The Thor Original Combination Washer/Dryer Unit washes and dries your clothing all in one drum. That's right -- you'll never need to move wet clothes from the washer to the dryer again. Thanks to the availability of similar all-in-one units in retail stores, Thor's 15-year old original specialty model is once again garnering some attention. A popular product in large urban centers such as New York and San Francisco, Thor's combo unit has commanded a small, little known portion of this niche market for a number of years. Sold primarily on-line, Thor Original is a rugged, little machine with a durable stainless-steel tub that both washes and dries.

A combination model, it utilizes condensation drying, which unlike a typical dryer requires no venting. This feature makes it ideal for use in apartments where ventilation is impossible. Like many ideal solutions, this one comes with a less than ideal trade off. Drying time is extremely long. While a load of wash progresses quite quickly, drying laundry in this model can take 2 hours, and for larger loads as long as 3 hours. Even then heavy items may still remain damp. Thor's loyal fans tolerate this inconvenience by planning ahead. Often they load their laundry into the machine in the morning and return at the end of the workday to a clean and dry load.

Incredibly efficient, this model has an Energy Star rating and uses a maximum of just 14.6 gallons per wash load and an additional 2.9 gallons of water in the condensation process required for the dry cycle. An excellent solution for homes where space is at a premium, this model will often fit in a closet and can rely on a faucet for a water source. Thor offers a fairly limited, regional service network, so check on the availability of repair personnel in your area before purchase.


Pros: Wash and dry in one unit, requires no venting, Energy Star rating, can use faucet as water source
Cons: Extremely long drying times

Warranty
1 year