Find The Best Washer Dryer Type

There are three washer dryer types; front load (stackables), side by sides, and unitized.



Front Loaders

Front loaders can be stacked one on top of another to save on space, they can go side by side, or they can go side by side on pedestals. Pedestals are a great thing to have because they elevate the washer & dryer so that there is little or no bending of the back involved.

One VERY important thing to remember with these front loaders is that with most of them, it is NOT recommended that they operate on any 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. floor applications. These must have a solid, level, concrete surface under it to be able to support the high spin cycle of the washer. If these machines are placed on any floor other than the ground, the floor must be reinforced with a Durock or any other concrete-like reinforcer. If this is not done, there is a good possibility the washer can damage your floor, and that will be a world of headaches you do not want to involve yourself with!

There are some front loaders out there however, that can go on any floor, for example, GE’s Adora front loaders have the capability to go on any level application and perform great! It’s due to the way their tub is suspended. Some manufacturers such as Maytag or LG bolt their tubs directly to the machine which will cause the entire thing to shake and vibrate. GE has their tub elevated using shocks and springs like on a car. So just be sure that you double check with the manufacturer as to whether the washer & dryer of interest can be placed on any level. Of course if your wash room is in the basement you’re fine, but this is still good information to know. You wouldn't want this happening to a neighbor or friend

Another fact to know about front loaders is that though they use the least amount of water and the least amount of energy, they take longer to complete a cycle than a top load washer would. Depending on the particular washer these times can vary.

Another washer dryer type is the Side-By-Side. This is your traditional, top load set that sit next to one another. People have moved away from these because of the more gentle front load washers out today; but technology has taken another spin on things, and has placed top load washers back on top. Top load washers now come “agitatorless”. Why is this so good? Well the agitator found in older-styled washers are extremely harsh on fabrics. The agitator, over time, wears the fabric down. After being roughly handled in the washer, it’s placed in a dryer without dry-sensors that cause even more damage, which I will explain later on.

So now with the top load washer without the agitator, you have a machine that will not only wash faster than front loaders, it’s even more gentle on your fabrics than the front loader's “tumblers”.

The last washer dryer type is the unitized model. This set is generally found in apartments or condominiums. If you must have a unitized set, go with the least expensive one you can find. These are straight-forward machines with not too many extra features. They all do pretty much the same thing. Simply choose a color and go with the cheapest one you can find!

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