Most people think about buying a new dryer machine when they move into new accommodation and need to install a drying appliance for the first time. One of the most frequent questions that gets asked is whether I should buy a separate drying appliance or should I go for a washer dryer combo. When making a choice on which machine to go for it is important to do some prior research so that you get the best machine for the job.

Many of the separate drying machines are a lot bigger than their combination counterparts. Most separate units have a drum capacity of around 5 to 7 cubic feet whereas most compact models have about 3 cubic feet of capacity. Compact models are especially useful where space is of a premium such as in cottages, apartments or even a boat.

Although most drying machines that you find in the stores are powered by electricity it is actually possible to find some that are powered by gas. These are economical to run and can often turn out to be cost effective over the longer term.

When going in a store to look at the machines it can be quite daunting. There are many manufacturers to choose from such as Maytag, Kenmore, GE and Whirlpool. I have found that a particularly useful exercise to do initially, before venturing in these stores, is perform an online search for the different makes on sites such as Amazon. These will give a list of features that you can make a note of but will also give customer reviews which are an invaluable source of real feedback. One important point to make though, is that it is vital to measure the space where the machine is going to fit before searching and looking in stores.

If your family is large then you'll probably need to buy a full-size appliance which are usually around 28 inches wide. If the space is a lot smaller than this then it might be worth considering buying a mini drying machine or a mini washer dryer combo appliance.

One of the decisions you will have to make when purchasing a machine is whether to go for a vented or non vented model. With a non vented or ventless model the hot, damp air is removed from the clothes and passed through a condenser. This produces water which collects in the machine and has to be emptied regularly. Conversely, a vented model passes this air through a pipe and out into the open air. You will, therefore, need access through a window or wall for one of these types.

Vented appliances tend to be a lot cheaper than the condenser models but they do have the problem of needing a way of connecting to the outside world. A ventless, condenser machine has the advantage in that it can be installed anywhere within the house. A good quality drying machine should not leak out steam into the room.

When making a decision on a machine the two biggest choices are whether to go for a separate or combination machine or whether to go vented or ventless. Overall you will achieve the same outcome with both machines although the combination machine can often take a little longer to do the drying job.