Kenmore Elite 41003 All-In-One Washer/Dryer Review

From a distance, the Kenmore Elite 41003 looks like an ordinary, contemporary front-loading washing machine. The only visual cues that this appliance is both a washer and a dryer are in the control panel, which includes controls for both washing and drying. This particular appliance is available only in a metallic silver finish, but an identical model is available in white. The door is hinged on the left and cannot be reversed.

There are formidable engineering challenges to designing and building an appliance that washes and dries clothes in the same tub. One critical problem has been how to dry clothes in a chamber that is considerably smaller than what's found in conventional dryers. Another is how to dry clothes in an airtight/watertight chamber. The Kenmore Elite 41003 addresses these challenges by using a condensor. Heated air is cycled into the tub, turning the water retained by the clothing to vapor. That vapor cycles out of the tub and is run through a condensor, which cools the vapor and extracts the water. This process eliminates the need to vent the dryer externally, but it does lead to another engineering challenge, namely, how to heat the tub up hot enough to produce water vapor without degrading the rubber seals that keep these units from leaking when they're in wash mode. Through decades of experimentation, manufacturers developed seals that solve this problem. Some customers report smelling a "hot rubber" odor the first few times these machines are used, but that odor usually disappears after the machine has been broken in. Combination washer/dryers such as this one typically take a longer time to wash and dry clothes than it takes separate washers and dryers to do the same thing. This is one of the standard trade-offs that combination machines present. Consumers who are considering purchasing this combination unit should be aware of it. One advantage of this type of laundry machine, however, is that it runs on standard 110-volt current. This may save money on new installations since an electrician will not have to be hired to run a 220-volt line. In most other respects, this appliance works like a conventional washer and dryer. Kenmore has incorporated most of the modern control features that consumers have come to expect in laundry appliances, including xxxxxx

The warranty that's appended to the Sears page describing this unit provides one-year coverage on parts and labor. This is the minimum acceptable length of warranty for an appliance in this class. The Kenmore website, however, notes that in early 2018, Kenmore warranties were revised to include lifetime limited warranty coverage on washer drive motors and dryer tubs. It's not clear whether or how this new warranty applies to combination units such as this. Consumers are advised to study their warranty documents carefully to make sure they understand what terms apply. In any case, this appliance is heavily dependent on electronic control modules, which are often the first things to malfunction. These units are expensive to replace and will not be covered after one year. The warranty is transferable, which benefits people who are buying or selling a home with new appliances.