Benefits of Choosing a Stackable
Why and how do you buy a stackable washer dryer? The path of least resistance to getting a washer and dryer is to buy the units separately (perhaps they are matching in brand, style and color) and then situate them in the laundry room side-by-side. The drawback to this way of buying one's laundry appliances is that it ends up taking up a lot of space.
Many people do find space to be at a premium. For example those who live in condominiums, small houses, mobile homes, and apartments, tend to shy from buying large items that eat up valuable interior real estate. The answer to this is a stackable washer dryer. Do you know what is good about the Bosch Stackable Washer Dryer? What about a portable washer dryer? Does it fit the bill? It turns out that almost all companies that make washers and dryers offer also a way to stack them. First, the washing and drying units must be of the right design to be stackable. For example, a top loading dryer cannot be stacked on top of a washer because then no one can reach into it as the opening is abuts the ceiling. Similarly, a washer with a panel of knobs or buttons on the top surface cannot accomodate any other appliance on the top. The key is to buy washing and drying units that are flat on all surfaces, and that the dryers are front-loading but the washers are top-loading.
Famous Companies
If you are not sure from which company to get your product, take a look at the big names in the industry first. There are a number of companies that engage in the design and manufacture of stackables. Among the group are the traditional giants of the laundry appliance business, such as American stalwarts Maytag (now owned by Whirlpool), General Electric (GE), Frigidaire, but also Asian behemoths Samsung and LG, as well as the high-end manufacturer Bosch from Europe. The quality and technology put into the respective products of each company vary greatly. GE and Maytag offer quite basic models with no-frills features, whereas LG offers all bells-and-whistles with their highly advanced appliances. One key thing to remember is that repair and buying washer parts is cheaper if dealing with simpler units.
Washer Features and Capacity
The standard features of most washers include the ability to select water level, water wash and rinse temperatures, as well as agitation or drum speed. Beyond the basics, look for automatic sensors that can select water depending on the load size, and choose the wash temperatures depending on fabric type. One important fact to keep in mind is that the washers in the stackable units tend to have smaller load volume as well in comparison to stacked ones. Standalones have capacities up to 3 or 4 cubic feet, whereas the stacked washers top out around 2.7 cubit feet (with a few exceptions). As a result, you may have to do a little extra work by dividing clothes up into two, three or four loads.
Dryer Features
In general, dryers tend to use the same amount of energy to heat and tumble the clothes dry. This has led to the curious situation where the federal government has guidelines for a energy savings in washers but not dryers. Therefore, look for energy star savings on one but not the other. The standard features for drying appliances are three or more settings for heat, and a rotating drum that tumbles the clothes. More fancy products will let the user steam clothes, set up an automatic detection and failsafe system to shut down drying when the fabric temperature exceeds some value. There is also the choice of the type of power that is fed into the unit. Both gas and electric versions are available but it is unclear if one presents a formidable advantage over another except for the fact that the gas version will save money in the long run.
Other Possibilities
The stackable washer dryer is only one of many that provide the convenience and benefits of a modern laundering appliance yet saves space for a home owner with a small home. Even smaller are mini washer dryers or sometimes known as combo washer dryers that combine the function of both into one unit. The drawback of these combination units is that a second cannot be started while the first load is drying because there is only a single unit. Another laundry appliance with a small foot print is the portable type - but these are specialty items which do not substitute for the full functionality of the stackable washer dryer.
