It often happens that businesses such as hair salons, schools, animal shelters and the like start looking at the difference between a standard washing machine and an industrial washing machine to determine which choice will be the best fit for their laundry requirements.
These considerations will ultimately determine whether you need to purchase an industrial washing machine or not.
Large Laundry Loads
Do you have large loads of laundry to run? Some residential washers with larger capacity can run up to thirty pounds or so, but an industrial washing machine can easily handle bigger loads and they are a lot more productive as they can keep running the larger loads for many years to come.
Running Your Washer All Day Long
A residential washer is designed to handle regular family laundry which usually averages at one or two loads a week as opposed to commercial equipment which is designed for managing multiple loads daily. They can also be serviced which makes them a more cost-effective option as this means that they have a longer life expectancy.
Replacing The Washer Periodically
A commercial washing machine can be used intermittently. Even though they are more expensive than home-style washing machines, you won’t have to keep replacing the equipment continuously, and they can be serviced quickly and without hassle. It happens that customers have to replace their washers every year or so, where it would have been a better option to buy a commercial washing machine with a larger capacity to handle those large laundry loads.
Save Time On Drying
A commercial dryer has a higher BTU rating, greater airflow and bigger cylinder sizes which can effectively reduce drying time while increasing the productivity of your laundry process. A standard home dryer can take up to one hour to dry a load of terry towels whereas a commercial dryer can handle the same load in half the time.
Commercial Machines Can Be Programmed
Commercial machines are generally equipped with a control panel with customized settings to provide you with greater flexibility and efficiency.
Other considerations when buying commercial washers
- Make sure your water supply is sufficient to handle the required fill line to avoid longer wash cycles and fill times.
- An Industrial machine does not have pump drains like your home washers but consist of a gravity drain. Having a small drain system can dramatically slow down the drain times and wash cycles.
- Make sure you have enough power as a commercial washer and dryer uses 208-230V instead of the regular 120V used by home washers.
- Having a natural gas dryer can dry your load more effectively than an electrically heated dryer. Remember, you’ll need a larger exhaust for a commercial dryer.
- Ensure that you have adequate space to fit the machines into the desired area and allow enough room for service.
Conclusion:
The initial cost of buying a commercial washer or dryer is more expensive, but the long-term savings you’ll be enjoying makes the investment well worth your while.