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myneighbortotoro

Recommend a stacked washer & dryer set for tenants

7 years ago

Does anyone have any suggestions for an affordable and durable stacked electric front load washer and a dryer?


My tenants overloaded and broke the laundry center (washer on bottom, dryer on top set that is attached). Repair costs would be at least $700 (many broken parts including 3 panels that they tried to pry off), so I am thinking of replacing the set. This has happened before and the repair person said people, or at least tenants, always overload top loaders.


I am thinking of getting a stacking set with two different pieces: dryer and front loading washer, but I don't want to have to pay $2,000 or more for the set. A new laundry center can probably be had for around $1,300, so I would prefer to stay closer to that price point.


Comments (13)

  • 7 years ago

    I just bought a Maytag front load washer (made by whirlpool) and dryer that was stacked in the store (not currently stacked but will be this weekend) for 1200 for the set. Seems to be a decent pair and has an internal heater. That said if the store I went to had an Electrolux set I would of got them as I had a set before the Maytag and loved them. (Sears is closing so had decent sales. I’ve seen the Maytag sets for 1300 for the pair at Home Depot). The maytag set came with a one year warranty and I bought a extended warranty directly from them for 189 for both to cover me for five years. With it being a rental an extended warrenty may come in use (although I’m not sure if there is restrictions to the warranty like not valid in rental situations.).

    Condo Home thanked Larisa Batchelor
  • 7 years ago

    I didn't think I could get that kind of set for so little. I will definitely look into Home Depot. Thanks!

  • 7 years ago

    Does Home Depot do installation and haul away your old appliances?

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I’m not sure as we bought ours at a sears hometown store that was closing. We brought a truck and picked up our appliances ourself. I am almost positive Home Depot does delivery and will take old unit away.

  • 7 years ago
    Hey Condo, Home Depot does deliver and haul off old appliances in my area. As a fellow landlord I had to laugh at your story of tenants tearing up your appliances. I have many of those stories, myself. Good luck
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I'd get another low priced top loader for tenants. Everyone knows how to use a top loader, a front loader requires a learning curve and regular cleaning. They'll destroy it faster than a top loader. BTW, Home Depot does install and haul away. You might have to pay a small fee for the haul, installation is free.

    Condo Home thanked twebbz
  • 7 years ago

    If I get a front loading washing machine, it looks like I need one with a reversible door. I see that Electrolux offers one. Does anyone know if any other companies do? I see lots of dryers with reversible doors but Samsung washing machines and some other brands appear not to.

    I'm hoping to see some good sales for President's Day.

  • 7 years ago
    I have really good luck with the lowest priced LG washers in my apartments. I do not stack them and I save money on the dryer by pairing them with an appropriately sized GE dryer. If you are stacking, be aware you must use the same brand, need to order a stacking kit, and will likely have to unstack them for service calls. When you have to replace one of them it may not be possible as the sizes may have changed. In other words, side by side is best if at all possible.
    Condo Home thanked mainenell
  • 7 years ago

    It is a few hundred dollars more above your $2,000 preferred upper limit, but otherwise a new stacked commercial grade set made by Whirlpool may meet your requirements for durability. Google "Whirlpool CET9100GQ" for sales offers and product descriptions from various vendors.


    The controls are very simple. Tenants that have used coin/user fee laundromats will not need a long instructional lecture demo on your part. I noticed that the maximum spin speed of the washer is capped at 1,000 RPM. Whirlpool is claiming that at that speed, the spin force equivalent is about 300 G's. From what I have read is some laundromat store forums, this is about the sweet spot optimizing the amount of water spun out of the laundry vs. the long term mechanical wear of the washer, and the time that the laundry has to spend in the dryer to complete the drying process.


    The downside is that if you were to get tenants that prefer laundry equipment with more finesse that can handle wool, silk, etc. with the utmost care, this stacked set may not do the trick.

    Condo Home thanked zenhar24
  • 7 years ago

    Thanks for the replies! There is no room for anything but a "laundry center" or a stacked washer and dryer. Frankly, after all of the repair problems (and replacement machines) I have had due to practically all of my tenants overloading the washer, they are lucky to get any washer and dryer at all. Silk is the least of my concerns.


    I was told that many landlords in my area have removed washers and dryers because their tenants keep damaging machines by overloading with clothes and putting things like bobby pins in the washing machine. I was also told that my tenants could have started a fire if they hadn't stopped trying to break into the machine when they did. There are electrical components right on the other side of one of the panels they were digging into.

  • 7 years ago

    I have to agree with whoever told you they don't supply w/d to tenants anymore.


    I've been a homeowner for a long time, but I used to be tenant in various apts. None of which supplied a w/d in each apt. My daughter who has been a tenant in two separate buildings, also, no w/d in the apts.


    I have noticed the trend in recent years for landlord supplied w/d in rental units and while it's attractive to a tenant, it can only lead to high costs and frustration for a landlord. If I was to own rental property, I would not, under any circumstances offer a w/d in the rental unit. To the point that if I bought a rental property and it came with w/d hook-ups, I would seal them off and build a cabinet in front of the hook-ups. No exceptions. I've owned enough washers and dryers in my lifetime to know that even with my own very good laundry and loading habits, bad things happen, and sometimes it's catastrophic. Tenants for the most part are not going to take as good care of any appliance in their unit as they would if they owned said machines.


    I understand your frustration though...you have existing tenants who have rented a unit with w/d hook ups and provided machines, therefore you pretty much have to keep things status quo. You might want to think about the time when these tenants vacate and perhaps remove your laundry machines and seal up the hook-ups since this is going to a repeat problem no matter who your tenant is.


    Call me Scrooge, but I'm ok with that. It's costly enough to keep up with maintenance and purely cosmetic improvements on a rental unit, insurance, property taxes, etc...add in appliances and it's hard to make ends meet on paper and bank balances. In fact, back in my renting days I never even had a dishwasher supplied. Neither has my daughter. Just something to think about.

  • 7 years ago

    I agree with SEA SEA. I would buy the first decent looking laundry center I could find on craigslist and slap it in. And when those tenants move, I would shut down the laundry room. It is a tragedy how careless tenants can be. My sisters own rental properties and they will supply a washer dryer to tenants, but only old-fashioned top loaders that they purchase used, and only if the house has a basement laundry room with a big drain in the floor.