Laundry Nook

One of the big things we did when we put in the basement bathroom back in 2022 was to add a little nook for laundry machines at the back of the space.  The layout of the bathroom space was particularly tricky… since it was a storage/laundry room that also housed the electrical panel.  Since an electrical panel can’t be in the bathroom, we split the room in half and created a little nook for a stackable washer and dryer.  

Planning for the bathroom project can be found here and the reveal can be found here!  As progress went on, the laundry hall got some attention here.  Even though that was a while ago… we waited for the right machines to come along, and it turns out that’s just one laundry machine.

The GE UltraFast Washer/Dryer

With more than a few people in this house, it was imperative that the machines we got were the right ones for us.  Unfortunately, even though we put in space for full-size machines, what became clearer and clearer was how hard it would be to get two installed in this tricky nook.  There were a few that would fit with mere inches of clearance… but when GE released their All-In-One full size machine, my interest definitely perked up.

This machine is very nice!  It does the washing in the typical way, and with its detergent reservoir, I don’t have to measure each time I’m adding a load.  It’s an automatic process that releases the right amount for what I’ve selected for the type of load.  The drying functions use a heat pump to move heat into the drum, cycle the humid air through an evaporator and reheat the same air.  It’s effective!  And since the air is recycled through the evaporator, water vapor goes down the drain and there is no venting outside needed.  

​The Heat Pump

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of heat pumps.  It’s the basis for our HVAC system, and works very effectively to move heat from one space to another.  It’s basically a refrigerator in reverse: where a fridge is taking heat from inside and sending it out, this takes heat from outside the dryer and moves it in.  Like a refrigerator, it is very effective and changing the temperature inside, but doesn’t noticeably affect the surrounding air.

Because it’s using a heat pump instead of a heat coil with venting, lint capture is of huge importance.  This machine uses a two-stage filtration system to capture as much as possible.  It uses a screen filter like those normally found in dryers, then a sponge filter not unlike the ones I’ve had for aquariums.  It’s a decent system, but with our menagerie of humans and creatures, I do have a brush on hand to keep the coils clean if I notice debris getting beyond the filter.  Since it signals for a filter clean every five loads, I’ll double check all the filters at that time.  

Maintenance

I am trading a bit of time with this machine from changing laundry between two machines to keeping this one adequately maintained.  Keeping the filter clean has proved to be a fairly simple task, but I do wish I could get into the compartment a bit easier to clean the adjacent coil.  But I also recognize that I’m unique in my diligence at maintaining heat pump parts.  

The other piece of maintenance that I really appreciate is the drain filter.  Beyond the lint trap, there is a small drain pump filter at the bottom of the machine that can catch small items that typically would be pumped into the plumbing system.  The little filter helps us keep our plumbing clear, and just needs a quick rinse like the one on a dishwasher.  It does require a small container to catch water as it empties out, and keeping a towel on hand isn’t a bad idea either. 

Smart HQ

The part of this system that I was most skeptical of was the use of an on board app.  I’m definitely of the mind that I do not -and should not- need an app to run my major appliances.  But… I do like this one!  There are additional cycle programs I can add to the machine, and it already had a firmware update when I purchased.  Additional cycles include things like Air Fluff, Jeans, and Swim Wear.  All options that are good to have available.  

There are more day-to-day practical uses as well: I can set it to notify me when the wash cycle is done - to pull anything that should hang to dry.  I can also see exactly how much time is left on each load, and even add a wrinkle care spin if it’ll be a while before I remove the items.  

So far, this has taken me out of my comfort zone in some ways, and kept me in one in others.  I’m excited to see how this machine integrates fully into our lives, and to answer questions -and be open about criticism- as it comes!  Now I really do need to finish this little laundry hallway.