I am replacing my old dryers. Install question.

[Distance Runner]

Ok, with everyone's wonderful assistance, I have decided to replace my old Borg dryers. I currently have 4 Borgs and will be replacing them with 5 Wasco stack dryers (10 pockets). So, my calculation says I am gaining 120% more dryers in the same square footage.

Besides the fact that the Borgs were not making money, the decision seems to be a good one because I have created more dryers for my customers, in the same space.

Here is my question: I do most all of my repairs in my stores. Is removing and installation of dryers too much to do? Should I hire it out, or take on the install myself?

I don't want to get in over my head, but if it's pretty easy...

[pete f]

Ask the rep who does his installs and get a price.

There are a few factors involved. Besides the sheer weight of the dryers, and moving them around, not to mention getting the old ones out, consider also:

Make up air
Venting
electric
gas line work

If you are replacing 4 50# with 5 stacks it wil be you need a little more of each, as the 50's have bigger make up and venting then a single 30. If you are going from 4 30# pockets to 10 30# pockets you really need to get the utility right.

I always hire an installer. They will tell you what is needed to make the job work right.

[fishmanz]

Pete is right. They weigh about 600 lbs each. I just paid a guy to haul 16 of them out for me. I need my back muscles intact

[mjwalsh]

I remember when 2 of my friends & myself had the freight carrier leave their semi trailer with 16 525# dryers for a few days on our lot. We contracted with a local forklift operator to move the 12 700# dryers out & bring the 16 new ones in.

The electrical & sheet metal was pretty much done except for the final connections. The gas drops needed to be added & realigned.

[DuboisLaundry]

I vote for hiring a pro. Preferrably from the distributor.

I got a dexter 30# stack stuck in my front door for 1/2 day last spring and gouged the floor a few places. Later another dryer would intermittently not get hot, usually at busy times. Bigger gas pipes fixed that. They all need the gas drops realigned so I can have all the dryer fronts in a straight line - currently some are off by 1/2 inch or more. I was using the sizes of gas pipe I could get at the hardware store. A plumber with a pipecutter and pipe threader mounted on his truck could have made the exact right lengths instead of a maze of couplings, elbows, etc behind a crooked row of dryers.

I anticipated the extra electrical and air in advance so those didn't turn into problems. Well, one of the holes in the cinderblock wall has some jagged edges, but otherwise fine.

[The wizard]

Make sure they quote to install as per manufacturers recommendations and specifications. Therefore, any up grades needed to make your dryers operate properly are covered. Should any upgrades end up costing more then you can handle ask which ones you need now and ones you might be able to live with. Plus if they miss something you can tell them its their fault. Many time you get "hook up to existing" resulting in improper make up air, venting, gas etc. Pay to get it right and hold them to it. But without referring to a set of specs i.e. the manufacturer you are up for anybodies idea of what will work. Having the manufacturers manual to reference and the fact the distributor should always try to install machine as per manufacture requirements. Duh! isn't that is why they are "manufacturers representative". Any problem which develop later down the road and its because of installation your hopefully covered. Lastly, have them tell you what you have and what you need to upgrade to and why. With stacks I recommend installing individual switches for each pocket if possible. Shutting off one vice two or more better.