Choosing Hard-Mount or Soft-Mount Washers for Commercial Laundry
When building a commercial laundry space, one thing you’ll need to consider is installing hard-mount vs. soft-mount washers. As the names imply, the distinction comes down to how the washers are mounted, and it can make a surprising difference in everything from your method of installation to water consumption to energy efficiency.
Whether you’re prioritizing cost, ease of installation or something else, the way your washer is mounted will affect the equation. Let’s take a look at how hard-mount and soft-mount commercial washers compare for your multi-housing laundry room.
Hard-mount washers are also called solid-mount or rigid-mount washers. They run at high speeds and with significant vibrational forces. Unfortunately, they lack shock absorbers to take the brunt of those vibrations.
This lack of shock absorption means a hard-mount washer must be mounted onto the right kind of surface that absorbs the energy instead. The washer needs to be tightly secured to either a thick concrete floor or a steel or concrete slab. If using a slab, you’ll still need to mount the slab to the floor of the building, too.
As you can imagine, these demands can make installation complex and more time-consuming. Hard-mount washers can also be a little more difficult to place. They must be placed on the first floor of a building to prevent significant damage to the floor or the machinery. The need for thick floors or slabs can also make it harder to find a space that will accommodate hard-mount washers. Their installation often requires professional expertise to anchor them correctly and safely. Still, if you have the right space for them, hard-mount washers can be a cost-effective choice.
Despite these limitations, hard-mount washers are popular in commercial applications. They’ve been around a bit longer and are considerably less expensive than their soft-mount counterparts.
Soft-mount washers offer a lot more flexibility. Instead of needing a hard mount underneath them, these washers include a metal cradle and shock absorbers. With this design, the washer drum stays separate from the frame, minimizing direct contact and vibration. Those vibrational forces stay contained and don’t reach the rest of the building.
Although they create less vibrational force, soft-mount washers typically provide higher G-forces when the laundry spins, which can help you boost energy efficiency. By squeezing out more of the moisture from laundry, soft-mount washers help ease the demands placed on the dryer. If the laundry isn’t as wet when it reaches the dryer, the machine can use less heat — and gas — to dry it.
Overall, this design gives you more flexibility. A soft-mount washer can be placed on any floor and doesn’t require a heavy slab. This means if your laundry machine is going anywhere besides the ground floor, you’ll need a soft-mount washer. Even for ground-floor installations, many prefer the soft-mount style because of its ease of installation.
The primary benefit of a hard-mount washer is cost. These machines have been around for longer than Pros
Cost-effective: The primary benefit of a hard-mount washer is cost. These machines have been around for longer than soft-mount washers and are widely available at economical price points. For many commercial laundromats, the low price point is a strong draw.
Ideal for sensitive laundry: Hard-mount washers have slower spin cycles, which make them less likely to damage sensitive laundry. Fabrics such as wool, lace and silk are going to get more wear and tear when washed in a quick-spinning machine, making hard-mount washers safer.
Cons
The low cost of hard-mount washers comes with a few cons:
More complex installation: Obtaining a slab and anchoring your hard-mount washer down is fairly labor-intensive and time-consuming. The manufacturer may require particularly thick concrete, adding the need for a slab even if you already have concrete floors. It can be harder to fit a hard-mount washer into your space, and installation requires someone who knows what they’re doing. Since this design prevents vibrational damage, improper installation can cause significant problems for your flooring and the machine itself.
Limited placement options: If you want to place a washer anywhere other than the ground floor, you can’t use a hard-mount washer. A hard-mount washer is also more difficult to move later on if you ever decide to reorganize, and you may require professional assistance and structural modifications. In addition, you must leave spaces between the machines during installation, which can be a disadvantage when you’re working with a small laundry facility. You won’t be able to fit in enough machines to boost your operation.
Longer dry times: Hard-mount washers have a lower spin, which causes them to extract moisture from clothes more slowly. Without the high G-forces of a soft-mount washer, hard-mount washers won’t offer you any time or energy savings on dry time.
If you have the right setup for a hard-mount washer and don’t mind a less efficient cycle, a hard-mount washer can be a good way to save.
Soft-Mount Washers Pros and Cons
Soft-mount washers are a little newer, and their technology solves most of the problems of hard-mount washers — but that convenience comes at a price.
Pros
Some pros of a soft-mount washer include:
Installation savings: Simple commercial washer installation can help you save money and time. Unlike with hard-mount washers, you don’t need steel bases or reinforced concrete when installing a soft-mount washing machine. You can eliminate the entire slab-mounting step and reduce the cost of materials and labor. Although soft-mount washers cost more, straightforward installation can offset the price.
Flexibility: Since soft-mount washers are equipped with shock-dampening technology, they can be placed on any floor, offering a lot more flexibility. Place one on every floor of an apartment complex or place a laundry room at the top of a dorm — you have more options than you would with a hard-mount washer.
Efficient laundry cycles: Higher G-forces can better remove moisture after a soft-mount washer’s cycle. Then, when the laundry hits the dryer, you can reduce drying times and energy use. This can help you offer a better experience to customers while shaving money off your utility bill. You might even be able to extend the life of your dryers by running them less, too.
Superior cleaning: Soft-mount washing machines are best for handling heavily soiled laundry loads because they remove soap residue, grit and dirty water better than hard-mount machines. They provide better cleaning results because no dirt gets left behind, reducing the risk of residue drying into clothes during drying and causing garments to become dull. This noticeable difference will help your business stand out because customers will see and feel the cleanliness.
Increased throughput: To maximize profit potential, commercial laundry facilities need to increase the number of daily cycles for each washer and dryer. This is especially important during weekends when most people are doing their laundry at the same time. Most soft-mount washers have high speeds that can allow a customer to complete their laundry in 60 minutes or less. This fast throughput is a compelling benefit you can use to market and attract more customers to your business.
Increased ROI: With quicker throughput, commercial laundry facilities can serve more customers with fewer machines, helping them save a lot of time and money. Efficiency reduces the need to add more washers and dryers, lessens the required square footage of the laundry rooms and decreases parking space demands, all without compromising the business’s earning potential.
Better extraction: In the past, laundromats had dedicated washer extractor machines for spinning out excess water in laundry loads to reduce drying time. Now, this function is integrated into most soft-mount washers because their springs and suspensions allow them to withstand the extra spinning force. They begin the drying process while the load is still in the washer, which means the load will spend less time in the dryer. As a result, there’s less risk of the drier wearing out or developing issues due to excessive use.
Cons
High cost: In contrast to a hard-mount washer, the biggest downside of a soft-mount washer is price. These washers are a little higher-tech, with sophisticated shock-absorbing designs. They may have a higher price point, but it’s important to consider everything else that goes into a washer’s price, including installation and energy use. For some buyers, the convenience is well worth the price.
Ready to Upgrade Your Laundry Equipment? Contact Us Today!
Both hard-mount washers and soft-mount washing machines come in an array of styles & capabilities to boost your laundry business. Whether you need just a few commercial washers or an entire laundromat’s worth, the experts at Caldwell & Gregory are here to help.
From colleges and universities to multi-housing properties, we offer a hassle-free experience for implementing and managing laundry technology. Reach out today to chat and learn more about building a personalized laundry plan.
