Unlike washer-dryer combos that come as a single unit, washer and dryer sets come as separate components that can be stacked on top of each other to occupy a single vertical space.
The power supply is normally separate as well. The most notable advantage of this style of separate washer/dryer is that it permits you to complete all your laundry faster.
Also, it allows you to wash your fabrics and dry them simultaneously and typically comes with a bigger load capacity, so the user can put more fabrics into one load and be done with laundry in a single sweep.
One potential drawback, however, is that, very much like conventional dryers, this set works as a stacked unit hence requires outside ventilation.
As a result, the whole set up becomes unnecessarily complex to set up and run compared to those all-in-one units.
So, Should You Use The Washer And Dryer At The Same Time?
No, but you can try it out if you get certain things right (more on this later). The straight answer is normally a “No” because the whole set up would be unsafe. Both of these appliances consume a great deal of electricity. Your dryer probably draws slightly more electricity than the washer. Your washer is the most energy-efficient of the two (if compared side by side, that is) – there are moments when your washer isn’t even using electricity at all, like when it is filling up with laundry water. The washer may only use a larger amount of electricity during the Spin Cycles and Agitation. Running both your washer and dryer at the same draws more power simultaneously and this has been found to strain the home electrical circuit.
Two Reasons Why You SHOULD NOT Use The Washer And Dryer Simultaneously
1. Risk of fire
Unless you want electrical fires in your home, you would not run the washer and dryer at the same time.
Exceeding the load rating for your home’s circuit wiring will certainly trip the circuit breaker, shutting off electrical power to the whole circuit.
In the absence of a circuit breaker, the surge created by the dryer and washer running at the same time would cause overheating in the circuit wiring, a situation that could cause the wire insulations to melt and even catch fire.
Different circuits come with different load ratings to permit them to supply more electrical power than others.
Household electrical systems are typically designed around normal household usage, but there is nothing that can prevent you from plugging in several devices and appliances on a single circuit.
That’s probably why you are pondering whether it would be ok to run the washer and dryer at the time. However, the more details you know about your home’s circuit layout the more easily you can figure out how to prevent overloads.
2. Bloated energy bills
Another reason why you shouldn’t run the washer and the dryer at the same time is the great amount of electricity the two would draw from the circuit.
At the end of the month, you are almost certainly going to pay for a bloated energy bill.
You’d rather buy a washer-dryer combo – it’s cheaper to do laundry with such a unit than try to use two separate appliances to complete related tasks.
If you aren’t thinking of a combo unit yet, it would be prudent you use the washer and dryer separately for the time being.
Better yet, ensure that you go for the most energy-efficient model of each of these two.
Other issues you might have to cope with:
1. Power outages
This may end up being the order of the day if circuit breakers keep constantly tripping under the weight of these two appliances when they are left to run at the same time.
You could be left without a power supply mainly because the electrical box can’t handle the demand.
2. Sparks
If you spot sparks emerging from your electrical panel or outlets, switch off the power completely and contact an expert technician so that they can inspect the wiring.
Sparks are a sign of an overloaded panel and it can be a fire hazard if you don’t rectify the issue on time.
3. Electrical box or outlets becoming too hot
This is another sign that your washer and dryer are pushing the outlets or electrical panel to work harder.
While a hot outlet may imply that the plugged-in appliances are causing the problem, the situation should not be taken lightly, because it may inflict more damages on your home’s wiring.
Related: Can You Put a Rug Under a Washer and Dryer?
When to Use Washer and Dryer at The Same Time – Two Reasons
We began by discouraging you from ever considering running these two appliances simultaneously.
However, if you want to use both of them so bad and you still don’t want a combo, there are a few ways around the obstacles that make the whole set up risky or energy-inefficient.
1. Adjust Your Electrical Panel
You can make a few adjustments on the panel to permit you to run power-hungry appliances that could cause a surge in the circuit (and that’s if you don’t care about the bloated energy bill).
Your electrical box determines the amount of electrical output available in your home.
Typically, the box will have an amperage in the range of 100 and 200.
The amperage of the entire group of circuit breakers available on the panel can double that number.
Every circuit breaker normally has an amperage guide, often within the brackets of 15 and 30 amps. This usually outlines the amount of power you can comfortably use for this particular area.
So, if you intend to use both the dryer and the washer simultaneously in a certain room among other appliances, you will want to ensure you have the minimum amperage possible in that room, around 200.
The exact size of the amperage for the room will depend on the power ratings of your dryer and washer and, sometimes, the size of that room or home.
For that reason, hire a licensed technician to advise you if your home needs some electrical panel adjustments.
If need be, you can give these two appliances a dedicated circuit just the same way you’d do with an HVAC system.
This means that one circuit breaker will supply power to just one outlet occupied by the two appliances, reducing the danger of overloading the electrical panel and averting damages or fire.
Ensuring that these appliances are wired the right way – can go a long way to increase efficiency by providing the appliances with a reliable and stable supply of power.
2. Consider Home Rewiring
If your home is considerably old but you still want to run these two power-hungry appliances, you will probably need to rewire the home to avoid problems.
In an old home, you will realize that the circuit was not designed to support the appliances and amount of power we use in modern lifestyles.
Summary
So, should you use the washer and dryer at the same time?
In one word, “No.” These appliances consume a lot of electricity and may cause problems in your home’s circuit.
There are two major reasons why you shouldn’t –
- one has something to do with risk of fire
- while the other concerns the effect the two appliances have on your energy bills when allowed to run concurrently
Unless you want electrical fires in your home, you would not run the washer and dryer at the same time.
- Exceeding the load rating for your home’s circuit wiring will certainly trip the circuit breaker, shutting off electrical power to the whole circuit
- The reason is the great amount of electricity the two would draw from the circuit.
- At the end of the month, you are almost certainly going to pay for a bloated energy bill
- You’d rather buy a washer-dryer combo – it’s cheaper to do laundry with such a unit than try to use two separate appliances to complete related tasks.
There are a few other issues you’d have to cope with:
- When your electrical box or outlets becoming too hot, it is a sign that your washer and dryer are pushing the outlets or electrical panel to work harder
- Sparks are another sign of an overloaded panel and it can be a fire hazard if you don’t rectify the issue on time.
- Power outages may end up being the order of the day if circuit breakers keep constantly tripping under the weight of these two appliances when they are left to run at the same time.
Fortunately, there are approaches you can take to help you run these two appliances without issues (they should only be used when very necessary because they are not the most advisable routes to take)
- For example, you may make adjustments on your electrical panel
- You can make a few adjustments on the panel to permit you to run power-hungry appliances that could cause a surge in the circuit
- If need be, you can give these two appliances a dedicated circuit just the same way you’d do with an HVAC system.
- If your home is considerably old but you still want to run these two power-hungry appliances, you will probably need to rewire the home to avoid problems.
