A combined appliance performs different tasks in sequence. Separating the observations makes it easier to see which stage first changed rather than treating every result as one failure.
Understanding this situation
Record whether washing cleaned normally, whether water removal completed and what drying achieved. A wet final load can arise after an earlier problem, so the last visible symptom is not always the first relevant event.
A useful next step
Use a short timeline from normal use and include warnings. Do not run unsafe comparison cycles. This provides a clearer enquiry than naming a suspected dryer heater when the washing stage never reached its normal finish.
Manuals and supporting guidance
Model-specific instructions take priority. These references support the practical principles discussed here; they do not diagnose your appliance.