Looking For A Good Stacking Washer And Dryer For Condo

[GAS]

Any recommendations? I would like a nice small front loading washer and dryer, does not have to be a one piece unit, open to anything really.

This will be going in my bathroom in a condo, so nothing to big as not a whole lot of space!

[Ackybang]

Hi GAS.

Would recommend you don't go for an all in one - not reliable / more trouble than they're worth.

I would say possibly all of the manufacturers do stacking kits for their washers and dryers - but one I know for sure, and have used is Electrolux.

If you're buying the lot in one go, push for a discount / deal / freebies (domestic small appliances, homeware, etc) - all these dealers want to sell, and can cut you a good deal, just for the asking. I've always had my best deals in Homepro. Apart from getting the appropriate breakers / wire for free, which is standard procedure in bigger stores, you may get the stacking kit for free - dryers normally supply venting kits as standard. Keep an eye out for periodic promotions.

Washer (5-8kg) about 65x60x93 (DxWxH) if stood on supplied base, which you should use, for stability. Add same again for dryer (5-8kg) + stacking kit. You may have to pull out from the wall slightly, to allow for dryer exhaust.

If you want to be able to wash and dry a thick quilt properly, you should aim for 8kg machines. You might be looking at around 20 odd for each machine, without a deal....

Make sure you balance your washer and dryer properly with the adjustable feet ONCE they're in their bases. Damp tiled floors + uneven load / balance / spin = FUN.

If they offer free fitting / wiring, check the work carefully - the work I've seen is usually substandard / unsafe.

I would run dedicated breakers for both washer and dryer, makesure the plugs are earthed properly, and as a precaution, I would EARTH the bodies of the machines separately aswell. Generally, whenever I've installed washers / dryers, I've always given them their own dedicated earthing rod - not sure how you would do that in a condo. I'm not a sparky, but have a lot of experience with washers / dryers. Crossy might have a couple of tips for you.

I would be wary of condensation, and damp floors in a room I was running such equipment in, without making sure it was completely safe - also, allow for venting / heat from the dryer. If you can't cut the wall out for a venting kit, make sure you're in range of a window - hose is normally 4 inch on such machines.

Your life, obviously, but dryers are very juicy - your electricity bill will go up considerably with regular use. I would only use one in damp conditions, or to fluff up / soften air dried clothes, as required - and try to fill the machine for optimal efficiency / economy.

Edited April 2, 2013 by Ackybang

[GAS]

Great info Ackybang, much appreciated!!

I had a look at the wash/dry combo ones yesterday at Boonthavorn and had heard not so great things about them in the past. I would like to have a dryer instead of clothes on the balcony, can deal with the electric bill, small condo so pretty cheap as it is. So it looks like two separate units. I will check Home Pro.

For exhaust on the dryer I thought something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Dundas-Jafine-TDIDVKZW-ProFlex-Indoor/dp/B000DZFTC6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1364879506&sr=8-7&keywords=apartment+dryer

There is a false ceiling in the bath, not sure if it is wise to vent it above that to the interior of the building.

The electric bit is the main concern, I am doing this as part of a complete remodel of the unit, so electric will be a top priority, like for example now not sure that shower hot water heater is grounded properly and I don't want to become a news story on Thai Visa!

I will enclose the shower so that will be only wet area, not going to a wet bath...more US like if that makes sense.!

Hopefully Crossy will chime in on the electrics, I have read his other threads but still unclear on what is needed to properly ground in a condo environment.

[Ackybang]

Hey, GAS.

Would not vent into a false ceiling, or into your apartment. Massive volume of heat / humidity / lint build up, adds up to fungus, uncomfortable living condition / atmosphere, and potential fire hazard.

If you're remodelling, try and get a hole cut into a suitable wall, with a weatherproof vent installed. By all means, as your machine will be a meter high already, run the flexible duct above your ceiling to be vented outside - just make sure you have easy access to it for cleaning / servicing - try not to run the ducting for too long a run, and try not to kink it, or have anymore than two 'bends' in it for routing.

Remember, full venting kits are usually supplied by Electrolux - the ducting + weatherproof vent kit. If not supplied - ask for it for free.

If you don't want to go this route, and you don't mind slight inconvenience, keep the machines within range of (4/5m) and run the exhaust out of a window whenever required. These smaller dryers usually have a choice of venting holes (sides and back) - the unused routes are closed with plastic gates supplied.

Remember to clean the removable lint filter after every load. Clean exhaust ducting every 6 Months (blow out with high pressure air / vacuum cleaner). Perhaps once a Year, isolate and open the machine, and vacuum clean / blow out all the lint - or get an engineer to do so.

Be concerned about humidity / dampness in the air / on surfaces from showering + electric / machine use in an unventilated, enclosed space.

A room with a dryer in it is generally going to be quite a hot / humid room. Plan for plenty of airflow / ventilation, if you can, even with a vent hole in the wall.

Good Luck !

Edited April 2, 2013 by Ackybang

[GAS]

This is the area I want to put the washer dryer. Part of a remodel so can move things around if necessary. Will have new tile, about an inch off the rest of the floor and be level. This area will be sealed off by glass shower enclosure.

There is no outside wall to vent to, nor a window so I think the product I linked to may be my only option. Area above false ceiling does connect to a breezeway of sorts that carries all the plumbing from the ground up...( I think ). Already feels humid in this area, there is a small access door from the bath to this area. Condo is small one room deal, with very large sliding window to balcony so can get really good ventilation with this and fans if things get really hot....or just crank A/C

Edited April 2, 2013 by GAS

[Ackybang]

Hard to say, mate.

When you say 'bath' do you mean a separate bath room ? An overhead, scaled plan of your condo would be perhaps more helpful, so could see where this room is in relation to windows, balcony, etc.

If you want to vent like that, do so only as a last resort - especially if your apartment is humid already.

I personally would be more tempted to put the dryer out on the balcony, and use a weatherproof cover when not in use.

Hope you find the electrical solutions you're looking for.

[wpcoe]

If you have a ceiling exhaust fan in the room would it be a viable option to tie the exhaust tubing from the dryer into the ceiling exhaust fan's duct and turning on the fan when you use the dryer? I'm assuming (dangerous, I know) that condo ceiling exhaust fans must vent outdoors some how...

I may have to move back into my condo that I've rented out. It's on the top floor and I think the ceiling fans in the bathrooms just vent into the open "attic" space above the top floor units. Would it be okay to just run dryer exhaust tubing up to vent into the open space up there? If so, I think I would put some sort of screened vent like you would attach to a vertical wall in a normal western laundry room to minimize local fauna from entering -- and periodically remove the tubing to clean the lint that invariably gathers on the screen.

[wpcoe]

For exhaust on the dryer I thought something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Dundas-Jafine-TDIDVKZW-ProFlex-Indoor/dp/B000DZFTC6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1364879506&sr=8-7&keywords=apartment+dryer'>http://www.amazon.com/Dundas-Jafine-TDIDVKZW-ProFlex-Indoor/dp/B000DZFTC6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1364879506&sr=8-7&keywords=apartment+dryer

Hey, that looks like a nice option. When I lived in Japan I had a dryer that vented internally -- basically there was a condenser like you linked to built in to the dyer and it had a hose leading to the washing machine below which had a separate channel to run the condensate to a drain. Unvented dryers like that are (were?) not uncommon in Japan.

To address Ackybang's concern about already high humidity in the apartment, the dryer I had in Japan didn't add to the ambient room humidity, or at least not noticeably. The only drawback I see with the "Indoor Dryer Vent Kit" gadget is that you need to drain it and dry it out after using it, and some of the user comments indicate it allowed lint to escape and blow around.

[Edit:] Oops. Further research on indoor dryer vent kits indicates they are NOT like my Japan dyer in that they do NOT act as a condenser -- they simply vent the raw humid air into the room.

In my old condo I did have the dryer on the balcony with a cheap vinyl cover from Daiso, but I always worried about the noise when metal buttons and whatnot would bang around the dryer drum (and it's a minor PITA to run clothes to/from the balcony.)

Edited April 5, 2013 by wpcoe

[Ackybang]

I would have originally recommended a condenser dryer as a last resort - many of the brands have a model available in Thailand - but usually, it would be hard to find over a 7 kilo job here, which isn't necessarily conducive to drying large quilts, etc.. I personally don't like them - they are usually more expensive to buy / fix, take longer to dry clothes - consuming more energy, also, once the drip tray is full, they inevitably cut out the heat, usually, which means you can't really leave them on there own, with a heavy load - you're a slave to emptying the tray constantly, which seems to take the convenience out of the equation somewhat. The dryer kit the OP spoke of got seriously bad reviews.

I didn't recommend, after seeing the room GAS wants to place the dryer in. With no ventilation, running a dryer of any sort in a small tiled room, and expecting to get satisfactory drying results is akin to urinating into the wind, as it were, with the amount of heat and humidity the machines would generate. Many modern machines with auto programs run on residual moisture measurement - a dryer in such a scenario would run for hours, trying to get rid of humidity it's constantly recycling, aswell as causing considerable discomfort in the rest of the apartment, and a massively inflated electricity bill from inefficient dryer usage + compensative aircon.

I would recommend to NEVER vent a dryer to anywhere except outside. If I was running a condenser dryer, it would be in a room with plenty of airflow / ventilation. If you vent into a roof / crawl space, let alone one shared by many, apart from obvious heat issues, and the condensate accumulating over time, causing fungus / rot / perhaps issues with electrical circuitry - that space will become full of lint, which vermin likes to nest in, and when dry is like tinder. A rat eaten wire / short circuit in such a space doesn't bear thinking about - especially in a condo.

I wouldn't worry about button noise too much - probably negligible at most times of the day / night with background noise going on. Many condos would have the aircon on the balcony usually, which noise wise, would far outweigh a dryer anyway. Button noise can usually be mitigated by enough clothes in the drum, or by turning heavy items inside out before drying.

In GAS 's situation, I would definitely run the dryer on the balcony, if I had no access to outside ventilation for the dryer in any specific room.