Equator EW 826 Washer and ED 866 Dryer Set Review

The pair earns its place through its electrical design and its size, and the rest of the feature list supports everyday use.

One outlet, no electrician in most cases

Both machines run on 110V at 60 Hz. The washer's cord goes into a socket on the dryer, and the dryer plugs into the wall, so the set draws from a single standard outlet. Apartments, condos, older houses, basements and RVs without a 240V laundry circuit can take the pair without panel work in most cases.

Vented drying on household current

The ED 866 is a vented dryer, which is the fast-drying route in the compact class. The drum holds 3.1 cu. ft., and the dryer offers sensor dry, three heat levels (high, medium and air) and timed dry at 20, 40 or 60 minutes.

A compact, stackable footprint

The washer is 23.5 inches wide and the dryer 23.6 inches, each 33.5 inches tall. Stacked, the set reaches 67 inches high. The two machines can also sit side by side.

Washer capability

The EW 826 is a front-load impeller washer with 1.62 cu. ft. and a 15 lb capacity, a stainless steel drum and a 1400 rpm spin. It lists 16 programs and 12 wash cycles, including Normal, Heavy, ECO, Quick 20, Delicate, Wool, Sanitize at 165°F, Allergen at 131°F held for 3 minutes, Pet, Quiet under 60 dB, Winterize, Self Clean and Spin Only. You also get an add-a-sock reload, child lock, delay start, automatic water level, four memory programs and a built-in surge protector.

Dryer convenience features

The dryer door is reversible, and the drum has an interior LED. The ED 866 adds a wrinkle guard, a lint-filter reminder, child lock, delay start, a drying-rack option, a 12-minute Refresh program and a Shoes cycle.

Practical extras

The box includes the owner's manual and power cord. The washer has a coin trap and reports nine diagnostic error codes. The set is ADA compliant and ETL/cETLus listed.

The capacity ceiling is the first thing to weigh. A 1.62 cu. ft. washer and a 3.1 cu. ft. dryer suit one or two people. A queen sheet set fits; a king comforter does not, and large towel loads or family-size laundry go past their comfort zone.

The dryer is vented, so it needs a 4-inch vent hose that is not included, and room for a vent that exits on the right side. That is a real constraint in closets and RVs. The pair also stacks only with a stacking kit sold separately.

The washer door is not reversible, unlike the dryer's. With the door open, the depth reaches up to 40.1 inches, and you still need clearance behind the machines for hoses and the vent.

The warranty runs one year, parts and labor, which is shorter coverage than some premium compact sets carry. The set is not ENERGY STAR certified.

The dryer's program list mixes full cycles with short specialty programs.

The washer's cord plugs into a socket on the back of the dryer, and the dryer plugs into the wall. The pair then runs off one standard 110V outlet. That opens up apartments, condos, older homes, basements and RVs that have no 240V laundry circuit, and it usually means no panel work.

It still asks something of your wiring. The dryer's electronics are built to manage the shared load, but the buyer should verify the home's wiring before delivery and measure for the following:

• The 67-inch stacked height and the 22-inch depth plus rear clearance for hoses and vent.
• The 40.1-inch depth with the door open.

The impeller design and the 1400 rpm spin suit everyday loads for one or two people. Sanitize, Allergen and Pet are the standout programs, and Winterize is genuinely useful for a seasonal cabin or an RV.

Vented drying is the fast path in the compact class. Sensor dry and the three heat levels let you match the cycle to the load, but dense loads like towels and jeans take longer.

A queen sheet set with pillowcases fits, and so does a week of clothes for two adults. A king comforter, a full family wash or a large towel load does not. Because these are two separate machines, you can run a wash and a dry at the same time, which is the practical advantage over an all-in-one combo.

The Quiet cycle is rated under 60 dB.

The warranty covers one year, parts and labor, and 90 days for commercial use. The first year is covered; beyond that, repairs are on you.

The washer reports nine error codes covering door, drain, water inlet, overfill, motor, heater, water level and display communication faults. The dryer reports sensor, fan motor and heating element faults.

The set is supported through a service network.