washer dryer

How Water-Efficient is Your Washer-Dryer?

How Water Efficient is Your Washer-Dryer?


The washer-dryer is a helpful appliance that helps you save a lot of time and effort as you complete the daily household chores. Unfortunately, the appliance can also be a big water guzzler.

The amount of water consumed per wash-dry cycle or the water efficiency, varies greatly across washer-dryers. As per product review company Which?, the difference between a water-saving washer-dryer and an inefficient model could be as much as 17 litres per kilogram of washing. Unknown to the average consumer, most washer-dryers also use significant quantities of water for cooling during the drying cycle.

Choose a water-efficient washer-dryer

Buying a water efficient washer-dryer can save as much as 3000 litres of water a year, which will reduce your utility bills and limit your carbon footprint.

To buy a water efficient washer dryer you should:

  • Read the water consumption information printed on the bottom half of the EU energy label.
  • Choose a washer-dryer that carries the ‘Energy Saving Trust Recommended’ logo, as that is a good indicator of its overall efficiency. Don’t simply choose a machine with a high-energy efficiency rating, as this indicates how much electricity it uses and has nothing to do with water consumption.

Tips for reducing your washer-dryer’s water consumption

Apart from buying an appliance that is technically water efficient, here are a few tips to reduce the per cycle water consumption of your washer dryer:

  • Wash and dry full loads so you can lower the number of cycles.
  • If you tend not to fill the drum on most washes, consider buying a washing machine with a smaller drum the next time around.
  • Buy a washer-dryer with auto load control. This feature will automatically adjust the water level depending on the load per wash cycle.
  • A washer-dryer with better spin performance (i.e., a higher rpm (revolutions per minute) value) will reduce the drying time and is therefore more efficient.
  • Use cotton wash instead of synthetic wash to reduce water consumption by as much as 50%.
  • Use the extra rinse cycle only if it is necessary; for instance to get rid of the fabric softener/ detergent because a family member has skin allergies.

When the weather permits, save on water by hanging your clothes to dry out.

Posted by Surewise in Appliance Insurance Articles

6 Quiet Washer-Dryer Models

6 Washer-Dryer Models that do the Job Quietly

When choosing a washer-dryer for the household, you tend to focus on features such as the wash functions, spin speed, wash and dry capacity, and the washer-dryer’s energy efficiency rating. If, however, you intend to place the washer-dryer on the main floor of the house, then the amount of noise it makes while in use is also an important point to consider. A noisy washer-dryer can drown out your conversations, bother you as you watch TV or disturb young children as they sleep.

To evaluate the noise levels of the various washer-dryers available in the market you need to compare their dB(A) ratings. This rating indicates the loudness of sound in air as perceived by the human ear.

For a washer-dryer that works quietly choose one that operates at between 47 and 67 dB(A).  Washer-dryers rated at under 50 dB(A) make approximately the same noise as a refrigerator humming. Here are specs of six quiet washer-dryer models available in the U.K.

  • AEG L77685WD Washer-Dryer – White

Price: £678.00

Wash load capacity: 8kg

Drying load capacity: 6kg

Spin speed: 1600 rpm

Energy rating: A

Noise level (wash): 50 dB(A)

Noise level (spin): 79 dB(A)

Noise level (dry): 63 dB(A)

  • HOOVER WDYN8154D Washer-Dryer – White

Price: £399.99

Wash load capacity: 8kg

Drying load capacity: 5kg

Spin speed: 1400 rpm

Energy rating: B

Noise level (wash): 59 dB(A)

Noise level (spin): 76 dB(A)

Noise level (dry): 61 dB(A)

  • SIEMENS iQ700 WD14H520GB Washer Dryer – White

Price: £768.00

Wash load capacity: 7.5kg

Drying load capacity: 4kg

Spin speed: 1400 rpm

Energy rating: A

Noise level (wash): 46 dB(A)

Noise level (spin): 73 dB(A)

Noise level (dry): 59 dB(A)

  • AEG L99695HWD Washer-Dryer – White

Price: £1,199.00

Wash load capacity: 9kg

Drying load capacity: 6kg

Spin speed:  1600rpm

Energy rating: A

Noise level (wash): 51 dB(A)

Noise level (spin): 77 dB(A)

  • Bosch WVH2836SGB Washer-Dryer in Silver

Price: £549.00

Wash Load: 7.0kg

Dryer Capacity: 4kg

Spin Speed: 1400 rpm

Energy rating: B

Noise level (wash): 52 dB(A)

Noise level (spin): 71 dB(A)

  • Samsung WD0804W8E Washer-Dryer in white

Price: £550

Wash Load: 8kg

Dryer Capacity: 5kg

Spin Speed: 1400 rpm

Energy rating: B

Noise level (wash):  48 dB(A)

Noise level (spin):  62 dB(A)

Posted by Surewise in Appliance Insurance Articles