Equator EZ 3600 CEE Front Load All-in-One Washer / Dryer

Pros: Washes effectively, quiet operation, compact size, highly efficient in water & energy use
Cons: Front loaders don't allow you to add items once wash cycle has begun

After using the same top-loading Maytag washer for 17 years, I'm very pleased with the Equator. Having only had the unit for 2 months now, I will reserve judgement on the maintenance aspect--so far no complaints. Our Maytag machine was still running...

Pros: When it works correctly, it save water and energy, and is gentle on clothes.
Cons: Getting it to work well is a juggling act.

We bought the Equator Energy Efficient Ventless Clothes Processor EZ 3600CEE in November of 2000, and after using it for over a year, we're ready to go back to the standard washer and dryer we left behind.

If you aren't familiar with the...

Pros: Extremely efficient and effective. Well constructed. Saves space. No venting needed for dryer.
Cons: Longer wash/dry cycle than standard U.S. washers but in keeping with European models.

It is now over 2 years since I purchased the Equator EZ3600CEE from a local dealer. I still love the machine and highly recommend it to anyone who faces issues that prevent installation of a full size washer and dryer. I recently had my first problem ...

Pros: Does a great job. Changes the way you'll think about laundry.
Cons: Can't wash previously dry-cleaned clothes; can vibrate a whole house when on wooden floors; expensive.

I think the catchphrase in the title is a Swiffer trademark, but heck, it works. Bachelors like me don't usually think much about cleaning, and the more toys invented to help us with the chores of the household, it seems the more likely that they'll get...

Pros: Size, ease of use,
Cons: noise, time it takes to dry

There are two real drawback to this washer/dryer, and I'll start with those: It has a small capacity and so will take you some time to wash clothes for a family of three, and it takes quite a while to dry.

But the advantages were numerous...

Pros: Freedom from coin machines, washes fairly well
Cons: Very expensive, machine shakes violently, dry time is about 2 hours

Why do I call it that? It has a major problem during the spin cycle. More often than not the load will be out of balance and the machine will rock and the internal tumbler will slam against the metal case. This is the major problem with it. I have to...

Pros: Ultra-fast spin dries clothes in final spin, tub
Cons: motor,pump,finish,dryer,computer,thermostat,sensors,rust

This machine is a throwaway. All the talk about 'green' is crock because thousands of these are taking up space in landfills and that's the real crime. Before I get into it, I'd like to relay some other info missed from other reviews. This machine ...

Pros: Energy efficient, water efficient, impressive quiet performance
Cons: A bit pricey

In the US, this is one of the best washers, as far as I'm concerned. Rated in the top 5 for energy efficiency, it also doubles as a drier. As long as you load it properly, it hums along quietly even as it spins @ 800+ RPM.

The real...

Pros: Very energy efficient, takes up a small space, cleans clothes really well
Cons: None

We have had our washer/dryer for over one month now and it is just a fantastic unit. No comparison to regular U.S. top loaders. This unit is very well built. The included manual is good. Clothes get really clean and you use very little water and...

Pros: Energy efficient. Perfect fit for a small laundry area in a small house.
Cons: Ventless dry cycle takes forever. No repair service in our area.

Equator Energy Efficient Ventless Clothes Processor EZ 3600CEE

All was well until the discharge pump impeller had a debris block.

Initially I call around for someone to fix the Machine. Lowes, a listed distributor, didn't have a...

Pros: Convenient, ease of use, no switching of loads, space, water and energy saving.
Cons: Drum too small, noisy drain pump, clothes come out wrinkled, forever to get repaired.

I purchased my unit in September 2001. For the first month I thought it was the greatest thing invented. However, over the past few months my opinion has changed to quite the opposite.

It does a great job washing the clothes and is so easy...

Pros: nice IDEA for a socially-responsible product, looks cool
Cons: it breaks, TERRIBLE service, small, slow, wrinkles like you've never seen

EVEN WHEN IT’S WORKING, THE PRODUCT ITSELF IS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. I did not think that I was th ...

Pros: cleans clothes well
Cons: broke after 8 months

I have an Equator EZ3600 combo washer/dryer which I bought in 3/2001 and on 11/9/01 I started having problems with it - the spinning part of the wash cycle no longer works.

Since the warranty is one year I can still (supposedly) get it...

Pros: It isn't in my house anymore.
Cons: Virtually everything.

PRELUDE TO WARNING: The "equator" is a piece of junk. Do not buy one unless you like to be frustrated. There, that is all you really need to know. WARNING: YOU MAY BE OFFENDED BY THIS REVIEW! Stop reading here if you are offended by metaphors which ...

Pros: small size, uses little water and detergent, washed the clothes well, Looks nice enough.
Cons: Small capacity, shakes, doesn't dry, can't open after it starts, it breaks, can't be repaired.

What a nightmare! This has to be the single most useless appliance I have ever owned - and I have owned a lot. Like others who wrote about this machine, I was attracted to it by the promise of energy efficiency, low water consumption and, of course, the ...

Pros: Better for the environment, small, ventless. Perfect for apartments.
Cons: Breaks down frequently, can't handle a lot of clothes, clothes come out so deeply wrinkled.

I love the concept of this machine because it is more environmentally friendly, I just wish it was more dependable. I would recommend this size machine to a single person or a couple living in an apartment, but not for a family. It can only handle a ...

Pros: Energy efficient. Small footprint. Ventless design allows it to be installed just about anywhere.
Cons: Parts break easily. Service non-existent. Clothes come out wrinkled, moist after drying. Extremely expensive.

What can I say? This miserable "clothes processor" has been the worst appliance decision my husband and I have ever made. See my list of pros/cons - it says it all. I'm writing this after spending an hour hand wringing out a load of whites to hang in...

Pros: Compact, energy efficient, good for small households
Cons: Doesn't really dry clothes.

I bought this because I thought I could save space in my condo by not needed a dryer. I now have a small Kenmore dryer parked on top of the unit. It is an excellent washer. I've washed a Full sized sheet set and mattress pad with no difficulty. I find ...

Pros: ease of use
Cons: getting used to it

I got my Equator 3600CEE about a week ago and I can't find anything bad to say about it. I saw it originally in a Hamacher-Schlemmer ad in an in-flight magazine a few years ago & decided when it was time to replace my machine, I would look into it. The...

Pros: Convenient, Efficient, Very Quiet, and Energy Efficient
Cons: Take more time than a regular dryer, Price is high

My husband and I had been looking for a washer and dryer for our town house, since we don't have the hookups for normal machines. We first looked at some laundry centers and decided against looking any further since we don't have any way to vent a dryer....

Pros: compact size, quiet
Cons: dryer takes getting used to

Just got my 3600. Planned to replace a stacked older Maytag, with thoughts of saving energy and space. Very impressed with 3600. Washing action very good and very quiet. Still not comfortable with drying action. I was used to auto terminate on Maytag and...

Pros: small
Cons: slow and very little factory support

While the size of this machine is handy indeed, I have had to replace two water pumps in as many years. Now it seems that I am not alone, the factory has had the parts back ordered for over three months. The filter is quite difficult to clean and can...

Pros: Clothes are cleaned and dried in about 2-3 hours,using low energy and water.
Cons: Water pump on the machine only last 7-10 months,then they require replacement,even using soft water.

I'm a consumer who purchased my first one in 2001.After about 10 months water pump went out and had to be replaced under warranty.Then rubber seals started leaking around front of machine.
Equator replaced the entire machine,now 7 months later water...

Pros: Compact size and quiet operation, ventless option. You can put it inside a closet.
Cons: Long drying time, little water for rinsing, clothes damp and dingy, don't feel clean.

I bought this a year and half ago for my 2 BR condo and put it in my dining room closet. It cost $959, shipping was free from Compact Applicance at the time, and I paid a contractor another $1350 to do the plumbing hook up work.
I was very happy...

Pros: Small footprint, Eco-friendly, quiet, very efficient
Cons: Can be a bit more challenging to use, but worth it.

They say what goes around comes around. The basic washer/dryer combo's started in the 50's. My mother loved hers. So when I had to get both a new washer and new dryer I went looking. What I found was there is not much out there, but the one I found,...

Pros: It's small
Cons: Shakes like mad, Breakdowns common, plugs with lint, clothes still wet after dry cycle.

I have owned an Equator for just over two years and have had nothing but problems.

I have had numerous breakdowns and Equator has been very slow to respond to the service issues.

First the machine stopped drying. They sent a...

Pros: Small, no hookups required, uses regular power outlet.
Cons: No customer service, difficult to find a repairperson.

Okay, first, full disclosure. I got this for free off of Craig's List, and I was told that the water pump was broken. I decided to take it anyway, confident in the belief that I could just pay someone to fix it.I brought it home, and with the help of ...

Pros: None when deemed worthless after 4 years of use, and $1000 price.
Cons: Breaks easily. No repair center ANYWHERE! Dryer NOT drying. Technical support clueless. Low quality overall.

We bought the Equator EZ 3600 CEE 4 years ago because our home had only 110V outlet and no vent for the dryer. We also had very small space to fit it into. Even though the reviews said the dryer does not dry completely and it dries a load smaller than ...

Pros: Ventless and small.
Cons: Construction, customer service, quality control, durability and bang for the buck.

I purchased the Equator 3600 CEE a few years ago. It worked fine for a couple months and then it stopped draining. It was still under warranty, so they replaced the drain motor. That seemed to fix the problem, temporarily. Soon after, the machine ...

Pros: It is a no hassle, cheap machine. Until it breaks, then it is neither.
Cons: Made by Equator, the worst "con" I can think of.

Below is a copy of an email I sent to Equator. For those of you thinking of buying an Equator brand anything, please deliberate carefully. And rest assured that several of the "good" reviews found here were written by the company themselves as damage ...

Pros: Fits anywhere. Great washer. Quiet. Uses amazingly small amount of detergent.
Cons: Mediocre dryer. Gotta guess how much drying time needed.

This is a great Washer/Dryer problem solver for those with no room for a full size combo. Needs no venting. Quiet (I don't know what "Earthquake Machine" opinion is talking about. Maybe she didn't follow directions and level the machine before using...

Pros: I've had the product for over three years, it has been doing a great job.
Cons: Needing to adjust the foot levelers to keep it from vibrating.

This product has been doing a great job for me and my wife. We use it three times a week, yes we do keep our clothes clean.
I rarely use the drying portion since we like to line dry our clothes and it only takes less than an hour due to the high...

Pros: Washes and dryers cloths. Small. Efficient.
Cons: Some design flaws. Lousy customer service.

The machine is not useless. It does work and have it's good points. It's compact, generally works well and it does serve our present needs. One problem is the link filter system is poorly designed and can not be emptied without spilling some water on ...

Pros: saves water, energy, detergent; easy to use; hooks up anywhere
Cons: spins violenty, dries poorly, doesnt remove lint and small loads

I bought this when living in a typical apartment without hookups. The first unit didn't work but was replaced quickly. It worked fine for a while. However, it doesn't do large loads well and takes well over 2 hours to dry jeans and towels. Also, I have 2 cats and the convection dryer does nothing for lint so my clothes come out clean but smothered in wet cat hair!
But then I moved into a 3 story house and got married. The small loads aren't enough for a couple. Thankfully we can dry our clothes on radiators 6 months out of the year. And the spin cycle shakes the entire house! Neighbors complain on every floor as their windows feel like they are going to pop out.
In general, the machine gives you what you want if you live in a regular apartment alone. But if you have a family or live in a place with hookups, get a real machine.

Pros: Size
Cons: Price, noise, drying performance

We bought this thing 2 years ago for our condo. It would probably be an OK machine for a single person that just washes underwear! And that is if you don't mind waiting 2+ hrs for them to dry. We have since replaced it with a real washer and dryer. This unit would probably be ideal on a boat of in an rv, but not for the home. The time Share Company I work for used to use these for the handicap units and we had nothing but complaints. If you are looking for an all-in-one machine, I would recommend the the one by a company called Asko. Their machines do a much better job. Ultimately, I would stay away from the combo units, especially if you have kids and room to put a "REAL" machine!!!

Pros: Saves water.
Cons: Shakes the whole house while spinning. Parts impossible to find in the United States.

We have owned the 3600 CEE clothes processor for several years now and learned to adjust to the whole house shaking during spin cycles. We really wanted to like this machine and have bent over backwards to save water and help the environment. Currently the machine has been leaking from the pump for nine months. The service people say they can't find a pump and the customer service at Equator are no help, even when you can reach them. We have given up and only hope to fix the machine in hope of selling it to some unsuspecting person if we can.

This machine is my biggest purchase disappointment ever. A waste of a $1000. Look to the new maytags or ? if you are looking at this model. Stay away unless you like frustration.

Pros: space saving all in one
Cons: doesn't last loud and noisy long drying times

If I was annoyed at this machine before now I am steaming. Not only does it take 3 hours to dry a small load of clothes but it broke after a short time. I have called the service number and was informed it would be cheaper to buy a new model than replace this one.

I have a very small space and dread the thought of having to buy another one of these. It's the worst appliance I have ever owned. The women on the phone mentioned they were having lots of problems with this machine as the factory has been changed.

Pros: Small
Cons: expensive, very fragile, breaks down often, few people know how to fix

I recently bought a condo where one of these was installed. It just won't dry towels, forget it. You'll have to take them to the coin-op to be dried.

When I asked about these in the complex after I experienced so many problems, the answer was universal... "oh, that thing? We have one too but we don't use it. We just go downstairs to the coin-op, it's much easier." Easier than a unit in your own condo? How can hauling your laundry downstairs and paying $2.50 to wash and dry a load be easier?

The answer, "this thing is really that BAD!!!"

Please stay away.

Pros: Very energy efficient. Very quiet running machine. Cleaned the clothes very well.
Cons: Not a reliable service and parts department.

I had this model to save electricity and the convenience of having it all in one unit. After 3 months the dryer no longer functioned. Was under warranty and they sent several new parts over a couple months of trying to reset the machine. Nothing worked. The service technician stated that the Maytag and Whirlpool front loading machines are far more reliable. All the parts for Equator come from the Houston corporate office so everytime their was something to replace, had to wait a week or two for the shipment. Fry's stood behind their satisfaction warranty and I received a full refund.

Pros: Washes well, small size
Cons: 1 break down, 3 leaks + 1 belt problems in 6 years - too many!!

Bought the machine in 2002, it washes well, I think better than a top loading machine, but we've have had continuous leakage problems with it and good luck with the service - terrible! Not worth the extra money...

Pros: Don't have to move from washer to dryer. Space saver in a small condo.
Cons: Does not dry completely. Vibrates when spinning and noisy water pumping during dry cycle.

Our machine handles loads for a family of five, and there is rarely a day that goes by that it isn't used at least once. About two years ago the water pump leaked, so I would recommend keeping an extra gasket around just in case. Other then that the machine has worked well. Just don't forget to clean out the filter at least once a month. Also don't pack the clothes in. Don't fill it all the way, leave a little space on top.

The only bad thing about this machine is that it vibrates the floor in our condo during the spin cycle and the water pump is noisy when in the drying cycle.

Before we bought this machine, we knew that the drying cycle would never completely dry out our clothes. So I am surprised to hear so many people complain about the clothes not completely drying. We are now on our sixth drying rack [This is more our daughter's (She's the same age) fault then the machines.]

This machine has worked well for what we needed it for, due to the spacing and restrictions in our association. I do not regret buying it.

Pros: compact, uses less water.
Cons: most service people not familiar with machine, expensive, leaks, fragile machine, don't buy.

i bought mine on ebay for $600 instead of over $1000. water pump replaced after 1 year. 2nd water pump replaced by me. several hoses developed holes from rubbing on the drum. the bearings and shaft needed to be replaced at a cost of $400-$600. the filter that you have to clean out is unreal. every time you open it a cup of water spills out and if you forget to clean it out, you have to drain the entire washer through the drain. 
USE-non skid floor paint to stop it from "walking".

Pros: cheap to run
Cons: lousy customer service, very expensive to fix.

What a piece of crap! We had this machine for less than 2 years and then it broke. Well the repair bill was going to be $575.00 to replace the drum (SS) and the star wheel (holds bearings in place). That was the end of that! I bought a GE horizontal axis model very similar to the Equator except no dryer at Home Depot and since it was a floor model the cost was $426. with discounts. To top it all off the warranty for this American (piece of junk) is 2 - 10 years depending on what breaks. I was and still am very soured on the customer service that I received with Equator service department. By the way it's parted out to a country called India. You can take it from there. CAN YOU SAY SUCKS!

Pros: space saving
Cons: Needs extensive service. Leaks. Expensive to maintain.

We purchased our Equator about 3 years ago, and since then we have had to conduct serious repairs over six times. We finally learned to take apart the motor and fix the gaskets ourselves (a fairly major undertaking) in order to save money on service calls. It was a good solution for us in that it is extremely space efficient, but our clothes do not get clean or thoroughly dry. (We recently rewashed our "clean" laundry in a friend's standard machine and the water turned a dingy brown.) We would recommend this machine only halfheartedly at best, as it is very space efficient, but it often breaks and leaks water all over the floor, so do not use it in a second story where it may spoil the ceilings below.

Pros: Not worth mentioning.
Cons: Too many to list!

We had several problems with the machine over the two and half years that it operated. The first two we handled ourselves over the phone with tech help. A wire kept coming loose causing the spin cycle to malfunction. The front door would not operate due to a rusted hinge, but the final problem was a corrosion at the rear hub to drum connection that broke during the high speed spin. It was very frightening. The company blamed it on Los Angeles water and gave me quite a run around for about a year. Two and a half years at $1,000. That is not environmentally friendly, nor financially friendly. We are back to a Kenmore top-loader. Buyer beware!