Traditionally, washers and dryers are placed side by side in the laundry area. However, they can also be stacked to save space. This is especially appropriate for small apartment and condo dwellers as well as people who simply want to get more space out of their laundry room.
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.
Another disadvantage is that the washer and dryer are sold as a pair, and there are instances where the quality of one unit is better than the other. You may find that the washer breaks down first, or vice versa. You may need to replace the entire set up when either the washer or dryer breaks down completely and is beyond repair, even if the other unit is still in working condition.
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.
However, not all models are stackable. You must also consider that, the bigger the unit, the more likely that you will need to buy a kit or supporting frame for safely stacking washers and dryers. In addition, the combined height of the stack may make the dryer hard to reach.
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.