Customer Reviews

LG WM3431HW 24", 2.44 Cu. Ft. Washer/Dryer Combo (White)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

I have the first version of this washer, WD-3274RHD. every thing is perfect in this -all in one. But you have to pay attention to some guide lines:
1. the concept of this unit is to help users to set and forget. Be ready to expect a longer washing cycles comparing to regular washers.
2. with this capacity it is perfect for one load per person. so expect to have six cycles a week for three users. this what we used to do since we bought this washer.
3. as it is a combo unit, you don't have to do your laundary on the weekend, it only needs few minutes to sort your laundary, load it, push few buttons and go to your work...shopping or even go to sleep. the drying will start automatically once the wash cycle is over.
4. if the items you're washing needs to tumble during the drying cycle, it is better to have smaller loads and that will help avoid wrinkles spaecially in jeans. and remember that drying needs a drum of a double size of the washing drum. so if you have the maximum washing load and you don't want to come back to split the load , just expect a longer drying time.
5. i'm personally satisfied with this unit as it is only me, my wife and my one year old child. as a small familly we stil don't do our laundary on the same day.

After some initial research into the matter, I found out that you would need a special hookup for either a washer or a dryer (you need both water input and a way to dispose of the dirty water without overflowing your pipes) and you need venting for the dryer. The majority of machines that were designed to perform in an apartment WITHOUT such a hookup had review after review complaining of poor cleaning, high energy usage, breaking down, noise, super small load capacities, and leakage. But further searching found this LG WM3431 Washer/Dryer with mostly positive reviews on the different websites. It was the answer to my prayers. (Note: Despite the negative reviews, you will NOT find a better washer/dryer combo that can operate in an apartment without venting).

The Pros
1. For apartments --It's one of only a few machines on the market that's designed to work in a small space without a traditional washer or dryer hookup. That means that the electric plug goes into any three-prong outlet in your house and the water input hose can be connected to your sink. The water outlet hose dispenses into any drain and does not dump a huge amount of water so as to overwhelm your sink or bath pipes. The dryer also doesn't need a hot air vent out a window or anything. Of the machines of this genre, I've found that the LG delivers superior performance.
2. Cleaner clothes while using less water. Also, the LG WM3431 has a sanitary cycle that cleans clothes with super hot water and has kept my whites gleaming.
3. Money --I calculated that at $1.50 per wash and $1.50 per dry, it would cost me $312 a year to do 2 small loads weekly and $468 a year to do 3 small loads weekly. The machine would pay for itself in two to three years. That's not to mention the prospect of resale and the time you save yourself from driving to the laundromat and sitting there waiting.
4. Aesthetic--the machine is beautiful.
5. Timer-- allows you to load your laundry and detergent before you leave for work and to have it start running and complete its cycle just in time for when you come home. The timer can be set for up to 19 hours later. And since this is an all-in-one machine, you obviously don't need to be home to switch the load from your washer to your dryer.
6. Protects clothing - I only found this out after going on vacation and using a regular washer and dryer for two weeks. Cheap clothes which I thought were better quality than they actually were, lost probably 1/4 their color during my vacation. I realized that the steam mechanism of the dryer, though it takes longer, is gentler on clothes than forced hot air. All my clothing has maintained the color and quality as on the day I bought it, using the LG washer/dryer combo.


The Cons
1. Time --It takes anywhere from 3-5 hours to do an entire wash and dry, depending on the options you choose. The spin cycle can add a lot of extra time. Be mindful of how you load your laundry (i.e. Put one towel on the bottom, some clothes in between, and another towel on top.) If the machine is imbalanced, it will reset and reset and try to balance the load. I've found that if you use only the low spin cycle with the sheet and towel loads, the items will still get sufficiently dry, but the machine will start spinning a lot faster.
2. Vibration --Others have complained that the machine vibrates violently. I have never had this problem. The machine really does not move or jump at all, even if it's on the very high spin.
3. Capacity --I can fit a queen fitted sheet, duvet cover, and 4 pillowcases in there, though it's a bit snug. I probably do about 2-3 loads of clothing a week (for a family of 2 adults and 1 toddler), plus an additional load every other week for sheets, towels, and tablecloths. I wouldn't recommend this machine for a much larger family, but I think that there is a larger capacity model available from LG.
4. Noise --It's actually stealthily quiet during the wash and spin cycles, humming at no louder than your air conditioner. However, the mechanism the machine employs to expel water for your rinse cycles and throughout the long drying cycle is really very loud. Sounds as loud as a car (but maybe not a motorcycle) revving its engine very loudly.
5. WRINKLES!!--Another major problem is that the way the machine dries, using a condensation method rather than hot air, leaves clothing feeling sometimes damp and often wrinkled when taken out of the machine. My clothes always feels damp when taken immediately from the machine, but 95% of the time, when you spread out the laundry, the steam dissipates and the clothes are actually dry. (Sweaters, jeans, and large items may still be truly damp, unless you've run the machine for very long.) My solution to the wrinkle problem has been to cut my losses and bring extra large items (sheets, tablecloths, dresses, and whatever else MUST be wrinkle-free) down to the basement and just pay to dry it in a regular hot air dryer. My other loads have fared well in the wrinkle department so long as you fill the fabric softener tray to the MAX with fabric softener (I use a non-scented one for this reason) and if you take the clothes out of the dryer as soon as the dry cycle ends. (The dryer continues to run on a "cool-down" mode after it's finished drying, I guess in an attempt to prevent wrinkles, but it causes more wrinkles.)
6. Door Latch--It keeps the door locked and waits 1-2 minutes before releasing it if you stop the machine mid-cycle and after it's finished drying. So you have to actually wait to pull open the door. I've had instances where I just started the machine and noticed I dropped a sock on the ground and have had to pause the machine, wait 2 minutes, then open up the door and to throw the sock in.
7. Child Lock--The only thing that changes when you put the child lock on is that it disables the start/pause button and if you turn off the machine, you cannot turn it back on w/o disabling the child lock first. However, the power button still works and the child can turn the machine off in the first place. I cannot tell you how many times my toddler has run over to the washer and turned off my machine mid-cycle by pushing the oooooh! shiny blue colored power button. And I've had to restart the machine (but only after holding down and turning off the child lock) and have the washer begin at the start of the cycle where it left off. It takes extra time this way. And boy is it annoying.
You would think that the least the child lock would keep the door latch locked so that a child cannot climb inside the washer drum. Nope. If the machine is turned off or if it has just completed wash, the door latch will unlock automatically regardless of whether the child lock is on or off. Essentially, the child lock only disables one button on the entire machine. It's pretty much useless otherwise. I wish LG could improve upon this.
8. BIGGEST DRAWBACK: Because the WM3431 does not dry clothes using hot air, there is no lint trap. Then, where does the lint/hair go? Well, some of it you'll find accumulating in the rubber gasket around the door. But small amounts of it accumulate in the condenser tube/duct that is INSIDE the machine. You have to actually disassemble the machine to get to it. (Yes, this is a major design flaw.) If your machine starts taking longer and longer to dryer (even longer than 3 hours) or doesn't dry altogether, this could be the problem. If you're brave of heart, you can disassemble the top and back covers of the machine and find the white plastic duct. Inside, you'll probably find a mass of lint/hair that's blocking the air from getting to the tub and not letting your clothes dry. Once removed, your machine will work like new. You may not want to disassemble the washer/dryer, though, as it could void a warranty. But some servicemen have said that it is a flaw in this model and recommends clearing these ducts once a year. I have had the WM3431 for 2.5 years now, and only now did I have to pull it open and clear the lint. Other ppl may have to do it more often if they have clothes that give off more lint or if they have pets that shed hair. Annoying? Definitely yes. But thank goodness, we got the free extended warranty and a serviceman cleared ducts for us. I watched him and it really wouldn't be too hard to do it myself, but, yes, it would have been better not to have to do it at all.

Bottom Line:
If you can possibly buy the traditional separate washer and dryer units, by all means, do so! But if you live in a place where there's no traditional washer/dryer hook-up available, and you're looking to buy, the LG WM3431 is the best choice on the market (ESP. over the Haier models which constantly break down). Just remember to purchase a (full coverage) extended warranty agreement and keep in mind some of my tips above. Good luck!

I live in an apartment and, although we have a laundry room, there is only one washer and dryer for 8 units, it's downstairs and I had to hoard quarters (6 per load). I finally got tired of sharing with the neighbors and having such a small window of time to do laundry (i.e. not while I'm at work, not after 10pm, etc).

I looked at washer/dryer combos a couple of years ago and didn't see anything that looked worth the cost. When I tried again a few weeks ago I came across the LG and was pleasantly surprised by the mostly positive reviews. I spent a LOT of time reading reviews and researching the LG so I was pretty familiar with the pros and cons of the machine by the time I got it. I was able to order it online while it was on sale and used an additional 12% off coupon that made the price more palatable. It also let me spring for the titanium version that I just like the looks of.

I've had the unit for about a week now and I am extremely pleased with it. After a couple of trips to the hardware store (casters, a mixer/y hose and a quick release adapter for the faucet) I was up and running within minutes. I'm on the second floor and am very surprised at how quiet this machine is. It actually makes less noise than my dishwasher and, since the neighbors have never complained about that, I'm assuming I'll have no problems with the washer. I was also worried about it dancing across the floor on its wheels (since my designated shopper bought casters without locks and I was too impatient to go exchange them) but I park it on my kitchen rug and it stays in place, no problem.

An entire load takes less time than I expected (after reading some reviewers complaints) and the clothes are perfectly dry once you pull them out of the machine and let them air for a couple of seconds. I have noticed that items come out more wrinkled then they do in a conventional dryer but, for me, that's a small tradeoff for the convenience.

I put a load in yesterday before I went to work and set the timer to finish about the time I get home. I walked in the door to the pleasant scent of clean clothes and hung them up - very nice. I expect that I will be doing this most days so the additional time to run a load won't make any difference for me. Also, the added benefit of not having to be home to transfer the load from the washer to the dryer means I can truly set-and-forget my laundry. I am loving this!

One minor complaint is the child-lock. I don't have children and would prefer to be allowed to take my chances opening the door once the load is complete or on a whim mid-cycle. It would be nice to be able to disable this 'feature'.

All in all, if you've done your research and understand the limitations of this machine (smaller loads, longer cycle times, more wrinkles) and still want one I think you will be very, very pleased with it.

We have owned this machine for a little over two years. For the first 6 months it worked as expected with clothes coming out slightly damp due to the condensation method of drying. However, since then, it has stopped drying, such that 5 hours of drying (yes, 5 hours) yields wet clothes. This has persisted, despite 4 repairs, replacing almost every part on the machine except the control board, which I assume is next.
Prior to this machine we owned an Equator brand washer/dryer combo which was a disaster: that broke after 3 years.
Unfortunately, the LG is probably the best of a bunch of mediocre machines (Equator, Asko, Maber and other brands) available in the US..all have shortcomings as dryers as all use the ventless-condensation method which take much longer to dry and almost all are 115V. The Bosch combos available in Europe, but unfortunately not available in the US, are 220V and thus, dry more quickly. This is not a machine for a family, but rather ideal for an apartment or condo for 1 or 2 people at most. When it worked, it worked well. However, no one should invest $1300 to have it break in such a short time. And no one should have to spend over 5 hours to do 1 load of laundry. If you must purchase one of these machines (for reasons of space), buy an extended warranty.

Most reviews explained the convenience of the LG for a couple but said it probably wouldn't be good for a family. I guess it depends how you look at it. We have a washer and dryer in a laundry room downstairs but when I was pregnant my laundry duties stopped: it was hard to manage baskets up and down the stairs, I wasn't feeling well, forgetting to switch the clothes into the dryer, and then finding time to fold big loads. We installed the 24inch model in our Master Bedroom closet and I am back to doing laundry. Our children's bedrooms are upstairs and so are mommy and daddy - so ultimately, that's where all the clothes are - ready to go. About 5 mornings a week I throw in one small load - by nap time - it's done and easy to sort and fold. It doesn't matter to me that it takes 4 hours. The clothes come out clean, fresh and my daughter enjoys our morning "laundry" routine as she puts clothes in there with me.
Now, the technical stuff.
*My husband set it up in a day - he needed to do some wiring and piping.
*It's not too loud.
*It has a child safety lock.
*You can run multiple cycles - including diapers.
*It gages how much clothes are in the machine and sets the amount of time.
*The detergent/softer dispenser is very easy to pull out and rinse in a sink for cleaning.
*You can only fill it about 1/2 way with clothes because the dryer can only do about 1/2 of the wash load. You will do many more loads of laundry. "A little at a time."
We still have our washer/dryer downstairs for bulky items but we are actually thinking of replacing those with the larger model in case we have to wash a lot of towels or something. I feel like a family of 4 could live off 1 larger model.
Overall, I'm back to doing laundry and it's not a complaint anymore.

I have had one of these machines for three weeks. So far I am very satisfied with it. It does an excellent job washing and drying clothes. Drying does take longer but that is not an inconvenience for me. The machine has a "dry only" setting so I just pop the clothes back in if more drying time is needed. And it runs so quietly that I can use it almost any time of day (or night) without having to worry about annoying my condo neighbors. I would not think that an all in one machine would be a good choice for a family but for a single person, it works very well.

This machine works pretty good. The person that reviewed this machine and has five kids to wash for bought the WRONG machine. This is not a heavy duty large family machine. Anyone would think this machine could handle the laundry of five people in two loads needs expand their horizons and look at high capacity washers. This machine is for couples and singles in apartments not the Waltons and certainly not the Brady Bunch. For the price you could have bought two maytag washers and two dryers and did your laundry in the four hours you say one load. I know someone that will buy your machine for under $300 if your interested.

I won't repeat everything that has been said in the other reviews in detail, but I agree that the performance and efficiency (water and power) of this machine are excellent. It's gentle on clothes, pretty quiet, and has lots of great options including the ability to delay the wash.

A couple of tips/caveats, however:
*The "auto-dry" feature is very convenient, but takes a lot longer than the "timed dry" feature. It will take roughly half the time using timed dry, which I believe uses higher heat.
*Setting it to run on a delay is great for having laundry dry and ready to fold when you come home, but you need to use powdered detergent (not liquid) if using this feature.
*Once drying is done and goes to "cool down" mode (which keeps it periodically tumbling to prevent wrinkles, you have to hit start, then wait several minutes before the door unlocks. This is to prevent kids from getting burned, but it's irritating.
*The biggest issue is that over time lint builds up inside the machine which restricts airflow and slows drying, since there's no real lint trap (the little one at the bottom doesn't really work). This happens especially if you wash/dry a lot of high-lint items like towels, and you'll notice that your clothes are taking longer and longer to dry. The good news is that it's not that hard to clean out, and doing so will restore the drying time of ~90 minutes for a full load. I have a step by step "how-to" guide with pictures here:
http://fish.freeshell.org/LGWM3431HW.html

I bought this because we moved into a very small place and wanted to build shelves over where the dryer would normally go using a stackable combination. This is a very good solution for the small apartment dweller, as it runs on a normal 110 volt 3-prong outlet, easily hooks up to a faucet with sink, and doesn't need a vent. I have been very satisfied so far, but I would recommend reading the other comments for the various caveats. If you are willing to change your laundry paradigm, this might be right for you. The 2.4 cu ft model doesn't hold much but is good for two people or if you have a larger family, then every other day. Yes, it doesn't dry as much in the same drum. I have found that even though the clothes feel damp when they are pulled out, if you do it at the end of the cycle when they are hot and spread them out for a couple of minutes, they end up dry. This is a very energy efficient washer/dryer and the energy/water rebates where we live in the SF-Bay Area are quite high.

I know there's a love/hate relationship with some folks regarding these washer/dryer combos.
On the one hand, it takes longer to dry (dries well only with smaller loads of 8 lbs or less), the capacity is not like the full sized washers, clothes come out a bit wrinkled, it's a heavy machine (not easily movable), not good for larger households, and the washer/dryer can be expensive. These machines are not heavy duty and should NOT be stuffed with clothes like a regular size top loading! The more you stuff it, the more wrinkled clothes comes out, and the harder it is for the machine to dry!

On the other hand, compact, perfect for small condos/apartments, convenience (NO MORE Laundromats!), plugs into a regular electrical socket, despite longer drying times my electric bill is only a couple of dollars more per month, uses less water, saves on washing detergent (uses less than top loading machines), and it's been reliable (no problems).
For me, a good product is one that lasts long time with normal use. Every so often I drain and clean the lint from the bottom of the machine, and clean the back hose connection filter (the washer will tell you when it's time). I have an older LG model similar to this one that's little over 4 years old, and it washes all types of clothes/linen very well. I wear washable dress slacks/shirts/stockings, and it has saved me money because it comes out damp, and I can hang them in my room and air dry them overnight (no shrinkage or fading because of hot air like a dryer), so my clothes last longer. I wash several times per week. To me, this machine is fairly quiet, except when it dries you'll hear the pump draining the water. I can sleep at night and my clothes will be dry in the morning. No washing machine is absolutely quiet, but this "direct drive" motor is a lot quieter than my old belt driven top loading washer! You can hook this washer to a backyard hose or to a kitchen facet (with a small adapter that you can get from OSH/Home Depot).
I've had a separate full sized washer and dryer when I lived in a house, and yes, I would prefer that. What if space, dryer venting, and special electrical voltage is an issue in a condo or apartment?
I would recommended this washer/dryer combo for one or two people in a household.
I am happy with mine and it does the job.