Dryer to washer ratio?

[anonymous]

Examining Mats for sale there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the dryer to washer ratio.

If you were to build or retrofit a wash currently how would you develop a plan for dryer to washer ratio?

I tried using a common denominator of 'loads'. A top loader generates one load, a front loader generates two, three, four or more loads, etc.

Now I'm not sure on how many loads to attribute to the vast variety of dryers, help there would be appreciated. However with that and an estimate on the average time to dry a load, I was hoping to get an idea of a desired dryer to washer ratio.

Thanks.. Happy and safe Holidays to all
****

When the wash is very busy and dryer space is at a premium, do you instruct your attendants to encourage patrons to double up dryer loads verses spreading out over several, in consideration for others in the wash - - or - - do you leave it alone?

[mike]

Further complicated by those of us in northern climes, where customers can dry outside in the summer, but not in winter.

I guess we just have to build extra capacity, to handle the winter dry, just like we have to do on weekends.

I believe in having over capacity on dryers:
If a customer walks in and has to wait for a washer, they are aware of that fact before they start their wash, but if they start out not waiting, I believe they are unhappier to have to wait halfway through the process which is unexpected.

I recently replaced/added dryers, and was told by my distributor that I was adding too many dryers, I needed more washers. I added only the dryers, and he was surprised to come in one day and see them all going. (sure I will add washers when I can afford it, and increase business, but the dryers were an immediate need.)

[mike]

Equipment now 19 maytag tops, 2 x W125, 12 x W124, and 28 30lb pockets (12 singles American, 8 stacks wascomat)

[Anonymous]

Rough "rule" I've hard tossed around is that you should have 1.1-1.2 pounds dryer capacity for each pound washer capacity. Obviously, the more the better for the customers.

[CharlieS]

The old rules called for more washers than dryers, at least around here. This often creates bottlenecks on busy days.

I often see people break even toploads into multiple dryers. They think that they can dry faster by splitting the load, which generally they can. I don't think any body wants to double up loads any more in the dryers.

The result is, I think 1 to 1, machine count to machine count, is the way to go nowadays. Think Stacks!

Its not unusual for me to see nearly every dryer running at the same time, even 1 to 1.

Charlie

[Anonymous]

Surprised to hear you say that small loads dry faster, my experience shows this is false. If you don't put enough in the dryer most of the energy just flows though and is not absorbed by the clothing. You need to get enough mass in there to absorb the heat.

[pete f]

I have looked at it from different count. Add up your total wash capacity, the whole store. Now devide that by 23. My 3 mats have the following

Mat #1 1 30# dryer pocket for every 20.3 # wash capacity. This mat never runs out of dryers and really, has to many. The mat is busy all the time.

Mat # 2 1 30# dryer pocket for every 24 # wash capacity. This one is about right, once in a great while they are all going, it is a busy mat.

Mat #3 1 30# pocket for every 26 # wash capacity. This is not bad either, mostly becuase this mat is not a very busy one, but that is offest dryer wize becuase of the huge amout of dry only customers I get. Again, once in a great while I see them all full. This mat has no room for more dryers, but is set up with 4 25# washers between a bank of dryers. I am considering a couple Dexter stack 25# washer/dryer when the 2 super 20's go, to get the ratio up to 23.5

The coins comming out tell me all are about right for the particular mat. I have a couple dryers in each one that do not get many turns a week, but do get used a little.

I would go with 1 dryer pocket for every 24-23 pounds of wash capacity in the next one I do.

[anonymous]

I have always used a 1:25 to 1:00 ratio and that seems to work very well. I also have in the machine mix at least two (2) 50 lb. dryers for the larger items (bedspreads, etc.). I'm even looking at perhaps installing a 75 lb. dryer in each location this coming year (not because of bottlenecks, but because most of my competitors don't have anything that size).

[David]

I am approx 1 to 1 ratio.

[pete f]

I miscounted # 3, I had more dryers than I remember, so that mat is at about 1 dryer for every 23 # wash capacity also. I do not understand 1:1 or 1: 1:25, washers are different sizing, so you need so much dry vs wash capacity.

[anonymous]

Pete,
It is based on capacity (ie: 1000 lb wash capacity - 1250 lb dryer capacity) sorry if that was confusing!

[CharlieS]

Kirby -
I didn't say that splitting the load made them dry faster! I just said that my customers think they dry faster. Who am I to complain if they put in extra guarter?

Charlie

[anonymous]

The motivation for customers to split up the clothes may be the time factor. Instead of overloading the dryer and using it for 40 minutes to dry, they figure if they split it up it will dry in 20 minutes becuse they can run two loads simultaneously in two dryers.

[pete f]

MRH.. thanks for the math lesson... believe it or not I got almost straight "a's in math, algerbra, not so good on geo. and I was bad at word problems also... Your formula ( 1:1.25 works out to 1 dryer for every 24.3 lb of wash capacity, which is near the numbers that have worked in my mats. I had thought the 1:1.25 had something to do with the number of washers vs dryers, and knowing washers came in many sizes, it did not make sense.. again,. I was bad at word problems...

[mike]

I just reworked my ratios (equipment listed below) according to the poundage, it comes out to 23.57 lbs. for each 30 lb. dryer. (exactly what you guys predicted as a good formula ! coincidence, I think not.)