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For commercial laundries, the volume in industrial washers can be a selling point. A bigger washer can mean the difference between two and four loads. It can mean the difference between efficiency and wasted money. It could even mean the difference between profit and loss.

Can your washer offer more for you – and for your customers? Let’s explore why size does matter and what is the importance in washer volume.

Does size matter? Is bigger better?

Bigger isn’t always better – it’s what you need from your washer and how you use it. For a commercial laundry, the washer will be used consistently throughout the day. For the business to run efficiently having a larger commercial washer will allow larger loads of washing completed faster, and water consumption to be limited.

For smaller businesses, a commercial washer may not be necessary. However, a washer with a larger volume capacity will allow for fewer loads, less energy and water consumption. The upfront costs may be more expensive, however in the long run your expenses could be lower.  

With labour costs being so high throughout the Australian marketplace a larger volume washer that can reduce the number of cycles you have to do each day by just one or two, will save you huge dollars from your payroll come the end of the year.

Why are washers measured in weight?

When you’re buying a washer, you’ll often see the machine capacity described in weight. Whether it’s a 5 kilogram residential washer,  a 9 kilogram commercial washer or a 18kg Industrial High Spin Washer, it all comes down to what you use it for and what you need it to do for you. The weight described on the washer relates to laundry load the machine can comfortably handle and clean without wasting any extra power or water.

Tip: The washer capacity relates to dry clothes, not wet clothes. We understand that when towels get wet they get three times heavier. Don’t fret, your machine is built to handle this. Focus on the the weight of the dry load of laundry you’re putting into the washer.  

The importance of volume

Volume refers to the amount which something can hold. For washers, it means how much you can fit into your washer before it breaks on you. When you’re determining how you can do as few loads as possible, this is where volume ruins the fun. If you overload the machine, you run the risk of unbalancing your machine. This is especially bad for front loader washers.

So what does this mean? How can this help you purchase the better washer? Let’s say you’re trying to choose between two washers that are both rated for 30 kilograms. However, one of them says it can handle 8.8 cubic feet of volume and the other can handle 9.7 cubic feet of volume. Which one is going to handle all your bed linen and blankets? 9.7 cubic feet of volume, of course! The critical difference here is that, although both washers can handle a lump of laundry the same weight – one has more space inside the drum.

Volume is a much more accurate portrayal of how much your washing machine can handle, 20 kg of heavy denim will have a very different volume when compared to 20kg of thin linens.

When you’re in the market for a new washer, consider what your needs are before comparing and buying a new washer, and remember our buyer trick about volume!

For more information regarding commercial washer needs, contact Dependable Laundry Solutions.