Table of Contents
- Types of Commercial Laundry Machines
- The Best Commercial Washers and Dryers
- Where to Buy Commercial Washer and Dryers
You may think that commercial laundry machines are only reserved for apartment complexes, laundromats, and other facilities where cleanliness is paramount (like hotels and hospitals)—but think again. If your home is overflowing with heaps of laundry, commercial washers and dryers can be installed to ease some of the heavy lifting, regardless of your residence.
Compared to residential laundry units, commercial grade washers and dryers are designed for the rigors of cleaning clothes all day, every day. Lucky for you, moving mountains of laundry starts with reading our tips for buying the best commercial washers and dryers. Check them out!
Commercial Washer and Dryer Types
For reference, standard residential washers equate to maximum load sizes between 12 to 16 pounds of laundry while a larger-capacity washer can hold up to 20 pounds to support a king-size comforter and bedding set in the same load. By contrast, the largest commercial washers can hold up to 30 pounds.
Likewise, the average capacity for residential dryers starts at around 14 pounds while large-capacity dryers can carry up to 25 pounds. And commercial dryers have the volume to tumble about 32 pounds of laundry.
With these specifications in mind, let’s take a look at the most popular types of commercial laundry appliances. Not including industrial or on-premise appliances, here is a list of commercial laundry machines:
Commercial Front Load Washer
One of the most important considerations when shopping for a commercial washing machine is the door configuration. A front load washer (with a front-facing door) can fit larger loads compared to a top load model (with a flip-up lid on top). A front load washer is also deemed the most efficient option, as it automatically determines the water level that is appropriate for the amount of laundry, which can save up to 50 percent of water usage per cycle.
Other advantages associated with commercial front load washers include the fact that they are stackable (which can save space), are gentler on clothes, and can shorten drying time with high-speed spin cycles.
Commercial Top Load Washer
Top load washers remain popular due to a number of factors. For one, their door configuration won’t cause you to strain your back and neck when loading or unloading the appliance. Compared to front load models, top load washers also have more intuitive controls, vibrate less, lower initial costs, and faster wash and rinse cycles.
Commercial Front Load Dryer
Whereas a major deciding factor for commercial washers is door configuration, for the most part, dryers are purchased based on energy source—and relatedly, energy usage. Across the board, most commercial dryers are front load models, so when it comes to deciding on a model, the question is gas or electric?
For reference, electric dryers use heating coils while gas dryers use a gas burner to generate heat. Gas dryers typically cost more upon initial purchase, but in the long run, they may cost you less since the price of natural gas is generally lower than that of electricity. In addition, gas dryers tend to run hotter than electric dryers, which means clothes can tumble for a shorter period. This can shave a few dollars off your appliance bill and result in less wear-and-tear on your clothes.
That said, for an electric dryer you need a 240-volt outlet, and for gas dryers, you will need a gas line. Because of these requirements, your choice will also depend on what is already available in your home; however, if there isn’t a preexisting gas-line hookup in your home and you’d like to reap the benefits of a gas dryer, you may install one.
Commercial Vented Dryers
Between condenser and vented dryers, vented models are more common, featuring an attached flexible hose that vents the water outside of the laundry room.
Also known as tumble dryers, these commercial dryers typically have lower initial costs than condenser models. Among their drawbacks, commercial vented dryers do not recycle the heat that is created, rendering this option less efficient and perhaps more costly in the long run.
Commercial Condenser Dryers
By contrast, a condenser dryer collects the moisture in a reservoir that must be emptied when the machine signals that it is full. Because in-wall installation is required to use a vented dryer, condenser dryers are certifiably more energy-efficient, as they condense warm air from the wet clothes into water, which is then funneled into the reservoir.
While they are more energy-efficient, commercial condenser dryers will likely result in lower energy bills compared to commercial vented models. That said, because it’s not vented, a condenser dryer will heat up your laundry room even after you remove the dried clothes from the appliance, so be wary of a humid environment with this option.
Commercial Heat-Pump Condenser Dryers
While there are fewer of these in the market, heat-pump condenser dryers are slowly integrated into the mix again, as they were once popular. Their resurgence is owed to their emphasis on energy efficiency, which is perpetuated by the dryer’s heat pump mechanism.
Instead of venting out any of the heated air or moisture from the clothing, heat-pump condenser dryers conserve most of the heat that they create and recycle it through the appliance so that the clothing dries quickly and with minimal energy. Thankfully, with this option, you won’t have to worry about your laundry room heating up or being muggy.
It should be noted that although heat-pump condenser dryers are among the most expensive to purchase, they result in significantly lower energy bills.
Commercial Stacked Laundry Units
You might choose to have a utilitarian setup with one front-loading washer-dryer machine! Ideally for smaller laundry setups, this combination appliance can either have both tubs side-by-side or top-and-bottom, bunk-style.
Generally, instead of worrying about buying separate washing machines and clothes dryers, when you invest in a commercial stacked laundry unit, you will be able to save time, money, and space—all of which are immeasurably valuable.
In terms of their shortcomings, stacked laundry units are dinged for having a smaller overall capacity than other commercial grade washers and dryers. These units may also stock fewer bells and whistles and entail more frequent maintenance.
The Best Commercial Washer and Dryer Brand: Miele
If you ask us, the best commercial washer and dryer set comes courtesy of Miele. Miele commercial washers and dryers are teeming with premium features, including durable construction, full-touch color display, professional washing and drying programs, and future-proof networking via WiFi.
On the outside, the Miele PDR 908 Front Load Professional Washing Machine (1120770 and 11204460) exudes sleek, understated style, but on the inside, there’s so much more—namely, short runtimes, extra wash options, and programs to disinfect your most cherished garments.
But the cream of the crop is the Miele PDR 908 Professional Heat Pump Electric Dryer (11204490 and 11204480). This economical and efficient dryer not only impresses with low consumption values, but it astonishes users with its exquisite design. A honeycomb drum ensures your laundry is dried gently and evenly for easy folding. Premium commercial technology allows you to benefit from the shortest program cycles, the PerfectDry system guarantees bone-dry results without overdrying thanks to intelligent sensors, and the anti-crease option tumbles your garments after the end of the program to prevent wrinkles.
Shop for Commercial Washers and Dryers at Spencer’s
If you have other questions about any of our best commercial washers and dryers, please feel free to call or visit your friends in the business at Spencer’s TV & Appliance. Proud to have served our customers since 1973, we have 10 locations in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale regions. Call or visit us today!