Nismo, I am not so familiar with well and septic systems being that I live in Chicago. However, I can tell you that in all combo machines with condensing dryers, the cold water supply and pump cycle on and off periodically throughout the dry cycle. The water does not run constantly at full force for three hours. Generally, most combo machines use somewhere between 14 to 20 gallons of water per load for both wash and dry (comparable to a standard dishwasher). In contrast, a standard topload washing machine by itself typically uses 40 to 50 gallons of water per load. If your septic supports a standard topload washer, it should easily be able to handle a combo machine. Moreover, you will be using much less detergent in a front load combo machine which is also better from an environmental standpoint. The manufacturer specifications usually state how much water the machine will use per load on average. I hope that answers some of your questions. Happy washing.

Just incase others have a similar problem - I thought I was getting something similar to this problem. Clothes not drying properly however there seemed to be a lot of steam coming out of the drawer / tray. Turns out the cold water solenoid valve had died (the top left hand of the machine with the 3 blue tabs, just right to the red square part in the picture on the comment above) so water wasn't flowing into the condenser and then the steam wasn't being condensed - you could tell this was the problem since intermittently you should hear a sudden "whoosh" for a second or two every few minutes of the valve opening up and water flowing out. It did appear that less water was coming out the grey pipe on the back of the machine too, but this was because no extra water was coming into the system via the condenser. Anyway bought new cold water solenoid valve for £25, two screws off, 3 pipes on and off and it was fixed. Couldn't find much about this on the web - Just an idea.

I said previously, "1. The LG combo unit is an excellent solution for those with no other option." Let me qualify that statement a bit. Yes, if you have no other option, you can have a compact, all-in-one unit that doesn't require 240VAC or a vent. However, it's perhaps better stated, that, while it's a good-looking machine which otherwise functions very well, you should definitely expect 2-6 hour drying times--but, typically, 4-6 if you're a "normal" person. Reviewers which commented, "Most of my loads are done in 2.5 hours," must be washing extremely small loads. Perhaps, a few blouses, and some socks. Certainly no jeans or towels. Add a single pair of jeans to the mix, or a hoodie--and, bam--you're at 4-6 hours drying time. Previous to our purchase, I read every review on the unit I could find. As I said earlier, positive reviews seemed to outnumber negative reviews by about 10:1. I had assumed the few negative reviewers simply overloaded the dryer, which is basically probably true. Knowing this, we thought we were willing to endure longer drying times in exchange for a much expanded pantry/linen closet. But having a gas dryer still connected made the comparison glaringly clear. A vented gas dryer is not only far less expensive in energy costs, it dries clothes 10-30 times faster than an un-vented condenser dryer. For example, something that took only 8 minutes to dry in the gas dryer, took about 4 hours to dry in the LG unit--that's 30x longer. It's these kinds of numbers which are completely lacking in any of the reviews. If drying a pair of jeans, a towel, and a few shirts takes 4-6 hours to dry, it's simply not practical for most people for two reasons: a.) energy costs; b.) the dryer makes its "drain-spin" noise at 20-second intervals, continuously for several hours. Again, we thought the "set-it-and-go-to-work," or "set-it-and-go-to-sleep" approach would greatly lessen the impact of the extended drying times. But, "set-it-and-go-to-sleep" simply doesn't work in a small house--it's too disruptive. My recommendation? Buy this unit if: a.) You have absolutely no other option. b.) Your kWh rates are affordable (e.g., c.) You prefer line-drying some of your clothes. d.) You're single, and wash extremely small loads. This post was edited by studio460 on Mon, Jun 24, 13 at 16:41

A couple of years ago, I used the Consumer Reports "Greener Choices" site to pick out a washer and dryer. I am pleased with the choice it helped me make (Whirlpool Duet, if it helps; but I suggest checking the current ratings of current models within your target price range). Here is a link that might be useful: Greener Choices