I don't know about you, but I've always been fascinated by a Quest.
History has plenty: The space race to the Moon in the 60's. The search for the head of the Nile in the 19th Century. The races to the North and South poles (Was Peary really the first to reach the North Pole, or was it Cook? We may never know.)
https://time.com/6294794/robert-peary-frederick-cook-north-pole-feud/
Quests of all kinds continue today. Think of the race between corporations trying to be the first to develop and market the latest advances in cellphone technology, or the constant struggle by so many manufacturers to make products that are greener and more energy efficient, or the constantly awe-inspiring advances in medicine and surgery that prolong our lives.
Now, there are some areas in which I wish there was some sort of quest, or race: Can't we find a way to make airline travel less uncomfortable? Can't we find a pill that lets us lose weight instantly without side effects or repercussions? Can't anyone make canned chili that actually tastes like real chili?
In my business, one such elusive quest has been in the laundry category: The All-in-one washer/dryer.
Why hasn't anyone been able to produce a unit that:
- Cleans and dries clothes properly,
- Doesn't take four hours to finish one load,
- Has the large capacity we have come to expect and demand from our washers,
- Is energy efficient,
- Can be used in different settings?
So far, no manufacturer has been up to conquering all these bullet points.
The biggest challenges have been:
- Shortening the cycle times. Most combos take 3-4 hours to complete a load.
- Small capacity. Most of the reliable all-in-ones are from European based manufacturers, and are made for the generally more compact kitchens that are the norm across the pond
Just how small are Euro-washers? Typically, they are the size of a modern dishwasher (34" tall, 24" wide and deep.) Dishwasher sized washers and dryers have been a hard-sell here in the U.S.
Well, up to the plate comes GE!
Earlier this year they launched a full sized unit that addresses all the challenges mentioned above.
- Cycle time has been reduced to approximately two hours, which is consistent with what one expects from todays washers.
- At 4.8 cubic feet, GE has given the public a washer that is actually larger than average sized - even for today's oversized units!
- Like all good front-loading machines, large loads of clothes come out clean. By using a condenser coil, GE can dry that large load much faster than other combo units. And the most amazing part of this: The clothes actually get dry on a standard 110v plug! There is simply no other machine that can offer a fast drying time without a dedicated 30 amp outlet.
- By using heat pump technology, GE is able to significantly reduce energy consumption on the drying side. In fact, some utility companies offer rebates on heat pump dryers (and I suspect more will follow.)
- Design adaptability. To me, this is one of the unit's coolest aspects adaptability! Because it runs on a standard 115v circuit, and because it does not need to be vented, this machine can be placed in a variety of places throughout the house!
I spoke briefly with Scott, one of our service techs, about the quality of this new product. Scott was exuberant about the internal construction, and believes that these combos will prove to perform reliably. (Most people don't realize that for an appliance repairman to actually "like" an appliance is a rare event, possibly because they spend all day fixing broken appliances.)
GE is excited about this breakthrough appliance, and so are we at Manny's. We feel this unit will be the right go-to solution for a lot of unusual applications.
Now, back to the canned chili problem...