For most standard homes the “laundry room” consists of the corner of the garage which houses the washer and dryer. This can be a major pain in more ways than one, which is why many people opt for dedicated laundry or mudrooms. When planning this space for your custom home, it’s important to consider what kind of washer and dryer you’d like to include.
Where’s your laundry room?
The location of your laundry room can be a deciding factor when considering which features are most important. If you make your laundry room part of your mudroom, it will typically be near the garage or an outside entrance on the first floor. This means there’s some distance between your washer/dryer and living areas, so vibrations and noise won’t be as much of a factor. If your laundry room is located upstairs, above and next to living areas, the noises and vibrations of some models can be very distracting.
Washers are typically much louder than dryers as some model’s high speed spin cycles cause loud vibrations and can also cause the washer to rock back and forth, creating even more noise. If your laundry room will be located in an area that will make these noises disruptive, it would be worth it to choose a washer with slower spin cycles. The only benefit of faster spin cycles is that drying takes less time, but since most dryers are fairly energy efficient it can be a small price to pay for peace and quiet.
How much space is available?
Washers and dryers require a certain amount of free space around each unit in order to allow air to circulate. You’ll want to measure the area where you plan to keep your units and add in a few extra inches for wiggle room. If you want to leave more free space in your laundry room for folding, organization, and storage there are a wide variety of stacking options available. You can also use front loading washers and dryers, foregoing the pedestal option, and install them beneath a counter that you can use for storage and folding.
What are your clothing habits?
If your family tends to go through a lot of laundry, you’ll want to consider washers and dryers with high enough capacities to handle the volume of laundry that you do. Models without agitators tend to have the highest capacity while also being gentler on your clothes. If you skip the agitator, you’ll avoid having delicate clothing wrapped and tangled around it which is a major plus if a lot of your clothing requires washing on a gentle cycle.
Since most dryers operate similarly and use relatively equal amounts of energy, you don’t necessarily have to buy a new one unless you want to match your new washer. The main thing to look for is a moisture sensor which will sense when laundry is dry and stops the cycle so you don’t ruin your clothes with excessive heat.
Empire Custom Builders has many years experience building luxury custom homes, so we’re more than capable of helping you plan every detail of your new home. Contact us with questions or to schedule a consultation.
The location of your laundry room can be a deciding factor when considering which features are most important. If you make your laundry room part of your mudroom, it will typically be near the garage or an outside entrance on the first floor. This means there’s some distance between your washer/dryer and living areas, so vibrations and noise won’t be as much of a factor. If your laundry room is located upstairs, above and next to living areas, the noises and vibrations of some models can be very distracting.
Washers are typically much louder than dryers as some model’s high speed spin cycles cause loud vibrations and can also cause the washer to rock back and forth, creating even more noise. If your laundry room will be located in an area that will make these noises disruptive, it would be worth it to choose a washer with slower spin cycles. The only benefit of faster spin cycles is that drying takes less time, but since most dryers are fairly energy efficient it can be a small price to pay for peace and quiet.
How much space is available?
Washers and dryers require a certain amount of free space around each unit in order to allow air to circulate. You’ll want to measure the area where you plan to keep your units and add in a few extra inches for wiggle room. If you want to leave more free space in your laundry room for folding, organization, and storage there are a wide variety of stacking options available. You can also use front loading washers and dryers, foregoing the pedestal option, and install them beneath a counter that you can use for storage and folding.
What are your clothing habits?
If your family tends to go through a lot of laundry, you’ll want to consider washers and dryers with high enough capacities to handle the volume of laundry that you do. Models without agitators tend to have the highest capacity while also being gentler on your clothes. If you skip the agitator, you’ll avoid having delicate clothing wrapped and tangled around it which is a major plus if a lot of your clothing requires washing on a gentle cycle.
Since most dryers operate similarly and use relatively equal amounts of energy, you don’t necessarily have to buy a new one unless you want to match your new washer. The main thing to look for is a moisture sensor which will sense when laundry is dry and stops the cycle so you don’t ruin your clothes with excessive heat.
Empire Custom Builders has many years experience building luxury custom homes, so we’re more than capable of helping you plan every detail of your new home. Contact us with questions or to schedule a consultation.
