Equator EW 822 Washer and ED 848 Dryer Set Review

The set is built around fitting into a space a full-size pair cannot use. Stacked, it measures 23.6 inches wide, 21.85 inches deep and 61 inches tall. The washer alone is 33.5 inches tall and the dryer 27.5 inches, and the two can also sit side by side.

Both machines plug into a standard 120V outlet, which means no 240V dryer circuit and no electrician's visit to add one.

The washer carries 15 custom wash programs, including Normal, Heavy + Prewash, Quick 20, Baby, Delicate, Wool, ECO and PET. The dispenser is adjustable, and oversuds control keeps rinse water clean.

A 1200 RPM spin pulls more water out of the clothes, which matters here because the dryer has a 120V heater to work with. The washer is rated at 60 dB.

The dryer runs on Sensor Dry with digital controls, so it can stop on moisture instead of only on a timer, and it offers Hot, Warm, Air Dry and Time Dry cycles. Both drums are stainless steel, and the leveling legs let you settle the stack on an uneven floor.

Because the washer and dryer operate independently, a wash and a dry can overlap. In a one-bathroom apartment that is the difference between one load in an evening and two. The compact footprint, the 120V operation on both units and that simultaneous run are the set's real strengths.

The washer holds 1.57 cubic feet, or 13 lb. That is a small-to-medium load: a few shirts, a couple of towels, a pair of jeans. It is not bedding and it is not a family's weekly wash.

The dryer drum is 2.6 cubic feet, larger than the washer drum, so it takes a full wash load in one pass. The limit of the set is the washer's 13 lb load size, and it is the part buyers most often underestimate.

The ED 848 is a vented dryer. It needs a duct to the outside. Without an exterior vent, the set does not work.

The set stands 61 inches stacked, so check closet and counter clearances before you order, and leave room behind the dryer for the vent run. The two units weigh 171.5 lb combined.

The warranty is 1 year parts and labor, which is short for this category and worth knowing before you commit. The set also has no customer reviews on its listing at the time of writing, so this assessment rests on the manufacturer's specifications rather than on owner feedback.

These are the manufacturer's figures for the two machines and for the set as sold.

13 lb works out to roughly a couple of days of clothes for two people, so plan on washing more often than you would with a full-size machine. The 2.6 cubic feet of dryer space is larger than the washer drum, so each wash load moves across to the dryer whole.

The box holds the owner's manual and the power cord.

Check these before the delivery truck arrives, because each one can stop the install.

• Vent: a duct from the ED 848 to the outside. The dryer is vented, not ventless.
• Power: both units run on 120V, and running them at the same time needs two separate outlets or circuits.
• Water: hot and cold supply lines at the washer's spot.
• Stacking: the set stacks, but the stacking hardware is a separate purchase.
• Clearance: 61 inches of stacked height, 21.85 inches of depth, plus space behind for the vent run.
• Weight and leveling: 171.5 lb combined, and the leveling legs set so the stack sits flat.

The 1200 RPM spin is strong for a compact washer.

On the drying side, Sensor Dry stops on moisture, and Time Dry, Hot, Warm and Air Dry cover the rest. With a 2.6-cubic-foot drum against a 1.57-cubic-foot washer, a full wash load goes through the dryer in one batch.