LG Ventless Washer Dryer Combo

In this article I wanted to start off with a bit of a review on the LG WM3431HW ventless washer dryer combo.  This is LGs newest addition to their line of washer dryer combos, as well as their most popular.  Although the reviews are somewhat mixed, most agree that this model is one of the best on the market at the moment.

Keep in mind that this technology is still fairly new.  There are bugs and issues with every model out there.  For speed and capacity, these machines do not compare with more traditional washer dryer set ups.  Perhaps in the future they will, but if you are looking for a dryer that can compare with a Maytag Performance Series Dryer, it’s just not going to happen.  If you have space restraints or the inability to run a standard dryer vent, however, the LG WM3431HW ventless washer dryer combo can’t be beat (with the possible exception of the Bosch Axxis Series : WTE86300US which I will be covering in a separate article).

Key Features

• Sensor Dry System
• 9 Washing Programs
• 5 Temperature Levels
• Sanitary Cycle
• Delay Wash Up to 19 Hours
• Flexibility of Wash to Dry, Wash Only or Dry Only

The LG combo does have a few benefits over traditional washer dryer combos.  First of all the condenser dryers are a lot more energy efficient than more conventional electric and even gas dryers.  Another benefit is that they are actually better for your clothes.  Condensing the water and collecting it is not nearly as hard on your clothes as blasting it with heated air.  As you may or may not know most of the shrinkage that you get when washing your clothes is usually as a result of the hot air to which conventional dryers subject them.

The LG does have its downsides, however.  Some owners have complained about the spin cycle creating more noise/vibration than they are used to getting from other washers.  I believe this to be more a result of it being front loaded – as most front loaded washers are like that.  Another problem that has been reported is with drying times.  If you have several loads to wash and dry in a single day, you may have a problem with any ventless washer dryer combo.  The LG does seem to do a better job than most other brands, however, reporting roughly twice the dry times of conventional dryers, as opposed to almost triple the dry times for some of the other models.

One common complaint with ventless washer dryer combos is with capacity.  The LG actually has a larger capacity than most, boasting a 24”drum that holds 2.44 cubic feet and can hold up to 24 lbs.  Not bad for a compact unit!

One problem that I have seen reported on the LG specifically is that the child lock is kind of a pain.  I recommend that you read customer reviews for yourself to see if the LG is indeed the ventless washer dryer combo for you.  There are some very informative reviews here:

Click Here to Read Customer Reviews

The interesting thing is that most of the reviews were either 5 stars or one.  Most of the one star reviews seemed to be with older models, leading me to believe that there were some bug fixes with newer units.

All in all, as far as ventless washer dryer combos are concerned, I think the LG WM3431HW is a solid choice.  Can it stand up to the Bosch Axxis Series?  We’ll see!