A:AnswerI have a new LG WM3997HWA and I love it. The ratings I have found on this unit have been 5 star and best in it's class. However, I have noticed that since it is ventless there are a couple things to consider. First the unit does become hot: hotter than a regular dryer, but you can still touch it without worry of burns and I have items stored on top without worry of damage: clothes and the owner's manual. The steam vent from this unit is in the back and although it is not excessive amounts of steam, you will get condensation on anything it is backed up to if it is too close....don't put it right up against a wall: give it at least 7 or 8 inches from objects in the back. I have mine sitting with it's side up against the wall with over a foot away from the furnace in the back. It does add a moist heat to the area around the machine, but I have not noticed an overall elevated uncomfortable heat within my home. I actually like the small amount of extra moisture in the area that the air conditioner takes from the house. Also, I have read that when you first use the machine it may leave a strange odor on the clothes that will eventually fade. I therefore used a washing machine cleaning tablet that can be bought at any grocery store and ran it through the machine prior to the first load. I use the free and clear detergents and have still noticed a very faint smell to the clothes which screams new machine: I assume this will fade in time. The smell is not bad or overpowering and I can imagine that if you use a scented detergent you will not notice it at all. I don't know how many reviews you have read but it is recommended to buy the pedestal for this unit....I have seen videos on youtube were loads are not properly dried and I noticed that none of those owners had the pedestal. The pedestal elevates the machine and allows for better drainage if your drain is high and with the pedestal I have had no problems at all. The clothes feel like they may be ever so slightly moist with the cycle is over, but if you shake the item it instantly feels dry...it's just the remaining steam in the clothes that deceives you. Overall I am glad I bought this machine. I hope this helps
A:AnswerAs to whether or not the LG - 4.3 Cu. Ft. 14-Cycle Washer and 8-Cycle Dryer Electric Combo, Model # WM3997HWA is sufficient for a family of 5 will depend on how frequently you do your laundry and on how big your loads are. Obviously a larger capacity allows you to do more laundry in less time since you are able to wash bigger loads. You may also want to consider getting a stand alone washer and dryer so that while washing one load you can dry another and do not have to stand around waiting for the machine to complete the wash cycle before you can dry. You will also want to keep in mind that in combo units such as the WM3997HWA, the wash capacity is twice that of the drying capacity, meaning that if you wash a full load, you would have to take out half of the load for drying...^IFV
A:AnswerHi Linlin.
Thank you for your inquiry.
You don't have to worry about venting with the LG 4.43 cubic foot 14-Cycle Washer and 8-Cycle Dryer Electric Combo, Model #WM3997HWA since it is ventless. As for the water hookups, you also have no issues since this machine is designed to be connected to the normal hot/cold faucets so you can use your old water faucets. What you will need to look into is how you're going to connect the drain to your existing drain. The drain must be installed in accordance with any
applicable local codes and regulations.
A sink is not a must, just as long as you allow sufficient space for water lines, the drain line, and airflow. The recommended installation clearances for this unit in a closet are that you should have a minimum of 1" on the sides and 4" in the rear. Just be sure to allow for wall, door, or floor moldings that may increase the required clearances.
Use new hoses when you install the washing machine. Do not reuse old hoses. Use only the
inlet hoses provided with the washer. LG does not recommend the use of aftermarket hoses. You may want to consult with a qualified plumber because the water supply pressure must be between 14.5 PSI and 142 PSI (100 – 980 kpa). If the water supply pressure is more than 142 PSI, a pressure reducing valve must be installed.
As for the safety issue with regards to the unit heating up, if you intend to close the closet door while washing, the door will need to have an upper and lower vent on it. The Upper vent should have an area of 48 square inches and must be placed 3" from the top of the door. The lower vent has to have an area of 24 square inches and must be 3 " above the bottom of the door...IFV
A:AnswerThere is a lint trap that should be cleaned once monthly. It is a pretty easy task. Directions are included with the machine and it is located in the front so you don't have to move your machine to do it.
A:AnswerHuh, I have not read about that problem and actually my drain hose exits the machine and goes up into the drain pipe opening, which is an inch or so higher than the top of the machine. After year of use, no issues, no problems, drainage or otherwise. The drainage exhaust pump is strong and gets all of the fluid out regardless of whether it is the washing or condensate drying cycle.
This has been a fantastic machine to own and operate.
A:AnswerI asked this question last year when I was still using the older version of this machine. I have since decided to upgrade to the newer version and almost a year later I am very pleased! I do still get wrinkled long items (jeans, khakis) if I overload the washer, so the secret is I wash my jeans and khakis separately from my main loads.
A:AnswerYes this style of dual washer/dryer can be used without a traditional set-up. We currently own the older model and are upgrading to this one because our older model is now 8 years old and we do not want to put any money into repairing its drain pump for the third time. We live in an apartment and attach it to our kitchen sink. I believe we had purchased the hose set that was 6ft long and we reattach each time we are going to do a wash. The sink can be used minimally because we have the sprayer attachment. Again, we have been using this machine with a 6ft long adapter that reaches our sink. We do not move the machine because the distance is perfect and out of the line of traffic when the inlet hose and waste hose are attached. Just make sure to have a warranty for the necessary repairs as they arise. If we still had an active warranty we would not be replacing our older model.
A:AnswerOurs works great. Cycle time shorter than advertised. Dryer is more than sufficient. Haven't had to use more dry feature yet. Large drum is great. Haven't had to scale down load size.
A:AnswerYes, you can use dryer sheets. The indicator display will show you when the dry cycle begins, at which point you just click the "pause/resume" button, the door unlocks for you and you can throw in the dryer sheet. There is also a liquid fabric softener option you can add at the beginning of the cycle and it waits to dispense it until the final rinse.
A:AnswerI haven't had a problem, but I also religiously follow the instructions to leave the door open after each cycle and also to run the "tub clean" feature monthly, which steam-cleans the drum and seals, destroying any sources of potential odors. I've had the machine for a year and have had no odor problems at all because of this. Many thanks.
A:AnswerHello Cornfussed,
I have owned my washer/dryer unit since June 2018, and use it every few days, I have never noticed a “weird chemical smell.” I wonder if these people have made the grave mistake of using dryer sheets in their machines?! Due to the non-vented evaporation drying style of this machine, dryer sheets are a big “No No!” They can reak all sorts of havoc in these machines.
Another possible cause, could also be if they are not using the detergent dispenser cups correctly & over-filling or filling the wrong dispenser.
The last possible cause of a smell during drying is if you are not routinely cleaning the gasket door seal, or the water & link drains at the bottom left corner of the machine. I wipe down the inside of the window & door gasket after every load, I’m obsessive, and I empty the drains after every 4-5 loads. I also use the “Tub Clean” mode about every 1-2 months. This has kept my machine running in near perfect, “fresh from the factory” condition.
A:AnswerThe heat produced in the LG - 4.3 Cu. Ft. 14-Cycle Washer and 8-Cycle Dryer Electric Combo, Model # WM3997HWA is used to dry your laundry. It uses a Ventless Condensing Drying System and doesn't get as hot as vented models do and runs 30-50°F cooler than its vented counterparts...^IFV
A:AnswerYes, I wash my queen blankets and old king comforter with ease. Queen-sized items dry just fine, but king-sized items may take a very long time or need to be air-dried if they are thick. Pillows can be washed and dried as long as the product tag on the pillow indicates.
A:AnswerHi, this is one combo unit, one machine that does the job of two machines, so you don't have to stack anything. It is the same size as the regular 4.3 gal LG washing machine, but it can wash and dry and should fit with lots of extra space in your laundry room.
A:AnswerYes, the default setting is wash only, and then you select the dry setting as you program your initial wash settings (so drying is optional). Also, the Delicate and Bulky Items wash settings are wash-only settings, they do not allow you to select a dry cycle. Which is a bummer, because when I wash my super-delicates it does a great and gentle job, but then I have to be present to program in the low temp dry cycle after the wash cycle is done, instead of being able to have the machine do it all for me automatically as with the other cycles.
