Whether you’re moving into a new home or it’s just time to upgrade your old washing machine, you have some things to consider before you buy.
Naturally, you’re going to look at price, but there is also the size, where the washer resides in your home, how much you need to wash, who is doing the laundry, what features interest you, and the cost to run it.
It’s a lot to take in, so let’s explore these topics further.
Pull Out the Tape Measure
Washers come in all shapes and sizes these days, and you may have a large laundry room or just a small corner in which to fit your washer.
Before you start looking pull out your tape measure and measure the space where you’ll be putting your washer to see what size will work best.
Keep in mind, you also have to get the washer through doors and up or down stairs as well!
There’s nothing worse than buying something you can’t fit in your house. In addition, check the inside depth of the bin to see if you can reach the bottom easily to get those pesky socks that are always trying to make a break for it.
Consider Where You’re Placing the Washer
In Arizona, common areas for a laundry room are the main floor close to the garage or upstairs. Both of theses locations have their pros and cons.
A washer that vibrates could be really annoying if it’s housed on the second floor. Or if the laundry room is by the garage, then maybe a pretty, colorful washer will make more of a fashion statement than plain-old white one.
Count Your Weekly Loads
Look at how much washing you’re likely to do when choosing your washer. The burden on a washer is much higher for a family of six than for a single person.
What types of things do you wash on a regular basis? Do you have a lot of comforters and blankets you want to wash at home? The bigger the items the more capacity you’ll need.
Washers can range from 2.45 to 5.6 cubic feet, and that’s a big difference. If you want a washer that can handle all types of loads go for the larger one with a quick cycle option which is perfect for smaller loads.
Think of Who’s Doing Laundry in Your Home
If you have children, you’re probably going to get them started helping with laundry.
Children tend to be a little smaller than adults, so you’ll want them to be able to reach everything easily.
Some washers come with pedestals for easier access, and many have programmable features so children can just push a button to get things working correctly.
Bells and whistles can be a huge benefit when you’re teaching another (little) person to run the machine!
Fight Stains and Save Your Clothes
According to tests run by Good Housekeeping, a front load washing machine clean better than top-loading machines.
You can also get a washer with a special pre-treatment soaking option that is helpful when fighting stains, as is the steam setting found on some models.
And while you’re pushing to get your clothes extra clean, you don’t want to ruin them. The agitator in many machines can tangle up clothes, rip them when they get stuck, and shrink your clothes.
Save Water and Slash Electricity Costs
Front-loading washers use significantly less water than do top loaders. Look for Energy Star models. They can cut electricity use 20% and water use by 35%. This can save you about $1,400 in ten years and use 110,000 fewer gallons during that time.
Bonus: Get Your Washer Professionally Installed!
Once you’ve chosen the perfect washer for your home and family, the next step is to install it! While this may seem like a simple task, it’s best left to the professionals.
Before you purchase your washer call in a professional plumber for information on which models are top rated and which will fit best in your laundry room.
The plumbers at Forrest Anderson are ready to help! Give us a call! Once you’ve made your purchase We’ll provide feedback on your washer choice and properly install it into your home.
Remember that a poorly installed washer can vibrate, which puts undue wear and tear on the machine. You’ve just made a substantial investment. Don’t leave it to chance!
Contact Forrest Anderson Today!