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Your choice of washer and dryer is an important one, since these are two of the most used appliances in the home and contribute significantly to your energy bill. Factors such as available space, load to be handled, energy rating and convenience features should be considered. With the many brands and models of washers and dryers in the market, you will be able to find a combination that meets your requirements.

In homes where space is not an issue or a major consideration, washers and dryers are places side by side in the laundry room. But if you have limited space or you don’t have a laundry room, you can work around it by stacking these units. This is especially recommended if you live in a small apartment or condo, or if you simply want to free up space in your laundry room.

A laundry center has controls at eye level for the dryer, which is on top, and is designed to be easy to reach. However, laundry center models tend to have fewer features than stand alone units. With regards to space, there are units that can fit easily in a cabinet or in the kitchen, but they cannot handle large amounts of laundry.

Another disadvantage is that the washer and dryer are sold as a pair, and there are instances where the quality of one unit is better than the other. You may find that the washer breaks down first, or vice versa. You may need to replace the entire set up when either the washer or dryer breaks down completely and is beyond repair, even if the other unit is still in working condition.

When you buy a laundry center, you are basically getting the washer and dryer as a pair. But what if the quality of one unit is better than the other? What if the washer breaks down before the dryer (and vice versa) and cannot be repaired? It may not be cost effective for you to buy another laundry center when you have one unit (washer or dryer) still running.

However, not all models are stackable. You must also consider that, the bigger the unit, the more likely that you will need to buy a kit or supporting frame for safely stacking washers and dryers. In addition, the combined height of the stack may make the dryer hard to reach.

However, only certain models can be stacked safely. Even so, bigger units need a kit or supporting frame to make the set-up more stable. Also, you should check if the combined height of the stack does not inconvenience you by making the dryer controls hard to reach.

If you prefer to deal with just one appliance, while saving space and reducing costs for maintenance and replacement, a combined washer-dryer is for you. However, if you particular features or requirements in mind, you have an issue with this kind of appliance, since there are relatively fewer choices compared to stand-alone washers and dryers.

Wes Sims specializes in writing about refrigerators and other major appliances. It is important to read reviews and articles discussing appliances for your home like a washer, dryer, or other heavily used items so you know you are getting the best products.