The One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer Changes Everything
Decarbonizing your home can be a daunting task, but GE’s One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer Combo gives you an opportunity to at least make a start.
The laundry room is a place where you can make a surprisingly big impact on climate change with one purchase. Replacing your old washing machine and tumble dryer with a heat pump washer dryer combo can save you as much as $100 per year in operating costs and cut your home’s emissions by 40-45%.
And it’s even more beneficial if your current tumble dryer is powered by gas like mine was.
The One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer Combo is one such machine and in this post, we’ll delve into the intricacies of this unique combo washer dryer. We’ll go in-depth on the revolutionary drying technology and the pros and cons of owning a heat pump dryer.
We’ll also look at how user-friendly the One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer is. From a variety of washing cycles suitable for different fabrics, an interactive smartphone app that allows real-time monitoring and alerts about low detergent levels or end-cycle timings.
And we’ll help you to answer the ultimate question of whether you should buy one. Stay tuned as we conclude with our final verdict on what some say is one of the best heat pump washer dryer combos on the market today.
Heat Pump Technology in Laundry Appliances
Heat pumps are a game-changer in the world of laundry appliances, and there’s one at the heart of GE’s One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer.
How a Conventional Dryer Works
To understand how a heat pump dryer works, it helps to understand how it differs from a conventional dryer.
Conventional dryers use a heating element, which warms the air in the drum to evaporate moisture from wet clothes. The hot, moist air is then expelled outside through an external vent.
The inefficiency of this process lies in the amount of energy required to heat up the element, which needs to stay hot for the full duration of the cycle. Additionally, all that energy is essentially wasted once it has been used to warm the air since it is then vented outside.
What’s more, since the air originally came from inside your home, it has to be replaced, which means that either your furnace or your air conditioner (depending on the time of year) have to work harder than usual to replace that air.
How a Heat Pump Dryer is Different
A heat pump dryer, on the other hand, doesn’t have a heating element. Instead, it works like an air conditioner in reverse, taking in room temperature air and forcing it through a condenser. But, while an air conditioner emits warm air to the outside, the heat pump dryer sends it into the drum instead, where it absorbs moisture from the wet clothes.
The warm damp air then passes through an evaporator and, as it cools, the moisture collects on the coil and drips into a collection tray. And rather than being “wasted” outside, the warm, now-dry air passes back through the condenser to be reheated and sent back into the drum in one continuous loop.
Washer Dryer Combo
For all the benefits of a heat pump dryer, there is still one drawback: You have to remove the clothes from the washer and place them into the dryer in order to complete the laundry.
With a one and done washer heat pump dryer combo, you can load the washer once and come back 2-3 hours later with all of your laundry washed and dried (you will still have to fold it yourself, though).
Combo washer-dryer units are nothing new. There were models available in the 1950s and 1960s from several well-known manufacturers, including GE. What’s new about the more recent models is the use of a heat pump mechanism for drying.
While it’s common for combo washers to use condensers. Heat pumps are less common.
Innovations of the One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer
But the heat pump is far from the only innovation here. The One and Done heat pump washer dryer uses a combination of high air flow, spin, and a heat pump to dry your clothes more quickly than a typical heat pump dryer.
And it is packed with user-friendly innovations that change the way we think about laundry.
Smart Dispense Technology Saves Detergent
With Smart Dispense, you can control the amount of detergent and softener used for each load. It’s like having a laundry scientist in your pocket.
Real-time Monitoring Through Smartphone App
This washer dryer combo offers an innovative way of managing household chores. No more waiting around for your laundry to finish – now you can track its progress in real-time, right from your phone. It’s like having a personal laundry assistant in your pocket.
The app keeps you in the loop about your laundry’s progress and provides notifications to help make things easier. Running low on detergent? The app will let you know. Finished with your cycle? You’ll get a friendly reminder to take out your clothes. It’s like having a laundry fairy that never forgets.
All these features make this appliance not just a tool, but rather a laundry superhero that saves you time and adds convenience to your busy life. Say goodbye to laundry guesswork and hello to smart laundry management.
Advantages of the One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer
Large Capacity
Most heat pump dryers are small compared to conventional dryers, typically maxing out at 4 cubic feet. But the One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer Combo has a capacity of 4.8 cubic feet, which puts it right in the same range as you might expect from a conventional dryer.
This makes it suitable for families, as well as for washing comforters, and large loads of towels, denim jeans and other bulky items.
110 Volt Hookup
Most conventional dryers need a 220 volt electric hook up. Those heating elements require a lot of juice to run and, while most laundry rooms have one, if yours doesn’t, it could easily cost a few hundred dollars to get an electrician to install one for you.
The One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer Combo plugs right into a regular 110 volt outlet and that, coupled with the fact that you don’t need to vent it through an outside wall, means that you have far more flexibility in where you put it in your house.
Single Unit Saves Space
Not all homes have a dedicated laundry room. Our washer and dryer are housed in a closet in our downstairs bathroom. Swapping two large appliances for one can save a lot of space and help keep your laundry area a little tidier.
Longer Lasting
Because they don’t heat up so much, the component parts of a heat pump don’t wear out as quickly.
The expected lifespan of a heat pump dryer is usually 20 years, while conventional dryers typically only last between 10 and 13 years. The actual durability of the machine, however, largely depends on the quality of the brand that is purchased.
Disadvantages of the One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer
This appliance is not for everyone and there are some disadvantages to owning one.
Longer Drying Times
Like all heat pump dryers, it takes longer to dry your clothes in a One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer. And the fact that you are washing and drying in one continuous cycle is also something you have to get used to.
All told, a typical load of clothes would take roughly two hours to complete. But towels or heavy denim jeans could take almost four hours.
Of course, offset against those times is the fact that you don’t have to be there waiting to transfer the clothes from the washer to the dryer. You can just put the load in and go about your day.
It has a de-wrinkle cycle that runs about 15 minutes after the drying cycle has completed, as well as a wrinkle care option to prevent wrinkles from forming in the first place. So the idea that you could put a load of laundry in, go to work and come back to clean and fully dried laundry is quite convenient.
Higher Upfront Cost
Heat pump dryers are generally more expensive than most conventional ones, ranging in price from $1,000 to $1,500. The One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer combo retails for around $2,000 but, of course, that’s for two appliances in one. Even at that price, it’s arguably a better investment in the long run because of the extended lifespan and lower operating cost.
It’s Heavy (Man)
Weighing in at over 300 pounds, this is not an appliance that you’ll easily be able to move around the house. Although its ventless design means you can put it anywhere, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to move around the way, say, a coffee table is.
One customer we heard from who wanted theirs on a second floor had to wait an extra day for delivery so that they could send out a four-man delivery crew.
You’ll want to decide where it’s going (preferably on the ground floor) and leave it there for good. Otherwise, I can recommend a good physical therapist who can help you with your bad back.
Final Verdict: User-Friendly All-In-One Unit
After a month of extensive use, I can confidently say that the GE One and Done Heat Pump Washer Dryer combo is an absolute gem. I give it top marks. This machine is a laundry superhero, combining multiple functions and advanced features to make your life easier.
Not only does it wash and dry your clothes in one go, but it also has smart dispense technology to save detergent and reduce waste. And the smartphone app means you can monitor your laundry from anywhere. Talk about convenience.
If you’re in the market for new laundry appliances, seriously consider this model. It’s not just a pretty face, it’s a powerhouse that will revolutionize one of your most arduous household chores.
