The 4 Reasons Why Inexpensive Laundry Equipment Costs More in the Long-run
For laundromats, keeping utility costs down increases net income significantly. Depending on where your laundromat is and local rates, the cost of utilities can be as high as 25% of gross revenues. Therefore, inefficient, poorly designed washers and dryers can cost laundromat owners tens of thousands of dollars per year. Here are four reasons why inexpensive equipment costs more in the long-run.
1. Utilities – Monthly water, electricity and gas expenses are primary operating costs and will all cost more with inexpensive washers and dryers.
Electricity/Gas
Energy efficient, well-engineered dryers use between 25% and 40% less gas than cheaper dryers. Paired with high-extract washers to create a Next Level laundry system, dryer energy efficiency is maximized by reducing drying time.
Total cost of inexpensive equipment: 40% higher electricity bills
Water
Water consumption by washers differs greatly between brands. Choose a brand with load sensing technology that will provide only enough water to adequately wash each load. According to Consumer Reports, for every eight pounds of laundry, water consumption by type of washer looks like this:
• Agitator top-load: 19 to 26 gallons
• High-efficiency top loader: 13 gallons
• Front loader: 7 gallons
Top-load washers are the cheapest commercial washers in terms of price but end up using three to four times more water per load. Again, load sensing adds to this factor and can lead to some really serious water savings.
Total cost of inexpensive equipment: 3 to 4 times high water bills
2. Service and Repairs – Laundromat cash flow is directly dependent on washers and dryers remaining functional and operating for customer use. Regular maintenance is required for all brands, no matter the cost, but repairs and purchasing of parts will likely happen more often with less expensive equipment. Cheaper washers and dryers generally use cheaper parts and are designed with more plastic parts. When buying less expensive equipment, you get machines that will break more often.
Total cost of inexpensive equipment: up to $500 per month
3. Load Capacity – Larger machines are extremely popular with customers, since they present the opportunity to get a lot of laundry done quickly. Customers are happy to pay more per load to get back home and go about their day. This will result in more customers getting through your laundry faster. Bundle services can increase maximum number of customer per day, and happy customers will be far less likely to have to wait for washers and dryers on busy days. Two to three times more loads can be done in any given day utilizing larger washers in place of top load or small chassis washers.
Total cost of inexpensive equipment: Two to three loads per hour
4. Equipment Replacement – Commercial laundromat washers and dryers are used far more frequently than those used in the home. Less expensive commercial laundry machines are usually good for about five thousand cycles, which is tough to put into years. But, if your laundromat averages 3.3 turns per day per machine, the national average, the less expensive equipment will last four to five years.
On the other hand, high-quality washers and dryers have significantly longer life spans. For instance, Arrow Machinery sells Encore washers and dryers, which are rated up to fifteen thousand cycles, and those are our small chassis machines. Encores generally will last up to twelve years in an average laundry environment.
Total cost of inexpensive equipment: Replacing machines twice as often
Yes, inexpensive laundry machines look attractive when they are priced well below high-quality machinery. But, there is a clear reason for that. In the long run, less expensively priced laundromat equipment will cost the owner tens of thousands of dollars per year. The math adds up: High-quality, highly efficient laundromat equipment presents more profit and happier customers.