Laundry has come a long way since the old manual wringer washers that we were warned to keep our fingers away from or touch at our own risk!
When buying new laundry, the first considerations should be; how many people are in your home, how many loads of washing you do each week, and finally, the space you have to use.
There are several categories of washers and dryers. The first is called a Laundry Centre, sometimes also referred to as unitized laundry. They come in two sizes, 24" and 27" inches wide; the washer and dryer are connected into one unit. The difference between the two sizes is that there is a larger capacity in the 27" inch version. They great for closets or where space is at a premium.
Conventional top load washers and front load dryers have been around for years. Conventional washers contain an agitator that moves the clothing around and it is this mechanical action that does the cleaning. Over time this mechanical agitation is hard on clothing. Older machines could grab sweater sleeves and bra straps and damage clothing by stretching.
Conventional Dryers will usually offer a time dry option as well as a sensor cycle. The sensor cycle in the dryer uses one sensor to monitor the temperature, and if there is a second sensor, it is reading the humidity level in the outflow air.
The cleaning action in front load washers is quite a bit different. The drum spins horizontally, causing the laundry to tumble into soapy water rather than soaking in it. This action is gentler on clothing and uses a lot less water than a conventional washer.
Front-loading dryers have multiple drying profiles more suited to the type of clothing and have both temperature and humidity sensors. Front Loading washers and dryers can be used side by side or stacked with the addition of a stacking kit. To raise the height of a front loading washer and dryer, use a Pedestal. Pedestals allow for easier access and less bending over.
The single biggest difference between the two types of washers lies in the spin speed at the end of the cycle. Top-loading washers usually spin out at about 700 rpm, while the front-loading machines are spinning between 1200 and 1400 rpm. The faster spin speed removes the most water from the clothing, allowing for faster dry time and less energy usage.
Front-load and top-loading washers have had a feature called "load-sensing" for years since California first launched water restrictions in 2015. In essence, the washer adds water and weighs the clothing and sets the correct water level. A load of laundry with three pairs of jeans will use much less water than a full load of bedding.
Some new washers have also added a soap reservoir that, working with the water level sensors will deliver the correct amount of soap suited to the size of the load.
The 24-inch compact washers and dryers are the hottest laundry products now. They can be used side by side like their larger relatives or can be stacked. The washers have load sensing and much higher spin out speed while the dryers can either be in a vented or ventless configuration. The advent of the
Ventless dryer means that if you have water and a drain available, you can have laundry without needing the dryer vented to outdoors.
ventless dryers use either a condenser system or a heat pump system. A heat pump dryer differs from a condensation dryer in a few small but significant ways. Instead of a condenser, a heat pump dryer uses a refrigerant system that can be heated and cooled, making it the most energy-efficient dryer.
The hot air coming from the drum is cooled to release the moisture. As the air is cooled, the heat energy is transferred into the heat pump, which reuses the energy to warm up the cool, dry air and send it back into the drum. This is the only system reusing energy, virtually cutting its energy footprint in half.
Come in and explore all of our laundry options.