Category Archives: Features

What Is a Ventless Dryer?

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A ventless dryer is similar to a conventional dryer, except that it does not require connecting it to a tube and venting the air outdoors. Rather, this type of appliance is able to dry your clothes using advanced condensation technologies. By heating the water remaining in the clothes, it turns into steam. The steam is released from the drum into a condenser. Within the condenser, the air is cooled so the steam turns back into water. The water is then pumped out of the dryer, much like the used wash water from your wash machine, and down the same discharge drain. Stand-alone or stacked models require the special larger 220 volt dryer cord and outlet. If you select a combination washer dryer model, then it uses a standard 3-prong household outlet and no special dryer cord or outlet is needed.

The type of condensation technology used within the ventless dryer is based upon whether it is an individual appliance or a combination appliance. Individual appliances typically use air-to-air condensation to dry your clothes, while combo models use cold water condensation. Air-to-air drying use two different air masses that are kept from mixing. One air mass is used to remove the moisture from the clothes, and the other cools the air to release the water inside the condenser. With a combination model, the air is cooled with cold water, rather than a second air mass. Both methods fully dry your clothes by extracting moisture during the drying cycle. It should be mentioned, this kind of drying does require slightly more time per cycle. But, thanks to energy-efficient designs, your dryer uses less electricity than a conventional vented dryer, even though it runs longer.

How Does a Ventless LG Dryer Dry Clothes?

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LG offers two different dryer options for ventless drying. One option is found with their combination washer and dryer models. This single appliance not only dries your clothes using a condensing drying system, but also washes them. Drying cycles utilize cold water condensation technology by first using heat to draw moisture from the clothing, while recycling the hot air back into the drum. During this process, the moisture that is removed is cooled with cold water in a condenser so it turns back into water. The water is then drained through the same discharge hose used for the washing cycle to remove water from the appliance. This process repeats itself until your clothes are dried.

The other method used to dry clothes using a ventless LG dryer is air to air condensation drying. This method is typically found in both side-by-side and stackable stand-alone models. Drying cycles rely upon two different air circulation systems. One is for drying the clothes, while the other is for cooling heated air and releasing moisture by turning it back into water. The two air circulation systems are separate so the heated air and the cooled air never actually mix together. Rather, the heated air is recycled back through the drum to continue to remove moisture, and then cycled through a heat exchanger or condenser. At the same time, cooler air is drawn in from the room and cycled through a different section of the condenser. As the air is cooled in the condenser, it turns into water, where it is removed from the dryer by pumping it out of the appliance down a discharge drain.

Include a Stacked Washer and Ventless Dryer in Your Floor Plans

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Incorporating in-home laundry into new building plans is a challenge, when working with conventional laundry pairs. Part of the problem stems from having to satisfy building codes and regulations, in regards to dryer venting. Vents are limited in length, or have to be connected to an expensive central chase. Further, there are additional restrictions for running venting around corners. Other issues with venting include the buildup of lint over time and increasing fire hazard risks. As a result, property insurance premiums are often higher in newer buildings with dryer venting.

One way to help eliminate the additional costs associated with including in-home laundry, as well as maintaining control over your floor plans, is to use a stacked LG washer and ventless dryer, or a combination model. Both options eliminate installing dryer venting, because the dryers utilize ventless drying technologies. You are free to decide on the exact location of the laundry room and are not limited to the common 12 foot requirement with conventional dryers. The laundry room could be in the middle of the floor plan, or in locations where it does not reduce the space of other rooms in the home.

There are some basic connections required, whether you decide on a stacked washer dryer or a combination unit. Washers and ventless dryers do need access to a discharge drain. The washer also has to be connected to hot and cold water supply lines. Stacked models require access to a 220V outlet and special plug. Combination units and washers need access to a standard 110V three prong outlet. Fortunately, all of these connections are not expensive to include in your floor plans.

Offer Tenants In-Unit LG Washer and Dryer Appliances

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There are clear advantages to offering your tenants in-unit laundry, over providing a shared laundry facility onsite at your apartments. First, you are able to increase your rental rates to offset the costs associated with supplying individual LG washer and dryer appliances in each of your units. The rate increase also makes up for any money you were previously earning from the shared facilities. In addition, you reduce the amount of maintenance and repairs needed to keep shared laundry facilities operational, because fewer loads are being run through each of your appliances.

Another advantage is being able to attract new potential renters. Apartment communities which include in-unit laundry as part of their amenities have an easier time maintaining occupancy rates and filling available units. Further, your existing tenants are more likely to renew their leases and remain residents of your community, because they like that you are providing them with the amenities they desire.

When selecting the LG washer and dryer models to install in your units, you have several options. If your complex is older, or was built without washer and dryer connections, you do not have to worry about this added expense. LG offers a washer dryer combo that is able to be converted into a portable appliance. Once converted, your tenants can easily connect it to their kitchen sink and plug it into a regular 3-prong outlet. The dryer does not require a separate vent, as it relies upon ventless drying technologies.

If you have laundry connections, or the available space, other options are stackables and side-by-sides. These are separate washers and dryers that can either be placed on top of one another, or set next to each other. The only connections required for stackables and side-by-sides are special dryer plugs, access to hot and cold water supplies, and discharge drains. Again, no dryer venting is necessary, as the LG dryers use ventless drying technologies.

Reduce Your Water and Electricity Bills with a Washer and Dryer Combo

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Reduce Your Water and Electricity Bills with a Washer and Dryer Combo

When you are looking for a way to cut back on the amount of electricity and water required to complete laundry in your home, you are able to find energy-efficient options on the market today. One widely popular option used in several countries around the world is a washer and dryer combo. This new style of laundry appliance combines both the washing and drying features into a single space-saving design. Not only are you able to free up extra space in your home, you also are able to cut down on the amount of water and electricity required to complete a load of laundry.

Exactly how much water and electricity can you save by switching to a washer and dryer combo? It depends upon how many loads you typically wash throughout the course of a year. However, regardless of your volume of laundry, this combination appliance only requires between 12 and 15 gallons of water for each wash cycle, compared to 30 gallons for a conventional front loader and the 40 to 60 gallons used by a conventional top loader. Because the washer is using less water, you also save money used to heat hot water for cycles where you use warm or hot water. In addition to these savings, you also reduce the amount of electricity required to dry a load of clothes. The combination unit uses 1.4 kilowatts of power per hour of drying, compared to the 5 or 6 kilowatts used by a conventional dryer.

For example, if you washed and dried 3 loads of clothes per week, that translates into 156 loads per year. The amount of water you could save is at least 2,340 gallons, upwards to 7,020 gallons, depending upon your current conventional washer. Your electricity savings for an hour and a half of drying time per cycle would amount to at least 842.4 kilowatt hours. This does not include the added savings you gained from reducing the electricity costs to heat water for warm and hot cycles.

Increase Occupancy Rates by Adding Washer and Dryer Sets to Your Apartments

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Increase Occupancy Rates by Adding Washer and Dryer Sets to Your Apartments

When you take over the management of an apartment community, one of your first tasks should be to evaluate your occupancy rates and rate of turnover. If you discover many people are not renewing their leases, you have to determine the cause of this problem and take action to remedy the issue. One common reason for people not renewing their leases is due to the number of current onsite amenities offered. Any time there is a limited amount, and your tenants are able to find many more from a competitor, they often move to the new community.

For example, if you do not currently provide in-home laundry and only have onsite laundry rooms, this could be an issue. People do not like taking time out of their busy schedules to sit in a laundry room doing multiple loads all at once. Instead, they like the flexibility of being able to do laundry at home whenever they have a little free time. By adding washer and dryer sets to your apartment units, you are often able to attract new renters, as well as increase the number of lease renewals from your existing tenants.

Another benefit to adding washer and dryer sets in your units is the ability to increase your rental rates. Most people do not mind paying a bit more monthly to have the convenience to do laundry in their own homes. Installing new sets does not have to involve major construction costs. LG offers several different solutions, including stackable and combination models which have ventless drying systems.

When Looking at a New Washer Dryer Combo There Are a Few Things You Need to Know

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When Looking at a New Washer Dryer Combo There Are a Few Things You Need to Know

There are several things you need to be aware of when you are considering purchasing a washer dryer combo. This all-in-one appliance is already popular in other places around the world, including the United Kingdom. Due to its simple installation, size, and portability, it is able to be used in just about any location in the home, even if you do not have a separate laundry room. Some people install them in their kitchen under their countertop, just like their dishwasher. Other people add a wheel kit and kitchen sink adapter kit and roll the appliance right up to the sink any time they need to do laundry. The rest of the time, they store their appliance in a closet or corner out of the way.

The only connection required with a washer dryer combo is access to hot and cold water lines and a drain. If you already have an existing washer connection, you are able to use these with your all-in-one appliance. On the other hand, it not that expensive to plumb new lines by accessing existing water lines already in your house or using a kitchen sink adapter kit. Clothes are dried using ventless dryer connections which means you do not have to worry about installing a vent like you would with a conventional dryer. In addition, there are no special plugs required, as the appliance has a standard 3-prong plug.

Using your combination unit does require adjusting the way you do laundry. Because both the washing and drying cycles are completed in the same appliance, the amount of time per cycle averages around 2 ½ hours. Instead of attempting to do all of your laundry in a single day, it is better to spread it out over the course of several days.