Hi Dave,
We are experienced Camp Hosts volunteering on the beautiful Northern West Coast. This is our 10th season and we are growing tired of constant treks to the local laundromat, so we’re researching adding a washer/dryer combo. Our Arctic Fox 5th wheel is fully plumbed for the addition.
My question has to do with any +/- on a ventless option. We’ve found one we like but it only comes ventless. We have a ventless stackable at home (Miele), which operates flawlessly. LG makes a similar model in combo with a large drum and ventless condensing drying. In our 5th wheel, the unit has to be installed in one end of the closet, facing into the closet not to the bedroom, which is ok for us.
So, what’s your view of ventless, considering the new ventless condensing technology? Do we run the risk of high heat in the bedroom or other issues we aren’t thinking of? The model we are looking at is: WM3555HVA LG. Any help is appreciated, and thanks for your continued good advice, Dave! —Kevin, 2018 Northwood Arctic Fox 295T
Hi Kevin,
My first encounter with a washer/dryer combo was years ago at Winnebago with the Splendide model out of Sweden. It was ventless and the moist air came out of the front and created a sauna inside the rig. It took a lot of water, hours to dry, and did a very small amount of clothes.
Updated models vented to outside
Then models came out that were vented to the outside. Although the drying was better, they still did a small amount of clothes requiring much power and water.
I have always been a fan of the laundromat at campgrounds as I meet the most fantastic people there. However, I have not been RVing much for several years so things have changed and so has technology.
Research on the LG washer/dryer combo
With that, I did some research on the LG model you listed and found some interesting information and reviews.
First, the LG model WM3555HVA is available on Amazon here. It is a front-loading washer and dryer combo, all in one, and takes up less room than the stackable models. The moist air coming out of the dryer actually goes out the drain tube and into the gray water tank, so there is less moisture inside the coach. It is listed as 161 lbs., which is a little heavy, in my opinion. But it runs on 120-volt power so you don’t have to rewire your existing setup.
Reviews on Amazon site
On the Amazon site, most of the reviews were favorable with 59% being 5 star. Here are some of the comments:
“We live in a 5th wheel toy hauler, so space is very limited. This machine fits perfectly in the space we have for it in our garage. This machine is not vented, so when it’s drying, the ‘vented’ goes down the drain to the gray tank, and the lint is collected around the door and seal, which makes it easy to clean.”
“Things to know is that with a unvented combo unit, your clothes are supposed to be slightly damp, take them out and give them a shake, this does 2 things: instantly dries and gets the wrinkles out. It does take about 3 or 4 hours to do a load of laundry, that is from start to finish. So yes, it does take a bit longer, but you don’t have to remember to swap machines.”
Comments on washer/dryer combo
Several reviews commented that it is great for an RV. The only complaints were damage upon delivery and no instruction manual. I also searched several RV forums and found most of the comments recommended not using a ventless model, whether it was LG, Splendide, or other models. From what I have found, you can find just about the same number of comments for and against, so you have to take them with a grain of salt. As an old politician once said, “I feel strongly both ways!”
In my RV Buyers Seminar we discuss the pros and cons of a washer/dryer. Very few attendees that currently have an RV and are looking to upgrade have a washer/dryer, and are not looking to add one in their new unit. However, most of them are not boondocking or dry camping, so it would not be something they have to have.
One last suggestion: Make sure it will fit through the entrance door before purchasing it.
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Portable washing machine saves weight for RV. YUP.
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We installed this model last year (it was our Christmas present to ourselves) in our 2018 Georgetown XL and used it for 4 months while on our winter travels. We love it. The instruction booklet is extensive and it took some experimentation to settle on the wash/dry combo that worked for us, but it takes about 3 hours per load. We do 2-3 loads per week for the 2 of us and not having to lug laundry to the campground laundromat, find quarters, or install yet another app on my phone to pay the machines is great. We experienced no heat build up or excess moisture as the “venting” down the drain works great. Yes, the clothes feel slightly damp when you take them out – but said above, a quick shake and they are dry.
One caveat – we did reinforce the floor in the closet where it was installed as it is quite heavy and the spin cycle is fierce.
Claudia, you mentioned that the spin cycle was fierce, thats a great word & one that also describes our combo W/D in Forest River 34QS. The units are whirlpool & the first time we used them they actually separated from each other & shook the M/H violently. Dealer said it was normal (?). We wound up putting some heavy duty foam between the units. But we never liked them as it took way to long to do a load! Actually we only used them for our 8 week Alaska trip.
Snoopy
We had a separate washer and dryer for the first four years fulltiming in our current Fifth. Two separate spaces were created in each side of the closet which takes up the cap. They were Splendide brands. Washer was a gem and never had a problem. Dryer would crap out every year and be fixed under warranty. Got tired of that so researched washer/dryer combos two years ago and settled on a vented Splendide model. Since it was put on the side of the closet with the water connections a vent had to be cut. Filled in the old vent on the other side but left outside vent cover. LOVE IT!!! Throw in a load in the evening while eating dinner and watching tv. Put away before bedtime. It holds more clothes than I thought it might as the combo units are usually smaller. To offset the weight now being on only one side of closet, had dining room table, which we replaced, cut up to make a small bookcase and used the rest of the space for storage of seasonal things like electric heater.
When we had our motorhome it was set up for a washer and dryer, after researching we decided on the Splendide washer and separate dryer. The combination units took an unusually long time to do a load of clothes and very small amount of clothes. After purchase and installing DW had to test them out, the advantages of the separate units are washing one load and drying another. We found this extremely beneficial, as stated in the article 4 hrs per load, we could do 3 loads in that time. Personally I wouldn’t want to be tied down to a washer/dryer that long for one load or clothes. It’s just our personal preference but I wouldn’t have the combo units, plus I’ve heard that the combo units don’t clean as well.
I installed a vented Splendide Combo in a Winnebago Journey we had. We went vented since I had read a lot of reviews on non-vented regarding moisture in the coach and excessive run times. It worked great, but it takes longer for a load.
Our current RV came with a stacked W/D. We love it and would only have a Combo unit again if space was really at a premium.
Hard to believe a “damp” pair of jeans just requires a shake and then they are “instantly” dry! If that were true I’d just select the super spin cycle on the washer and never use a dryer!
Back in the day I sold appliances and we sold quite a few of condenser dryers. Not too many people were happy. They take a lot of water. The condenser part of the dryer is, spray a mist of cold water into the dryer to CONDENSE the steam. First of all, will you have room in the gray tank. Will you have enough water for the dryer, and last but not least, do you have COLD ENOUGH WATER to condense steam. When in Quartzsite I measured water coming out of the ground at 107°. In Yuma my wife ruined a bunch of clothes at a laundromat washing in COLD water. No such thing in the desert.