Your choice of washer and dryer is an important one, since these are two of the most used appliances in the home and contribute significantly to your energy bill. Factors such as available space, load to be handled, energy rating and convenience features should be considered. With the many brands and models of washers and dryers in the market, you will be able to find a combination that meets your requirements.
In homes where space is not an issue or a major consideration, washers and dryers are places side by side in the laundry room. But if you have limited space or you don’t have a laundry room, you can work around it by stacking these units. This is especially recommended if you live in a small apartment or condo, or if you simply want to free up space in your laundry room.
A laundry center has controls at eye level for the dryer, which is on top, and is designed to be easy to reach. However, laundry center models tend to have fewer features than stand alone units. With regards to space, there are units that can fit easily in a cabinet or in the kitchen, but they cannot handle large amounts of laundry.
A laundry center is conveniently set up with the dryer on top of the washer, and dryer controls at eye level, within easy reach. This kind of appliance, however, is limited in terms of features, compared with stand-alone washers and dryers. Also, the space-saving feature may be offset by the limited capacity.
Having a separate washer and dryer solves this problem. It also gives you the flexibility to choose the model that suits your needs. This can be in terms of capacity (to handle the amount of laundry that you have), energy-saving capability and other special features.
This is the reason why some people prefer a separate washer and dryer. It allows them to get the best possible combination of appliances for their needs. This may involve specific capacity requirements, energy-saving capabilities and convenience and safety features.
Unfortunately, only models marked as “stackable” can be safely set up in this manner. You will probably need to purchase a kit or supporting frame for washers and dryers to make the stack more stable. Also, you need to make sure that the combined height of the appliances does not make the dryer (which is usually on top) hard to reach.
If you prefer to deal with just one appliance, while saving space and reducing costs for maintenance and replacement, a combined washer-dryer is for you. However, if you particular features or requirements in mind, you have an issue with this kind of appliance, since there are relatively fewer choices compared to stand-alone washers and dryers.
Wes Sims specializes in writing about refrigerators and other greatappliances. It’s important to read reviews and articles discussing appliances for your home like a washer, dryer, or other heavily used appliances so you know you are getting the best products.
