The new WashTower heat pump will allow
flexibility with a new ventless design, it may also have problems.
You may have watched the new LG Wash
Tower review based on the four WashTower models.
At that time, the WKHC202HBA was just made available.
The unit is so much different than
the other WashTowers that it deserves its own video.
You'll learn the best features of this
model with a particular focus on the drying capability.
Two immediate takeaways from this video:
you can now place a full size wash and dryer anywhere in your home,
and heat pump drying is what everyone will buy within the next 5 to 10 years.
We'll compare LG to the popular
Miele and Bosch heat pump models and also a new prototype.
Heat pumps are the newest, most efficient way to dry your clothes.
Any heat pump uses an air exchanger
The cold air enters one side, releasing moisture from your clothes.
The compressor
pumps the air through the hotter side and is released back into the drum.
Heat pumps continuously recycle air.
Quick tip, the water stays and empties in the front of the machine.
However, you can plumb it through the washer.
Energy savings is the main benefit.
You may not know this,
but your electric dryer is one of your house's most costly appliances.
Then again, a traditional electric dryer is the equivalent of a giant hairdryer.
With the cost of electricity these days, a heat pump will save you considerably.
This heat pump only uses five amp versus 30 for a regular dryer.
Heat pumps operate at lower temperatures,
so they're gentle on your clothes than a traditional electric dryer.
You can now place a wash tower anywhere you have water and power.
Kids leave for college?
Their closet can now be your new upstairs laundry.
By the way, did you know you have to call someone to clean your duct?
Lint is flammable.
Not that house fires from dryers are that common.
Putting a list of things to do today, come to think of it, I have to clean mine.
Heat pumps are the standard in Europe.
But Europeans use the smaller compact laundry,
the larger sizes are less proven.
So as you're watching this,
know that you'll be one of the first with a larger heat pump.
They also work at lower temperatures.
Gentle on your clothes, but you'll spend more time drying.
We'll test this in the next few weeks,
but the average time varies between 30 to 60 extra minutes.
But don't confuse this with the current combo washer and dryer all in one.
A combo washer and dryer can be up to six and a half hours.
However, combos are also changing soon, as you'll discover later in the video.
Dryers are generally reliable because
that extra large hair dryer, blower-like element actually works.
You only have a few parts in the dryer.
However, heat pumps add an exchanger and a compressor as well.
If you're replacing gas, you must still run the 240 volt line and outlet.
For that, you have to find that ever elusive electrician.
You also have to clean your lint filter.
However, in a heat pump, you also have to keep the air exchanger clean.
You see that little door at the bottom? It's not a big deal.
Just open it and clean any lint or pet dander.
All the WashTowers solve some fundamental problems.
The one-piece design is more streamlined.
It's 74 and 3/8 inches vs stacking two pieces around 80.
Controls are also in the middle, which is incredibly helpful
vs reaching over 6 feet for traditional laundry.
The LG WashTowers design also makes sense.
You don't sacrifice capacity of many features as you'll see later in the video.
LG has the shallowest washer and dryers in only 30 and 1/16 inches deep.
That's over an inch and a half shallower
than the next shallowest brand, so you can place it in tighter spaces.
Reliability is the most crucial consideration in buying laundry.
You want a reliable machine because
the average repair weight of 4 to 8 weeks translates to piles of unwashed clothes.
LG is again the most reliable laundry sold at Yale.
Their washers require just 1.9% service in the first year based
on 35,000 service calls completed by a service team just last year.
Compare that vs 5.4% for washers, 9.4% for appliances in total.
With reliability and size, the WashTower is a reasonable consideration.
The artificial intelligence direct driver,
AIDD, washers your clothes by determining weight and softness.
Uses 11,000 data points to assess the washer cycle, time, and motion.
The dryer will save up to 22% drying time
by sensing moisture and softness in the dryer.
The best part is you just hit a button without choosing any cycles and options.
The newer AIDD front-load washers
introduced in late 2022 incorporated an auto dispenser.
You'll learn a bit more about auto
dispensers later in the problems part of the video.
The Smart Learner remembers any of your favorite cycles you use.
So if you want to wash colors in hot
with a cold rinse, the machine will remember that cycle.
Not you should ever have the machine learn that cycle.
Smart Pairing intuitively sets the dryer based on the washer.
Once again, many LG, GE and Samsung have that feature.
Lastly, the WashTower is WiFi driven
and can be operated from your phone and even text you at the end of the cycle.
You also have customizable
cycles not available on any of the control boards of the machines.
GE, Whirlpool, and Samsung have similar functions.
GE has its washer communicating with its dryer through smart functions.
However, LG's AI functions are the most user-friendly and extensive.
Other cycles include turbo 360.
LG adds high pressure sprays to shorten any cycle to 30 minutes.
Many brands have a short cycle for small loads under 10 pounds.
The washer and dryer have steam.
The washer steam powers out tough stains
and the dryer steam refreshes and de wrinkles your clothes.
Have a favorite shirt?
Place it in a steam cycle to wear it out that night in about 10 minutes.
At $2,799 to $3,099, buy it before any major holiday for the lower price.
The wash tower is on the expensive side of a washer and dryer.
However, it's a reasonable price for the analyst heat pump.
Smaller Bosch is about the same price
while the Miele is $2,299 to $4,899 for a smaller machine.
The main missing feature is an automatic dispenser.
GE and Whirlpool now have a 32 and 40 load dispenser.
Just load it up, the machine dispenses
the right amount of detergent at the right time.
Many of LG's most popular washing machines have a 15 load dispenser.
You should also consider an auto dispenser
because it prevents using too much detergent.
You'll need a cap full at most.
Too much detergent causes over-sudsing.
The excess sud will create service problems later inside the machine.
Also, loading multiple loads is convenient.
However, the only washer with an automatic dispenser and a heat pump is a Miele.
This WashTower is shallow, however,
every one piece unit could have delivery issues, especially living in Boston.
It can't turn a one piece effectively on narrow landings like in a brownstone.
For two pieces, drivers can lift them over banisters.
We've performed free site checks if you
have a tight space and live in Massachusetts.
Let's compare the WashTower to all your options.
I want to focus on the ventless heat pump options.
Miele is a different type of machine.
It features a honeycomb drum,
so fabrics glide on a sheet of water for a more gentle wash.
You can also use caplets in a Miele, while you can't in an LG or Bosch.
Miele's wash RPM spin is the fastest
at 1,600 versus the still fast 1,300 for LG and 1,400 for Bosch.
Miele's twin dose automatic dispenser
dispensing the right amount of detergent and bleach at the right time is inspired.
However, you will have to spend $3,800 to $4,800 for that feature.
Bosch is similar to Miele in size.
It doesn't have the honeycomb drum or caplet dispenser.
However, the dryer is 220 volts and an upgrade from Miele's 110 volt dryers.
Bosch is also the most proven of the three with outstanding reliability.
The WashTower is much
larger 4.5 cubic feet vs 2.25 to 2.5 for the Miele & Bosch.
For a family of 4 to 5,
the WashTower is the same size as other regular front-loads.
Of course, size is a disadvantage if you can't place the wash tower in a 24 inch
closet or standard 24 inch kitchen cabinets.
So yes, beside the dispenser, the WashTower heat pump
is the new ventless standard, but only for the next 6 to 8 months.
Here's why.
New all in one washer and dryers have the features to obsolete
the WashTower and perhaps two-piece washers and dryers,
so you don't have to transfer your clothes from your washer to your dryer.ow
You have good capacity of 4.8 cubic foot in the 32 load auto dispenser.
Profile includes their antimicrobial micro band coatings as well.
It combines GE's best features,
adds the heat pump for more efficient, albeit slower drying.
The question is whether it will work.
Now that you've learned about the LG WashTower with
heat pump, check out this video about our most reliable
front load washers and thanks for watching.