Customer Reviews

LG 3.6 CF FRONT LOAD WASHER DRYER COMBO

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

This combo unit is amazing!!! With a very small home, this is great for a small space having an all in one washer dryer unit. It does take a while longer than the traditional washer and dryer setup, however it is worth the extra time.

My favorite features:
Uses less water (12-14 gallons) versus the top load washer I just replaced.
Uses a 110v outlet, so now I can get rid of the bulky dryer vent and the 240V outlet for the dryer I just replaced.
Spins VERY quickly which makes cloths damp not wet like the top load washer we replaced.
When finished, the unit "sings" at you. It plays a cute little jingle!
Gets the cloths VERY clean.

My only negative:
Socks take a bit to dry.
It took us a while to find one, Home Depot ordered it for us.

When we move, I will definitley purchase another one or I will take this with me. I am so impressed by the quality and how nice it is to have it all wrapped into one unit. Its the same size as a regular front load washer.

This is the first review i have ever written for a product, mostly because the reviews for this product is what led me to buy it. This product is the perfect solution for any apartment where all you have is a water line. This fit into a small pantry in our apartment and we used the plumbing from the kitchen for the washer portion. You dont need a vent for drying, and the clothes come out dry. We were originally very worried because some reviews stated that the clothes come out damp, but that will only occur if you over stuff it. We are a family of 2 and wash clothes pretty regularly, and we can fit a normal sized load into the unit and it will come out dry. It does take abour 4-5 hours depending on the size, but if you go to work and come back you have dry clean clothes, same if you do it over night. Also the unit is quiet. We would definitely reccomend this to someone looking for a ventless solution to washing. Also, I dont think we would go back to a non-combo after experiencing the ease of this. I would definitely rather have two of these units than 2 separate washer/dryers even if the capacities were more.

Just got my new LG combo unit and loving it. We had to replace and relocate our existing laundry area, so rather than buy two units that take up space, and run all new ductwork for a dryer, we bought this. I was skeptical at first, but I am really loving it! The machine is full size, ample for my family of 4. It cleans very well and is super quiet compared to my old Whirlpool. Pros: Saves space, easy installation, energy efficient, you can have your clothes washed a dried for you when you arrive home from work. Cons: You need to play with the dryer a bit to find the right amount of time needed; at first they feel wet, but it's mostly just steam-if you give it a minute to cool off they are dry. Takes a long time.
I will caution that I typically line dry my heavier items i.e. denim, sweaters, etc. So I typically pull them out before the dry cycle begins. If you typically put all your clothes in the dryer, this may not be for you.

If your looking for a washer/dryer for your family of 4, 5 or 6... this is NOT NOT NOT FOR YOU!

However, if your looking for a ENERGY STAR washer/dryer with STEAM and ALLERGIENE (great for those who have allergies or simply want the best of the best wash)... look no further!

Is it cheap? No. However, that is why Home Depot and many stores offer 12 or 24 months 0% financing.

It DOES take a bit longer to wash and dry your clothes, however you simply dump your dirty laundry and forget about it. When the cycle is done, you can either hang dry or set the washer/dryer to automatically dry your clothes when finished. It usually takes 90 min to 120 min to complete a load (wash AND dry).

I noticed you don't have to "shout-out" all those stains and "stuff" as much as before

Not only do the clothes smell great, but the feel CLEAN!!!

I would NEVER have imagined myself spending this much for a washer/dryer, however are very happy about our purchase.

Even if you have a kid.. or two... I think this washer/dryer is great.

It's true, you cannot do HUGE loads at one time... thats it.

We ordered this unit on the last day of 2010 and it was delivered 24 January 2011. We've now been using it for about three weeks.
It's just the two of us in our household with no kids.
We found this unit because we were struggling with venting arrangements for a conventional dryer. This is ventless. And ventless means that you are not exhausting warm air from inside your home to the outside causing it to be replaced with cold air (in winter) that has to be heated.
We love the combined washer+dryer. Our laundry room is quite small and we did not want to lose any space unnecessarily.

--The lint mostly goes down the drain except for a trap that you have to clean out occasionally. And wipe down the door seal regularly. This is less troublesome than cleaning out a dryer lint trap each load. And no risk of fire from accumulated, trapped lint in the exhaust duct.
--We also love the fact it requires only an ordinary 120VAC power circuit. No 220VAC `pigtails' and plug configuration to figure out.
--And you just put in dirty laundry and the next time you open the unit door it is clean and `ready to go'. No need to transfer heavy, soggy laundry from washer to dryer.
We did read and comply with the directions about `similar lint' laundry items. For example, don't mix bath towels (high lint producing) with nylon underwear (zero lint producing). This seems to serve us well.
--The unit seems very quiet to us. It does not `act' as the typical power-sucking washer and dryer running continuously for lengthy periods of time. It operates briefly, then pauses. Then again. This may be disconcerting to some (like our cat) but does not bother us in the least. We know this is necessary to save energy while cleaning effectively. The unit seems easy to use. The pre-sets are easy.
--To know if the laundry is `dry', reach in and pull out a `sample' item. The air inside the unit may feel `damp'. Disregard this feeling of the dampness of the air inside the unit. When you remove the sample item and note that it dries nearly instantly as you give it a gentle shake, then you know the cycle is sufficiently long. This is often well before the machine says the cycle is complete. It is true that the dry cycle for bath towels is longer than for a conventional high-energy consumption machine. Remember that you are only putting the energy coming thru an ordinary 120VAC circuit into the unit. We think that is a good energy trade-off, tho. The unit is Energy Star-compliant and we got a $180 tax credit from State of Oregon because of its high efficiency ratings.

This unit seems ideal for small apartments, condos, and where venting is a problem.
This is a larger capacity unit than most `combined' units. Nice!
Cost of this unit may seem to be a disadvantage but don't forget to include the cost of pedestals (typically $150-200 each) for front-loader washer and dryer, plus extended warranty for each. When all was summed, our cost was about the same for a single unit as for the high efficiency separate front loader washer and front loader dryer. We did not choose to include a pedestal for this unit because we put laundry in dry and take it out dry -- no transfer from washer-to-dryer.
This unit may not necessarily be optimal for a large family with children if you have multiple loads `back-to-back' and need a washing cycle to be running simultaneously with a drying cycle of another laundry load.
And if you are wedded to the idea of your laundry coming out of a dryer `toasty' and radiating heat (and willing to pay the energy cost), you may want to think about whether this unit is the right choice. This dry method seems ideal for no-iron outcomes.
Only time will tell whether the unit is reliable but we have no reason to believe that the `combined unit' configuration will be a factor in that outcome. The motor does have a 10-year warranty. Will any service tech be mystified by the unit if repairs are needed? One financial feature we liked is that the extended warranty we purchased cost us for one unit rather than purchasing one warranty for the washer and a separate warranty for a dryer.
The guys that brought it did not leave the drum security bolts that are to be removed from the unit when it is `in place' for use, but kept and replaced before the unit it moved to a different home (to avoid transit damage to the drum suspension system). We had to get them to return the bolts. And we don't know if they removed the bolts in the proper order prescribed in the manual. Otherwise the deliver guys were very friendly and helpful.

RUN AWAY! We bought this washer/dryer combo a little over 2 years ago. I wrote a review shortly after talking about the need to iron everything, the knots tied in shirt sleeves and the clothes coming out looking as if they were crumpled in a corner for a month. Here's an update:
We are now on our third repair in 5 weeks (not including the repair last year)! We are up to over $460 in repairs! The pumps on these units are notorious for going out. This is according to our LG certified repairman and to most online forums I've read. We've also had to have a heat sensor rewired ($50 + $85 service charge) and a new circuit board - $212 + service fee! This was on top of the condensation chamber cleaning and heat sensor check that was over $200! All of that was after waiting over a month for LG to send the part to the repair company. We are still waiting on our $60 pump to arrive, so we are still stuck with a broken unit after over a month of waiting and service calls!
I contacted LG with my concerns and issues. They said (in a nasty, condescending tone), "you should have bought the extended warranty, shouldn't you!"
I wish I had my old GE washer and dryer units back. They were 18 years old, cost $550 for the pair (20 years ago), and NEVER had a repair!!!

I live in a small apartment and bought this machine to save space. Being ventless, it takes a long time to dry clothes, but I knew that when I bought it. I put a new load in each night after work, and as long as the laundry is done 24 hours later by the next night, I'm happy. It has lots of settings and, being ventless, plugs into a standard outlet and drains into the sink.

I bought the LG because I read on many different consumer sites that the other competing machines (like the Haier) have a lot of breakdowns and problems. The Haier is less expensive than the LG, but you get what you pay for.

But there's a couple of flaws. For one, if you wash too few items, it becomes unbalanced and stops. Sometimes, I just want to wash a couple of towels, and come home the next night to find that it's signaling an unbalanced load and didn't finish the load.

The bigger complaint is that the sensor that it has to tell when the load is dry and to stop the dry cycle doesn't work. I've had the repairman out a couple of times, and told me that the machine is working according to spec. So I use the timed dry setting instead of the automatic dry. But the problem there is that the maximum dry time it can be set to is 2 and a half hours, and that's not long enough. So my clothes are always slightly damp coming out if it. But the machine dries fine; it just needs more time to dry. If only the dry time could be set to 4 hours or so, my clothes would be perfectly dry the next day and the machine would be perfect.

Cost of Operation

-Not sure as to the amount of water it uses (water is included in my rent)
-Using my P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor, and running a half full drum of clothes through a wash and dry cycle, it cost me $0.21. That's 21 cents at an estimated 12.2 cents per KWh. The entire cycle went through 1.72KWh.

Design/Size/Installation

-I had a very tight space to put this machine in, and it should be noted that the listed dimensions are the maximum values. The machine's front is 29 inches from the rear, and the circular knob on the front is what adds the extra .75". They do recommend that you have about 4 inches behind the machine for the hoses and stuff.

-I installed the machine by myself. It was very easy and it comes with a few sets of (the same) installation instructions so it's hard to go wrong. Make sure you remove the shipping bolts and retain them if you have to move the machine later. It is worth noting that if you have to tip the machine, as I had to, to remove the shipping foam from the bottom, LG tells you to tip it on its side, not on the front or rear (I am guessing to protect the drum). Having a second person to help move the unit would definitely make it easier, but if you note in the pictures I uploaded, LG added nice hand grips to the side to aid in moving the unit.

-The unit comes with all hoses, etc, necessary to connect the unit.

-The design is very nice. Although it stays in a closet, it is a very aesthetically pleasing unit. The LED readout is nice, and the buttons are big and clear. The chrome door is a nice touch as well.

Operation/Tips I've Learned

-There are a ton of different wash and dry settings on this machine, and I am sure you can read about them elsewhere, so I will focus on the quirks that you may encounter (that I have encountered) as you operate the machine.

-The machine plays a little tune when you start it up and a load finishes. (Warning: The tune may get stuck in your head if you do a lot of laundry.)

-If drying on the automatic setting I have noticed that when it gets down to "6 minutes remaining" it will stay there for 5, 10 maybe 15 minutes, before counting down. So if you see a 6 on an automatic dry cycle don't wait around for it thinking it will finish soon.

-The clothes come out dry despite feeling damp when you immediately open the door. The dampness is just in the drum itself, not in the clothes (unless you wash something heavy).

-When washing a queen comforter in the machine, we noticed some soap still on the inside after the dry cycle and we pulled it out. To combat this, I would recommend after the initial wash cycle of a bulky item, remove the item, move it around, and run another rinse/spin cycle (which is an option)
-Although you can do a wash/dry cycle at the same time, I like to do a wash only cycle (on extra high spin) then put a few dryer sheets on then go to a dry only cycle.

-There is a certain smell about the new materials in the machine, expect this smell in your clothes for a few washes. I would keep the door open once you install it to maybe dissipate the smell more quickly.

-After a dry cycle, the LED readout will say "Cd" which I am assuming stands for cool down or clothes done. The door to the dryer will remain locked and you will not be able to remove the items inside. If you wait for it to go away on its own, it takes a few hours. (I let it do it on its own once to see). The way to get around this is so just simply spin the silver knob once "Cd" is displayed. A few seconds later the door will unlock. It is nice to know though that while "Cd" is on, the machine will still rotate your clothes every so often to avoid wrinkles. Good thinking LG.

-I usually fill the drum about half way for every load. You can wash a full drum of clothes but then it says in the manual to remove half of the clothes for the dry cycle. After I wash a half drum of clothes and do the automatic dry, it has never taken more than an hour and a half to dry the load. Combined with the 49 minute normal cotton wash cycle, you are looking at about 2.5 hours or so to do a half load of laundry (washed and dried).


Final Thoughts

Overall this is a great machine if you are looking for a single unit that can wash and dry a full load of laundry while presenting you with the limitation of a smaller apartment, a non vented area, or an area without a 240V outlet. We experienced all three conditions and this was the best unit we could find to meet our needs. The full size drum is a rarity for this type of machine, and its worth should not be overlooked. The clothes come out clean and (after the first few uses, see my tip above) fresh. You will not be disappointed in this machine.

I did not buy this combo at Amazon. I found it cheaper with free shipping somewhere else.
I have also noticed, that most of the "bad" reviews came from people who had it for a while, and had some electronic or mechanical problems. These problems are actually, to be expected! This is a very very complex
machine, and it is very difficult to service! It is one of the VERY FEW appliances, where I RECOMMEND buying an extended warranty! A five year (4 yrs extended) program is available from various sellers for about $140-180.LG's extended warranty is much costlier ~$350 for same length.
Another problem is with people who haven't done their research, and bought this machine, even though, they had other options. This machine is for people who have very limited space, no capability to vent and no 240V! For those who meet these requirements, this combo is FANTASTIC! There is no better solution (so far).
I refuse to give this combo 5 stars though. There are too many limitations and compromises, that had to be done.
If one wants to dry, than one cannot fill the drum more than 50-60% of capacity. A full load will simply not dry. The ventless drying uses a cold water line to a radiator, that condenses the steam from the hot clothes. This process is not too efficient, a bit noisy and take more than 3 hrs to dry a 1/2 load. The manual recommends cleaning the filter every 2 weeks or so.
Thus to a family, that has many loads, I recommend washing every day, instead of having a "laundry day", that so many people seem to have. Those people that can run a vent, should consider buying a separate dryer! It does the job much faster, and also more efficiently.
This machine is doing what it was designed for, within its limitations. It is not a cure all, but for those of us who meet the requirements for buying this machine, - THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST OPTION!.
A side benefit of the ventless system is that in the winter, the heat that this combo produces, will help in keeping the condo/apt warm. Even in the summer when the heat makes the a/c works harder, it is not a zero sum game. A vented dryer removes copious amounts of air to the outside, and this air is needed to be replaced, so the a/c will also work harder, though, not quite as hard as with a ventless system.
And this brings me to my biggest concern. The radiator is located in the upper front right of the machine. When it is in dry mode, the spot becomes quite hot! Not enough to give someone a burn, but if the combo is in a closed space, I am afraid, that it can cause fire, if a combustible item is left on top. I urge LG to install an insulating material over the radiator, attached to the top panel!
I have tried to publish my review at LG web site, but for some reason, it broke some of their rules , even though I gave this combo a positive review :(

After seeing so many less than great experiences, I thought I should share mine.

I bought this model in the summer 2010 (about a year ago at the time of writing this). After researching all different kinds of units, I decided to give this one a go. None were remotely local, so I had to order blindly online. I was stationed in Germany, so I was aware of such units since they are pretty common place there and I had a friend that lived in a small high-rise place in Chicago that had this kind of washer/dryer (albeit, it was smaller, much older and didn't quite do the best job). I was a little concerned by some of the reviews I saw for this model, but decided to try due to being just one unit and the energy usage.

Right from the start I had great results. There was a learning curve though for using a unit like this. You MUST be open to it being different from what you probably grew up with and not try to cram it into that old way of thinking. How it works is completely different -- at least the drying side -- from all the conventional washers and dryers so many are familiar with. You will probably be disappointed, for whatever reason, if you don't take this into consideration.

That being said, I find it cleans clothes very well and dries clothes pretty darn well for using so little energy. On average, my loads take about two hours to wash AND dry. I don't think I've ever had a load go as long as three hours even. I do the auto cycles that calculate how long to wash and dry. I fill the drum usually about 3/4 full. If you cram it full to the point nothing care move, it will not clean or dry as well. THIS ISN'T AN OLD-FASHION UPRIGHT AGITATOR! You can't expect that really from new front loaders either. They just don't work that way.

As for drying, if you open it as soon as it finishes (it has an auto cool-down feature that will tumble it periodically until the temp drops) it will appear that the clothes are damp. As I've found though, when you pull something out, it's dry to the touch within several seconds of pulling it out. I find if you open the door and leave it be for about a minute or two, it's not so bad. It's pretty steamy due to the nature of how it dries. Sometimes with jeans, it takes a little longer, but I lay them out on the unit or on something else while I fold other things first and they are usually good to go by the time I get to them. I don't really complain even if something does need more time to dry -- which isn't that often -- die to what I get overall. You have to remember this thing doesn't have a heating element like on many stoves that cooks your clothes dry essentially. It also doesn't produce lent anywhere near on the same levels as a conventional dryers. Just think about how much lent that ends up in your lent trap each time. That's from your clothes. This shortens the life of your fabrics. Every couple of weeks, I clean the wet collection tray deal and it produces a tiny fraction of what the conventionals do. Also when I got it, I was living temporarily on the Mississippi Guld Coast. So for it to dry as well as it did then, I figured it wouldn't be an issue in dry Montana--which it isn't.

I don't find it to be that loud either from all the different kinds of units I've ever used--which is dozens. It's just different, so I take it some notice it more. I certainly wouldn't call it loud.

Just read the manual and you shouldn't have any problems. Everyone that's seen mine in action, wishes they had one or hadn't bought what they had. If you're going to spend $1,000 on two units, I say spend a little more and get something like this. Shop around. The place I bought it for had free shipping and I bought it for around $1,300. You should made up the extra money spent in the first year of use. I recommend these to everyone and would buy again without hesitation.

My pros:
only one unit (saves space and not having to switch loads between two different units)
uses only 110V
no vent needed
uses A LOT less energy
auto sensing for cleaning times
can program to have a load finished when get home from work or being out or just when you have time to deal with it.
easy to use technology (for me)

My Cons:
None I can think of. I guess I could say I can't tell how wore out my stuff is by the amount of lent is left in the lent trap of a dryer. I've ran into loads being a little damp with conventional heating element dryers that "sense" when the load is dry, so for much greater energy saving and easier on my clothes, it more than evens out.
Would be handy if it was lighter? She's a heavy machine.

If you have any questions, leave a comment and hopefully I'll get it in time. I LOVE THIS THING and so does my girlfriend!