Excellent Solution If You Want A Washer/Dryer That Overcomes Space/Drainage/Venting Issues
Written: Nov 07 '01 (Updated Dec 08 '04)
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Pros: Extremely efficient and effective. Well constructed. Saves space. No venting needed for dryer.
Cons: Longer wash/dry cycle than standard U.S. washers but in keeping with European models.
The Bottom Line: An excellent quality product that works well and in places most laundry systems can't.
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| mithril's Full Review: Equator EZ 3600 CEE Front Load All-in-One Washer /... |
It is now over 2 years since I purchased the Equator EZ3600CEE from a local dealer. I still love the machine and highly recommend it to anyone who faces issues that prevent installation of a full size washer and dryer.
I recently had my first problem with the unit but fortunately it was a minor problem and was covered under the extended warranty. The Equator was gradually taking longer and longer to fully dry a load. The local dealer quickly resolved the problem by removing lint that was preventing the fan from correctly circulating air during the dry cycle. With the fan cleared by the service technician, the dryer now operates better than ever. No parts or other service were needed. These are tough machines, well-made.
The problem I had was probably caused by using too much laundry detergent early on in the life of the machine. It takes a while to truly believe that you only need a couple tablespoons of high efficiency detergent to clean your clothes.
I've read other reviews and seen some of the complaints people have had about the Equator and must say I'm a bit mystified. I've had no other problems with the quality of the machine or its operation. I will say that I purchased the Equator locally from a family-run authorized dealer that also provides service. I would not buy any appliance without knowing that service is locally available, just out of prudence.
Having already owned stackables, I consider this a better space-saving alternative. As a matter of fact, I would even consider having two of these units side by side instead of more traditional machines if I had the space.
The load size washed and dried by the EZ3600CEE is a bit smaller than most of us in the U.S. are accustomed to. However, it is, according to the manufacturer, the largest European size available and is not much smaller than many stackables.
A typical load this machine can handle is a queen sheet set with pillow cases. Or three pairs of pants, three shirts, a bunch of socks and some underwear. We're talking about half the size of a large capacity U.S. machine. I wouldn't try to do a family of four's weekly laundry in one load but this is no toy either. If you don't have kids this machine is all you need. If you do have kids, get two of them and you'll have no problem at all.
In terms of energy costs, doing clothes, towels, and linens for two people, my electric bill has gone up around $10 per month, less than I was paying in quarters for the pay machine down the hall.
The Equator is really easy to use. Put detergent, fabric softener, and bleach into the appropriate bins in a pull out drawer. Dial up the water temperature, wash cycle, and dry cycle (if you don't want to dry clothes just leave dryer set off). Then push the on button and the processor does the rest, adding your soap and wash chemicals to the clothes as appropriate. You just come back later when the clothes are dry. You can use the machine as just a dryer or just a washer as well.
The dryer feature takes a bit longer than a standard U.S. dryer but I find it much better than my old 110v stackable unit. I owned a Kenmore 110v unit in another apartment that used to take 2 hours just to dry jeans and was basically a blow dryer attached to a drum. This is a much more sophisticated machine. The Equator actually heats the stainless steel drum with hot air AND removes the moisture via condensation. For a 110v machine, the EZ3600CEE seems to be a surprisingly strong dryer yet is very inexpensive to operate. Most full loads dry in around 90-120 minutes. This, combined with a longer wash cycle (typical of European machines) may make it seem slow to some people. But you just set it and forget it because there's no moving clothes from the washer to the dryer. And clothes come out very clean.
I've seen other reviews with complaints regarding vibration, noise, etc. and can only say that I've not noticed anything like this with my machine.
My machine is installed on a tile floor over concrete subflooring and has no vibration or noise issues. Equator doesn't recommend installation on a wooden floor or on marble tile.
The manufacturer recommends you use fabric softener to reduce wrinkles from the result of the high-speed spin and hot dryer tub. By following their advice I've had no problem with wrinkling of clothes so long as I don't try to overload the machine.
If you sit right next to the unit, the high-speed spin cycle can be noisy -- as with all washing machines. Also, when drying, the pump makes a dishwasher-loading-water type sound when the pump kicks in to drain water extracted from your wet clothes. None of this is offensive or unusual but this is a washing machine and dryer and therefore will not be as quiet as a fine dishwasher.
One of the reviews I read mentioned cutting the rubber seal of the machine. I would probably not do this as it may void your warranty and effectively defeats the entire purpose of a sealed unit condensing dryer
Here are the primary reasons I chose this product:
1. Space efficient: I wanted a washer/dryer and only had a pantry closet to put it in. I could have chosen stackables but would have lost the entire closet space for storage uses and there was the problem of venting - - see below.
2. No venting needed for the dryer: As I am in an apartment building and was installing into a pantry closet in an interior kitchen the dryer could not be vented outside. I used condensing dryers when I lived in Switzerland so knew alternatives existed that didn't require venting. These are much more common in Europe than in the U.S. and they are a mature, successful technology. The dryer in the Equator unit pumps the water from the laundry down the drain. The unit is sealed. If I had used a typical American dryer, hot lint-filled air would be flowing into my kitchen and I'd be regularly emptying lint from a nasty water bucket. It is almost ridiculous that this is the only alternative to external venting offered by most American manufacturers!
3. Low Water and Soap Use and Output: Other people in my building have had problems with their drains as American washing machines tend to use a great deal of water and create lots of suds. This machine is extremely water efficient and uses only a few TABLESPOONS(!) of high efficiency soap per cycle (like most front loaders) so it doesn't overburden apartment drains any more than a dishwasher would. The Equator is so efficient that you should not add soap to your first few loads as your clothes will release the laundry detergent still trapped in them from normal washing machines.
4. 110v Electrical Service: I didn't need to install a 220v outlet as the Equator is so miserly it uses regular household current. This thing costs almost nothing to run.
Overall, I can't say enough good things about the Equator. It is solid, strong, and seems well constructed. It is holding up well with regular use of over 2 years and, after resolving the dryer fan lint problem last month, it still works like brand new. With a five year extended warranty from my dealer the cost came to about $1200. This may seem expensive until you price others. It is a bargain considering a Bosch washer alone can run $1500 without the extended warranty.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $1000
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Epinions.com ID:
mithril
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Location: Hollywood, FL USA
Reviews written: 33
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
I was raised a 20th century American consumer.
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