So, we were at our friend's apartment up in Harlem (they just moved in last summer) and they were proudly showing us around - showing us all the new things that made us downtown folks jealous, like too many closets, big windows and an extra room - when we stopped in our tracks. What's this in the closet? Hey, THIS is really cool....
"Hey,you've also got a washer/dryer, but it's in your closet. How can you do that?"
"Oh, you mean, where does it vent?"
"Exactly."
"it doesn't vent. It condenses the water."
"It whats!?"
"It collects in a little drawer, and we empty it afterwards...."
The closet in the middle of the apartment where it lives.
The Little Water Drawer
Unlike the big Maytag Neptune units that I'd known in my past, this was a state of the art, svelte, powerful 24" Bosch number that was energy and water efficient and required no venting (it's called The Axxis). Which, aside from being more eco sensible than others, allowed one to stack it and put it in any room, regardless of its relation to the outside world. I thought this was a great new option and something that would be of value to many apartment AND home dwellers. I've collected a bunch of links on the matter. You can read all about it below. (Thanks as well to Mary and Joe!)
Best,
>> Axxis Washer at Bosch.com
>> Axxis Dryer at Bosch.com
>> Bosch Axxis Unveiled in Florida - Twice.com
>> Low Price in Sugarland, Texas!
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I have a stupid question - obviously it needs to be near a water supply? So it couldn't really go in ANY room.
view Matilda's profile
I had a condensation dryer while living in London a few years ago. I loved it. It may have taken a little longer to get things dry, but overall I had no complaints.
view Samantha_P's profile
will definitely have to look into this!
view emilyn's profile
I recently got this unit and love it. It's super compact, quiet and does a nice job. It also doesn't bake your clothes dry.
Something to keep in mind, the WTE86300US unit requires 208/240 volts. Bosch used to have another Axxis model that ran on 110 but I don't see it on their website anymore.
view azure's profile
I have a stacking washer dryer in a closet on an outside wall. It is not drying as well as it used too. I looked for the vent on the outside wall to try to clear it to see if that was the problem. Couldn't find a vent. Could mine be ventless and I not know??
view jede's profile
I just moved into a loft with a ventless washer/dryer combo and it takes three hours to do six pounds of laundry. Plus heavy items like jeans and towels never get completely dry. Oy. I just bought a drying rack from Ikea so I guess it'll be okay, but I think my sheets are going to the laundry down the street.
view Li's profile
We have this (we live in Belgium) its super easy.
view Tiffany's profile
Oh, it dries super well, just as fast as a regular dryer and jeans/towels are no problem.
view Tiffany's profile
Dry a load of laundry, water the plants.
view bramasoleiowa's profile
Nothing new about a ventless dryer-- we had an AEG ventless dryer (to go with our AEG washer -- OKO Lavamat) for 16 years. Now we have a Miele -- also ventless. And the dryer does not take any longer than a vented model.
view monika1's profile
We have an all in one, which I like better, actually. That way you never have to move stuff from the washer to the dryer. Put dirty stuff in at night, take it out dry and clean in the morning. Ours has an internal lint trap that has to be emptied out every so often, which might be what needs to happen with yours, jede. When stuff doesn't get dry no matter how small the load or how long it takes, the lint trap is clogged.
view KatieD's profile
I have one of the Bosch Axxis condensation driers and it works very well. You can't quite put them ANYwhere, since you need the plumbing for the washer and an electrical outlet for them. But, that's much easier to add than a vent to the outside in most apartments.
While it doesn't need a vent, the dryer does shoot hot air out the front of it, so it's nice to have it in a room you can shut off, such as the bathroom, so your apartment doesn't overheat in the summertime.
view McGowan_Boston's profile
is the all in one also 24 inches wide or smaller? what brands offer an all in one? i currently have a regular stackable w/ no vent in my bathroom and it fills the entire room w/ lint.
view DianaRead's profile
DianaRead,
LG has a combo unit that measures under 24". I just picked one up off of craigslist after someone else here suggested them.
http://www.lgwasherdryer.com/combos/wm3431hw.htm
view minty03's profile
got it and love it
view iaintgoingthere's profile
I just stayed with a friend in Oxford and used their ventless dryer... it took all day to dry four loads of towels and sheets. But, they didn't have to try to knock a hole in the stone walls of their Beaumont Street row house.
view queenofthehighway's profile
I had in while living in London too...not bad in a pinch, but as others have mentioned, it took forever to dry a load, which can't be all that energy efficient. Plus, the main drawback to having a 2-in-1, should either function decide to break down, you're stuck without the other function too.
Good solution for tight spaces though.
view onephatcow's profile