Stacking?

[dodgyarch]

Hello there! Seems like this is the place to come for some expert washer/dryer advice...

We have a frontloading washing machine, a 7.5kg LG Intellowasher, not sure of the serial. No probs with vibration or anything, works just fine. We've decided to get a dryer, and we were considering stacking it on top of the washer, as opposed to fixing it to the wall which would be a bit of a headache. I thought maybe sticking some dampening pads on each corner of the washer and placing the dryer on top (assuming similar plan dimensions). Then, if necessary I could put a restraining bracket from the dryer to the wall to stop it moving laterally.

Am I being oversimplistic? Or is this a fairly standard thing to do? Researching on the net I've found all manner of wall brackets, washer to dryer brackets etc. Are they necessary?

Secondly, silly question probably, but if I get a dryer which is NOT a condenser model, am I going to have to punch through a wall to get the vent ducting out? Again, something I really wouldn't like to have to do. Are there any simple solutions?

Thanks for the assistance!

Rob

 

[MrX]

You can get universal stacking kits that hold the machines safely. I wouldn't suggest just sitting the dryer on top of the washing machine without it. All it would take is an out-of-balance spin and your dryer could land on the floor and do a lot of damage / injure someone.

Non-condenser dryers are generally a bit faster and overall as they run for a shorter time use less energy to complete the cycle. Although, good condensers work really well.

You will need to put a duct out through the wall. It's not as difficult as you'd think to do though. Just hire a core drill from any tool hire shop. I've done it myself and it's really not that big a deal.

Oh, you'll also need a stud/cable finder just to make sure that there's no buried wires before you drill through.

Whole process took about 15 mins!

If you can't get a duct through the wall, a condenser is really the only viable option.
Venting a dryer into the room would cause serious dampness and damage.
You can just put the duct through a near by window if that's an option. It's a bit ugly and not very permanent set up, but it does work.

If you are buying a condenser dryer don't skimp on the price too much. Cheaper models tend to be rubbish.
Also, bare in mind that the bigger the dryer drum the better, if you can get a 7kg or 8kg model, get it! Even if you're only drying a 6kg load, it's got more room to tumble.

 

[toggleswitch]

Venting a dryer into the room would cause serious dampness and damage.
Meaning a non-condenser model.

~It's got more room to tumble.
....which means less wrinkling.

Condeneser dryers (at least the type that uses room air to condense and cool the heated air within the machine) heats up the room. Good if dryer is for cool weather use only.Not so good if the dryer is in living space and used in summer.

 

[askomiele]

That's not completly correct! Air-condensing dryers today mostly re-use the heat back in the cycle. That's why many condensing dryers are B rated (but still a vented dryer use less electricity!!!)

 

[MrX]

Hoover also do a water cooled 'hydrodryer'
I'm not sure what the water consumption is, but water isn't metered in Ireland anyway, so it's not really a cost issue. I'd leave the environmental consequences up to your conscience!

to quote their website:

"If only water could be used to dry your clothes - Thanks to Hoover, now it can! Our unique Hyrdo Dry Technology enables the steam from the dryer to be passed through a Hydro Jet, which condenses it back into water. This water is collected in the Hydro Tank before being pumped away.
This is the only condenser in the market which does not need a water container emptying, or need the condenser unit cleaning. Innovation from Hoover - Drying Re-invented."

Hoover UK: home appliances | Hoover

Visit the Hoover website, a leading brand in high-performance appliances. Find product sheets, catalogues, user manuals, and spare parts.

www.hoover.co.uk

 

[askomiele]

OMG water is not metered in Ireland? Ok it's not so hard to cool with water... but maybe recuperate the water to wash or clean or flush toilets... but flushing down the drain would be a bit hard...:$

 

[toggleswitch]

~Air-condensing dryers today mostly re-use the heat back in the cycle.

Interesting. How? What are the mechanics?

Are these the units with a heat-pump (reverse cycle "refrigerator")?

 

[MrX]

Reusing the heat

Well, they don't lose ALL of the heat and recycle it back into the dryer, but they do lose a significant amount of heat to the room. Our Electrolux Insight Condenser works really well, but it blasts out nearly as much hot air as a fan heater would.

 

[northernmary]

My Miele's are stacked together using the miele stacking kit witch incorporates a useable folding table for unloading the dryer on to. I don’t experience too much heat generated by the dryer.

NorthernMary

 

[MrX]

Nice stack!
What detergent is that on top ?!

 

[northernmary]

morrisons cyclon liquid and morrisons softner

 

[lavamat_jon]

We've stacked the washer and dryer together temporarily for about 6 months without a kit before and the dryer didn't move one bit on top of the washer - although our Miele washer just doesn't vibrate anyway so that isn't a problem and I guess it depends on your machine. Of course if it's a more permanent set up then ours was then I would recommend it - I used the stacking kit on an AEG machine I had simply because it had a spring loaded foot which meant it bounced, but because the Miele that we have now doesn't vibrate excessively we took a pretty safe bet.

Condenser dryers I found were more hassle than they are worth when it comes to maintenance. If you can vent, then do vent! Even sticking a hose out the window is far more convenient than having to empty the condenser tank after every other load, clean 2 sets of filters, clean the heat exchanger every month (which is a bugger in itself), not to mention the excess heat that's pumped into the room. Vented dryers are faster, use less electric, are theoretically more reliable (less moving parts), and are quieter. If you opt for a decent sensor vented model then you can't do much better .

Jon

 

[electron800]

OMG water is not metered in Ireland?

It isn't in the UK either in a lot of places. Here in the north east at least, the majority of houses built before 1990 do not have water meters. I've never lived anywhere with a water meter. I've never been able to understand why it is bad for the environment to use water in an area with a surplus of water. It is a reusable resource after all!

 

[MrX]

Water's paid for out of general taxation in Ireland, there's no charge or meter at all.

 

[passatdoc]

In some water-rich areas of California, for example the state capital Sacramento, there are no water meters. Customers pay a flat, fixed monthly charge to cover the cost of operating the system. In drier parts of California, water of course is metered and we are urged to conserve. Because California can store water in huge reservoirs, we need to conserve in wet years so that there is enough water in dry years.

 

[MrX]

Ireland's not exactly short of rain, however, large urban areas, particularly Dublin do use far more water than they should do and it's not particularly good for the environment.

The big problem both here and in the UK isn't a lack of resources though it's poor management of water and lack of serious resevoir capacity. We get large amounts of reliable rain all year, however, if we get an unusual dry spell the water companies / water authorities suddenly start imposing 'hose pipe' and 'sprinkler' bans.

Commercial water users in Ireland do pay and are metered, this includes all pretty much business customers.

Also, while we don't pay for water, we do pay per KG for non-recyclable waste. There's actually an RFID tag in the trash cans in many areas, so when the truck picks them up your waste is weighed and you're invoiced!

 

[sparkymarky1973]

Hi

Here is a picture of my stacked Hoover washer and Dryer.
What I used was a spare vintage Hoover worktop for a front loader washer or dryer and turned it upside down. I then placed the dryer inside the upturned wortop to give it a bit more stability. It has worked great with no problems. I did used to stack it without using the worktop and it was fine even though the machine can have a tendency to wobble due to no nonsence spinning without trying for 1/2 hour to balance first!

Mark
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