You might need to make a lot of space in your home and maybe your laundry room to accommodate other large appliances. If you’re stuck and confused about what to do, you can try stacking. In this case, your washer and dryer.
In case you don’t know how to do that, that’s why I put down some tips you can use.
Steps To Follow To Stack Your Washer And Dryer
To stack your washer and dryer easily, you can take note of these steps below.
- Check your washer’s instructions manual for compatibility with stacking
The first step to take here is to examine the compatibility of your washer and dryer with the stacking process. So, I’ll recommend you stack your washer and dryer only if they are suitable together.
Sometimes, you may use washers and dryers from the same manufacturer, but really, it does not guarantee that they will stack easily.
So, it’s pretty important that you consult the owner’s manual of your washer for additional information and detailed instructions, such as the kind of stacking kit you will require.
- Determine where to put the washer and dryer after stacking them
Preparation is the key to stacking your washer and dryer. To begin, make sure the washer and dryer can be stacked by taking assessments and measurements.
To do this, you’ll need to ensure at least 6 inches of space between the wall and the appliances. This will make sure that the dryer vents and the doors of the washer can be opened so you can safely access the dryer door and interior.
Once you’re certain of the location and different logistics, unplug your washer and dryer from the power source, supply line, and vent.
- Get the right stacking kit suitable for the washer and dryer
Depending on the model of your washer and dryer, you’ll need a specific type of stacking kit particular to them to keep them secure.
Usually, a stacking kit for a stacked washer and dryer features special tools to replace the dryer’s feet. There are usually only a few screws, nuts, or clamps included in stacking kits to keep your washer and dryer in place.
You might also need a Phillips head wrench for this stacking process.
You can get a ton of these at any home improvement store and appliance manufacturers sell stacking kits.
- You can adjust the washer feet so that they are both level
After you’ve done what was said above, place the washer in your preferred area. Like I mentioned earlier, you should place them while making sure there is enough room behind them to connect everything once they are all set up.
After doing that, move the dryer where you want to install it with the cardboard and raise the dryer uprightly.
Before putting the dryer on top of the washing machine, make sure it is perfectly level. You can use a level to make your job much easier.
The feet of the washer can be adjusted with an adjustable wrench if it isn’t balanced. All you need to do is turn the wrench clockwise or anticlockwise to shorten or make any of the legs longer.
- Now you can stack the washer
Always put the dryer on top of the washer when stacking your washer and dryer. This is to protect the dryer and make moving it easier. But before you do this, place some foam pads on the washer.
Make sure the dryer’s front and sides are firmly against the washing machine, and the dryer’s back slightly overhangs the washer before putting it on top.
Also as a precaution, you can spread cardboard on the floor around the dryer’s feet to prevent it from being damaged.
Then, place the dryer on its side on the cardboard and use an adjustable wrench to unscrew the legs. When lifting the dryer, lifting straps should be used wherever possible to uniformly distribute the weight.
Ensure you follow the stacking kit’s instructions for putting the stacking support guidelines into place.
You can also keep the old dryer feet which will come in handy if you ever decide to separate your washer and dryer.
- Put your stacking kit brackets and clips to good use
To keep the appliances in place, you use stacking kit clamps and clips. When the dryer is running, you’ll want to keep both the dryer and the washer in place so that they don’t shake.
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully because the components of each stacking kit may differ for different brands.
The washer and dryer stacking kit might have brackets and clamps to keep them in place. On either side, the clips are attached underneath the dryer. Going forward, the clips will latch onto the brackets firmly.
- Now, reconnect the power and water supply
After stacking the washer and dryer, the power, water, and ventilation should all be reconnected.
You can set up your gas or electric stackable washer and dryer by connecting them to the water, gas, and venting outlets.
In all this, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that this step is done in the right process.
Once the stacked appliances have been returned to their proper location, shift them back to their original location.
- Test run both washer and dryer
It’s important to ensure that both washer and dryer are pretty much functional and performing properly by running both of them through a test cycle first.
You ought to keep watch on the washer and dryer to make sure they’re not shaking or moving too fast when you run the cycles. Or else, it could mean that both of them may not be level, or the stacking kit may not have been properly installed.
If everything works as expected after the test, you’re pretty much done. It’s not so hard.
Can You Just Stack Any Type Of Washer And Dryer?
If you’ve got a Samsung washer and probably an LG dryer, you might think that they can just be stacked since they’re both laundry machines.
But No, you can’t just stack any type of washer and dryer. At the very least, your washer and dryer should come from the same manufacturer, although that does not even guarantee they are stackable.
If you go shopping for a new washer and dryer and you are probably looking for ones with the ability to stack. I suggest you take a look at model packaging that particularly signifies that they are capable of stacking.
How Can I Stack My Washer And Dryer Even If I Don’t Have A Stacked Kit?
If you can’t seem to get your hands on the specific type of stacking kit, you can instead use a rubber mat.
You can lay the rubber mat between your washer and dryer. Even if your washer and dryer are made by separate manufacturers, the rubber mat may absorb any vibrations they may cause.
Kitchens can also benefit from a rubber appliance mat, which is versatile enough to be used elsewhere in the house.
You can also place it in laundry rooms on your refrigerator or other large appliances to help absorb vibrations and stabilize an uneven floor, which is commonly used to help water flow down into a sink or shower.
It’s a great way to make out a lot of space in your laundry room.