For many Northern Ireland homes, yes, a washer dryer is a sensible buy. It washes and dries in one machine, so it suits flats, small kitchens and anyone without room for two appliances, especially if you only need to dry now and then when the weather won't play ball. If you dry most loads every day, a separate washing machine and heat pump tumble dryer will usually serve you better. And yes, it is normal for a washer dryer to get warm while drying. The machine is heating your laundry, so the door glass and parts of the casing can feel warm during the cycle and for a while afterwards. Let the cool-down finish before you open the door, keep little hands away from the glass and don't block the airflow around the machine. If you notice heat that seems unusual, a burning smell or a tripped fuse, stop the machine and give us a call.
Who does a washer dryer suit?
A washer dryer earns its place where space is tight. It takes up the same footprint as an ordinary washing machine, but saves you finding room for a second appliance or a stack of airers in the living room through the winter.
It tends to suit:
- Flats and apartments, where there is one laundry space under the worktop and no utility room.
- Small kitchens, including fitted kitchens where an integrated model can sit behind a matching door.
- Couples and smaller households who wash a few times a week and dry some of it.
- Occasional drying: towels, bedding and the school uniform you need for the morning, when it is too damp to hang anything outside.
You can browse our full range of washer dryers to compare sizes and prices side by side.
When is a separate washer and dryer the better choice?
A washer dryer can only do one job at a time. While it is drying, it can't be washing, so a big family with a constant stream of laundry can find it holds them up.
A separate washing machine and heat pump tumble dryer is usually the better route if you:
- Dry most loads, most days.
- Have a large family or a lot of sports kit and work clothes.
- Want to wash and dry full loads at once, back to back.
- Have room for two machines, side by side or stacked with the right kit.
If that sounds like your house, our heat pump dryer buying guide explains what to look for.
How do you get the best from a washer dryer?
A few simple habits make a real difference to how well your clothes dry and how long the machine lasts.
- Dry about half the wash load. The drying capacity is smaller than the washing capacity. An 8kg/5kg machine, for example, washes up to 8kg but dries up to 5kg. If you wash a full drum, take some out before you dry, or dry it in two goes.
- Leave space around the machine. Follow the gaps the manual asks for, and don't pack boxes, baskets or towels tight against it. It needs to move air to dry well.
- Clean the filters. Check the manual for where your model's filters are and how often to clean them. Fluff build-up makes drying slower.
- Wipe the door seal. Fluff, hair and the odd tissue collect in the folds. A quick wipe after use keeps the seal working and the drum fresh.
- Let the cool-down finish. Most drying programmes end with a cooling phase. Wait for it, and your clothes will come out cooler, with fewer creases.
- Sort by fabric. Dry heavy towels separately from light shirts so everything finishes at the same time.
Is it normal for a washer dryer to get hot when drying?
Yes. We were asked this recently, and it is a question plenty of people search for. A washer dryer heats your laundry to dry it, so you can expect the door glass and parts of the casing to feel warm during a drying cycle and for a little while after it ends. That is normal.
A few sensible safety pointers:
- Keep small children away from the door glass while the machine is drying and just after.
- Don't block the airflow. Keep the area around the machine clear, and never cover it while it is running.
- Wait for the cool-down before you open the door and unload.
Every model is slightly different, and the user manual sets out what is normal for yours. If anything seems out of the ordinary, such as unusual heat, a burning smell or a tripped fuse, stop the machine, switch it off at the wall and call us. We are happy to help.
Which washer dryers do we recommend?
Here are five in-stock washer dryers that cover most homes and budgets:
- Indesit IDMA75624MYTIME 7kg/5kg 1400 Spin Washer Dryer, £309. A good starting point for a flat or a smaller household that wants occasional drying.
- Hoover HGWD 485S8C-80 8kg/5kg 1400 Spin Washer Dryer, £349.99. A bit more washing room for couples and small families.
- Hotpoint BIWDHG961485 9kg/6kg 1400 Spin Integrated Washer Dryer, £449.99. Made to sit behind a kitchen door, so it suits fitted kitchens where you want a tidy finish.
- Schönhaus WDSF0110614AW 10kg/6kg Washer Dryer, £499.99. A large 10kg drum for bigger washes and bedding.
- Samsung WD90HG5U34BEEU 9kg/6kg 1400 Spin Washer Dryer, £679.99. A 9kg wash and 6kg dry for families who want plenty of drying space in one machine.
Black Friday is a good time to look. The Samsung VAT cashback offer and Miele laundry promotions run until 1 December. See Samsung washer dryers, the Miele range and all our Black Friday deals.
If you'd like to see the machines and talk them through, call into our shops in Banbridge and Portadown. We offer delivery and installation across Northern Ireland, and you can also order online and use Click & Collect.
Prices correct at 14 November 2026.
Questions people ask
Is it normal for a washer dryer to get hot when drying?
Yes. The machine heats your laundry to dry it, so the door glass and parts of the casing can feel warm during a drying cycle and for a while afterwards. Your user manual sets out what is normal for your model.
How much can I dry in a washer dryer?
Less than you can wash. As a rule, dry about half the wash load, or follow the drying capacity on the machine. An 8kg/5kg model, for example, dries up to 5kg.
Should I open a washer dryer straight after drying?
It is best to let the cool-down phase finish first. Your clothes come out cooler and less creased, and the door glass has time to cool.
Is a washer dryer or a separate washer and dryer better?
A washer dryer suits smaller homes and occasional drying. If you dry most loads every day or have a large family, a separate washing machine and heat pump tumble dryer is usually better.
What should I do if my washer dryer smells of burning?
Stop the machine, switch it off at the wall and get in touch with us or the manufacturer. Unusual heat, a burning smell or a tripped fuse should always be checked.
