Washer Dryer Combo: Is It the Right Solution for You?

A washer dryer combo is a regular front-load machine that also has a drying system, so you can wash and dry in the same drum, back to back or separately.

From the outside it looks like any washing machine: ⁦60 cm⁩ wide, about ⁦85 cm⁩ high, and sometimes slightly deeper (the LG F-1696SWDE, per the spec at Bug, is ⁦62 cm⁩ deep and weighs 73 kg). Inside it has a heating component for drying, a fan and a system that removes moisture from the hot air.

On most regular models drying is based on a heating element and condensation of the moisture, and the water goes out to the drain. On expensive models, like the Samsung WD18DB8995BZ, there is a heat pump, as in efficient standalone dryers. The difference between the methods is explained in detail in our condenser dryer guide.

There are two ways to use it:

• Wash and dry back to back: put laundry in in the morning and take it out dry. Convenient, but only if the amount of laundry fits the drying capacity.
• Regular washing only: most of the time you use it as a washing machine, and dry only in winter or when you need something quickly.

For most users in Israel, with many sunny months, the second way is the realistic one: a regular washing machine that can also dry when needed.

If you come to a washer dryer from a small apartment, for example in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or a shared apartment, remember it is still a full washing machine in every respect: it has a tap, drain, outlet and filter, and the same installation requirements as a regular machine. The only installation difference is that you do not need another outlet, another shelf or a stacking kit for a dryer. In use, most models let you choose wash only, dry only, or wash and dry back to back at one touch, so you can also dry clothes that were washed earlier and partly hung.

Also understand what a washer dryer does not include: there is no water tank to empty by hand and no exhaust hose to the outside, so it also suits a bathroom or a closed balcony without a window. On the other hand, during drying some heat and moisture come out into the room, so basic ventilation is still desirable, especially in a small closed space.

Drying capacity is smaller because clothes need much more room to dry than to wash; so a 9 kg washing machine usually dries only 6 kg at a time.

In drying, hot air needs to pass between the clothes, and the clothes need to tumble freely. In an overfull drum clothes come out partly damp and wrinkled. So manufacturers set drying capacity at about two-thirds of washing capacity, sometimes less:

• Samsung WD90T6542BE: 9 kg wash, 6 kg dry.
• LG F-1696SWDE: 9 kg wash, 6 kg dry.
• LG WD11614GBB: 11 kg wash, 6 kg dry (per Bug).
• Samsung WD18DB8995BZ: 18 kg wash, 11 kg dry.

What this means in practice: if you wash 9 kg and want to dry it all, you need to take out about a third and dry it separately or hang it. A family of 4 washing full loads will find itself running two drying cycles, which makes for a very long day.

The practical rule: choose a washer dryer by drying capacity, not washing capacity. If 6 kg of drying is not enough, consider a regular 8 kg or 9 kg washing machine with a separate dryer, or a large heat pump washer dryer.

One more point: the drying capacity in the spec usually refers to cotton. For synthetics and delicates the recommended drying capacity is smaller, and drying must be at a lower temperature. If most of your laundry is sportswear and synthetics, think of an effective drying capacity of ⁦3–4⁩ kg on a 9/6 kg machine. Towels and cotton dry at full capacity, but take longer.

If you have room for a stack of two appliances, a separate washer and dryer is almost always better; a washer dryer is better when there is room for only one ⁦60 cm⁩ appliance.

Comparison by store prices in November 2026:

• 9/6 kg washer dryer: about ₪⁦2,200–3,500.⁩
• 9 kg washing machine (about ₪⁦1,850–2,900⁩) and 8 kg heat pump dryer (about ₪⁦1,950–2,800⁩): together about ₪⁦3,800–5,700.⁩
• 9 kg washing machine and 8 kg condenser dryer (about ₪⁦2,200–3,200⁩): together about ₪⁦4,050–6,100.⁩

Advantages of two separate appliances:

• You can wash and dry at the same time, so while one load dries, the next is already washing.
• Full drying capacity, usually ⁦8–9⁩ kg.
• A heat pump dryer is significantly more energy efficient.
• If one breaks, the other keeps working.

Advantages of a washer dryer:

• One appliance, one outlet, one tap and drain, and only ⁦60 cm⁩.
• A lower price than a pair of appliances.
• No need for a stacking kit and about 1.75 m of height for a stack.

So if your choice is between a washer dryer and no drying at all, the combo is worth it. If there is room, see our best washing machine and best dryer guides.

Another consideration is wear. In a washer dryer, the same motor and drum work for both washing and drying, so the machine's working hours are higher. That is not a reason to avoid it, but it is a good reason to check for a long motor warranty. For the LG F-1696SWDE, Bug lists 9 years on the motor, and for Samsung some sellers list an extended warranty.

A common question is what happens when the washer dryer breaks. In that case you are left without both washing and drying until the technician arrives. In a home with small children that is a real consideration, and because of it you should find out in advance the importer's service times in your area, not just the warranty length.

Drying in a regular washer dryer usually takes longer and uses more electricity than in a separate heat pump dryer, and that is the price of saving space.

On the energy label, a washer dryer has two ratings: one for washing only and one for a full wash-and-dry cycle. For the LG F-1696SWDE, per Bug, the rating is B for washing and E for drying. For the LG WD11614GBB it is A for washing and D for drying. In other words, washing is efficient, drying less so.

With heat pump machines the picture is different: per one seller, Samsung states up to 70% less energy and up to 50% less drying time on the WD18DB8995BZ. These are manufacturer figures, not our measurement, but the direction matches what is known about heat pumps.

Some ways to cut consumption:

• Spin at 1,400 RPM before drying. The Standards Institution of Israel notes that a fast spin before drying saves energy and shortens the time.
• Dry by moisture sensor, not by time.
• Do not load beyond the drying capacity.
• In summer, line-dry and keep the dryer for winter and urgent items.

On household electricity: a washer dryer draws high power while heating. Connect it to a dedicated 16 A outlet, and do not run it together with an oven or a large air conditioner on the same circuit.

On the annual electricity bill, the difference depends mainly on how often you dry. A family that dries twice a week only in the winter months will feel a small difference. A family that dries every day all year will feel a significant difference between regular and heat pump drying, and should consider an efficient separate dryer. In any case, the rating that matters is the full wash-and-dry cycle, not just the washing rating.

And if you still want to save: run drying at hours when electricity is cheaper, if you are on a time-of-use plan with your electricity supplier. Most washer dryers allow delay start of up to ⁦19–24⁩ hours per the spec, so you can prepare the laundry in the evening and schedule it.

A washer dryer needs all the maintenance of a regular washing machine, plus cleaning lint and the drying system; neglect it and drying gets slower over time.

What to do regularly:

• A monthly drum clean at ⁦60–90⁩°C, as on any machine, because of the limescale in Israel's hard water.
• Clean the pump filter every ⁦1–2⁩ months.
• After drying, leave the door open so the moisture can escape.
• Clean fibers and lint from the seal, where they build up more than on a regular machine.

Some models have a self-cleaning condenser or a dedicated cleaning program. The LG F-1696SWDE has Smart Diagnosis via the app per the spec, which helps identify faults before calling a technician.

Common faults and what to check first:

• Laundry comes out damp: load larger than the drying capacity, or timed drying that is too short.
• Odor: seal and drawer not aired, or a clogged filter.
• The machine does not finish drying: check the drain, because on most models the condensation water leaves through the drain hose.

If the machine is under warranty, do not take apart components beyond the filter. Photograph the error code and contact the official importer's service.

Another tip: do not tumble-dry clothes whose label forbids it, such as wool not marked as suitable, swimwear or items with rubber. Such clothes may shrink or get damaged, so choose a wash-only program for them and hang them. Large sheets also tend to tangle and roll up during drying; it is better to dry them with small items that help the air flow.

Another habit that extends the machine's life: do not leave wet laundry in the drum for hours after the wash ends, and do not leave hot laundry in the drum after drying. In the first case an odor develops, in the second the clothes wrinkle. On models with an anti-crease function, the drum keeps turning now and then after drying ends, but it is better to take the laundry out soon.

Per store prices in November 2026, a 9/6 kg washer dryer from a big brand costs about ₪⁦2,200–3,500,⁩ and huge heat pump models about ₪⁦7,400–10,600.⁩

The ranges are wide because the same model is sold by dozens of retailers. On the comparison page for the Samsung WD90T6542BE we saw a gap of more than ₪2,000 between the lowest and highest price. The gap is sometimes explained by extended warranty, installation, or a third-party seller, so compare the final price and not just the first number.

On importers:

• LG: product pages list Brimag Digital as the warranty provider. For the F-1696SWDE, a full year and 9 years on the motor were listed.
• Samsung: sellers list Samsung Israel or Newpro as the official importer, and one seller offers 5 years of warranty through Newpro on the WD18DB8995BZ.
• Bosch: most of Bosch's range in Israel is separate washing machines and dryers; see our Bosch washing machine guide.

Before paying, ask in writing for the importer's name, the warranty length on the machine and motor, and what installation includes. Per the Standards Institution, also make sure there is a Hebrew manual and an Israeli plug.

Also check the return and cancellation policy. Under Israel's Consumer Protection Law, a distance sale usually carries a right of cancellation under certain conditions, but delivery and return fees may apply to large appliances. Since a washer dryer is heavy and deep, make sure it fits before ordering: depth, doors, elevator and stairs. If in doubt, ask the seller for the exact dimensions including the door.

And if the price looks too good, check the suffix in the model code and compare it with the one on the official importer's website. A model with a different suffix may be a version for another market, with different programs, plug or manual.

If a washer dryer does not give you the drying capacity you need, there are three main alternatives: a laundry tower, a stack of two appliances, or a regular machine with line-drying.

• Laundry tower: a single unit where a washer and dryer are joined at the factory, with a control panel in the middle. LG sells the WT40 in Israel, which appears in stores as 12 kg wash and 10 kg dry. Suits a space with ⁦60 cm⁩ of width and free height.
• Stack: a regular washing machine and a separate dryer one above the other with a stacking kit. The most flexible, cheaper than a tower, and lets you choose any model.
• Regular machine and a clothesline: for most months of the year in Israel this is the cheapest and most efficient solution. A machine with 1,400 RPM shortens drying on the line too.

If you do not have ⁦60 cm⁩ of width at all, a washer dryer will not help, and the option is a ⁦40 cm⁩ wide top-load washing machine, without drying.

To choose a separate dryer, read our best dryer and condenser dryer guides, which explain the difference between heat pump, condenser and vented dryers.

If you are moving soon or are not sure how much you will dry, a 9/6 kg washer dryer is a flexible compromise: it will fit almost any ⁦60 cm⁩ niche and give you drying when needed. If there is room in the future, you can always add a separate dryer and use the combo for washing only.

The summary rule: first check how much space you have, then how much you will dry each week, and only then choose between a washer dryer, a stack or a tower.