Stacked Washer and Dryer

[Beth]

I'm interested in hearing about experiences with stacked washers and dryers. I'm also interested in hearing whether you would consider stacked units a negative at resale.

Our home is in the mid-range here -- about 3500 sq ft, 20 yr old custom, but with a small utility room. On the main wall there is room for the washer, dryer and a fridge beside the small sink -- a 24" cabinet with no room to set anythig down and a shallow sink that splatters everywhere. The other wall is shorter (in height due to AC ducts for the dining room and in length due to a doorway) and has shallow strange cabinets. There is a window at one end and the dorr swing onthe other, so there really isn't much usable space. There is also place to put laundry -- dirty, sorted or clean -- to fold or hang dry. Stacking the units gives me more options.

I was talking to the person who did our cabinets for the kitchen and she said she thought it could be a mistake to stack a washer and dryer in a home this size 00 that is would be odd in a home that wasn't in an older neighborhood or a small home where it might be a retrofit. I'm also hesitating because I'm tall and not sure I want to be bending -- but any front loaders would have a similar iussue, even on pedastals.

I've gone back and forth on this for months -- approaching a year now, but the washer is acting up again and the extended warranty runs out in September. I may have to make a decision soon.

Your thoughts?

[testkitchen45]

Beth, I agree that it could be a mistake to build your cabinets so that the only w/d possibility is stacked, b/c with 3500 sf, you're looking at resale to families with kids--hence TONS of laundry. And most people buying homes (at least of that size) already have their own w/d, so locking your laundry room into a stacked configuration would definitely be a negative. Side-by-side units give you the whole top surface for folding, esp. if they're front-loaders. Just don't get the pedestals underneath if that's your only folding option, b/c the w/d get pretty tall if you do (great storage, though, if you had a counter for work space). Depends on how tall you are, I guess.

Does that help? Front loaders w/o pedestals = nice work table across the top, too (I'm on the tall side & never had a problem w/the height). I think you're asking if you should configure your l'rm to have cabinets that'd accommodate stacked units--? I'd say no.

[Beth]

I don't think I could be happy with front loaders without pedastals -- I'm 5'12" and have a bad neck and shoulders. The bending and crooning to reach into them many times a day would be a literal pain for me. If I put them on pedastals, they are too tall for folding and sorting.

I was just talking to DH and we both agreed that come time to sell the house (no current plans to move at all and plan to stay at least another 6-8 years if not forever), we would probably sell the machines with the house. That said, we have been looking at units like the large Whirlpool Duets. They would not be smaller units. I have 2 boys (complete with sleeping bags and camping gear), 2 dogs (who go to the dog park and can bring home mud) and a pool -- we have lots of laundry.

Truth is I'm not totally happy with any of my alternatives and am just trying to figure out which one gives the most and gives up the least.

ETA: I should also mention that the width of the room limits us with front loaders. I can only put them in front of the door -- so they are seen from the front hallway (but not the front door), narrow or eliminate the storage cabinets opposite them, or possibly get the smaller euro models that aren't as deep -- but there goes the idea of a larger capacity washer and dryer. There isn't an easy fix.

[blazedog]

Given that you are planning to live in the house for the foreseeable future, you should configure the space exactly in the manner that makes sense to you -- even if it might be "odd" to third parties.

I am short and the front loading machines are really not easy to use so I can only imagine what it's like if you are taller. Of course I only do a load a week so it's not a huge issue in my life.

As to the specifics, each of the approaches seems to have drawbacks which is the hardest kind of decision to make -- (avoidance/avoidance).

[Beth]

Given that you are planning to live in the house for the foreseeable future, you should configure the space exactly in the manner that makes sense to you ...).

If I could only figure out what that is!

.... each of the approaches seems to have drawbacks which is the hardest kind of decision to make -- (avoidance/avoidance).

Yep -- that's why I've been playing with this so long. We just had the washer repaired recently and I was counting on it lasting longer. We are starting to get the same errors as before, just not consistently. It could take months to break down completely, so we may or may not be covered by the warranty, and Ithe one thing I know for sure is that I don't want to put any more money into this machine or a renewal of the warranty.

I didn't mention that the remodelled kitchen (which could not be extended in any direction), the driveway, brick walls, a load bearing wall and a front porch surround the utility room -- no possibility of changing the footprint. The way this house sits on our lot, we got what we got.

My brain hurts, and I really need to go help my son clean his room and empty his dresser. Those may sound contradictory, but he's getting new furniture next week.

[Gumbeaux]

Yep -- that's why I've been playing with this so long. We just had the washer repaired recently and I was counting on it lasting longer. We are starting to get the same errors as before, just not consistently. It could take months to break down completely, so we may or may not be covered by the warranty, and Ithe one thing I know for sure is that I don't want to put any more money into this machine or a renewal of the warranty.

Do you still have your Calypso washer or is this another one. If so, did you get any of the settlement money?

I threw my new Calypso washer in the dumpster because it kept giving me error codes and wouldn't work.

[Beth]

This is the Calypso, which had run well until this spring. The motor and pump were replaced not that long ago and it was working very well. I thought the pressure for figuring out how to put in new front loaders was off for a while. Not so sure now. The Calypso history is the main reason I won't put in another dime. I'd rather go buy a cheapo, very basic washer and/or dryer to tide me over than spend the same amount of a warranty and wait for repairs and hope parts are availble.

I read somewhere that appliance manufacturers are required to have parts available for 5 years. The parts could run out anytime now -- and if they don't have many under extended warranties, they would have no incentive to keep them available.