European washer and dryers that can be stacked and single machines that wash and dry.
The manufacturers include Frigidaire, General Electric, Sears Kenmore, Whirlpool, White Westinghouse, Maytag and European makes such as ASKO, Malber and Miele.
There are many factors to consider before you buy.
Depending on the model, some, particularly smaller-capacity units, require standard 120-volt power, while others, including conventional full-size American units and the European models, require 220 volts. Not all apartments have 220-volt outlets, so a qualified electrician as well as the building superintendent should advise potential buyers on the building`s capability. Higher-powered units may turn out to be prohibitively expensive to install.
”If it`s absolutely impossible to run a 220 line, except by bringing power from the basement, you could be dealing with thousands of dollars,”
said Florence Perchuk, a kitchen designer and co-author of ”The Complete Book of Kitchen Design.”
Venting also is a significant concern. Ideally, dryers should be vented outside. Outdoor venting is essential with gas-powered units because they emit toxic fumes. If you are considering installing a laundry center in a closet, however, you can buy an electric European unit such as the Miele or the ASKO Asea. They make condenser dryers in which the moisture collects within the unit, requiring no outside venting.
Assuming your apartment is suited to a washer-dryer, the next major concern is how much laundry the units can hold. Full-size stackable units such as the Whirlpool hold a dry load of 12 to 14 pounds. The European units, like the Miele, hold 11 1/2 pounds of dry laundry, and the smaller single units, such as the Whirlpool 24-inch Thin Twin, accommodate only 8 pounds.
Buyers of dryers that take smaller loads and run on 120 volts will find that the drying time may seem interminable, especially for heavy towels and bathmats. In these units it will take a minimum of an hour and a half, usually more, to dry bulky items.
The European units, such as the stackable ASKO or the Miele, work more like conventional full-size American units because they draw greater power.
Still another concern is how much water the washers consume, which is important in states in which water is scarce. Buyers also should know whether the unit heats the water, increasing the amount of energy it will use and the amount of detergent needed to do a wash. The European units require less detergent than the American ones, and their manufacturers say they do not require bleach.
If space is truly limited, one can consider a machine that washes and dries in a single unit. Malber, an Italian company, makes such a unit. It operates on 120 volts and therefore requires a long time for drying. These units can be free-standing or installed under a counter.
