Laundry Renovation

Where should a laundry room be located in a house?

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    Laundry is an ongoing task that requires one to sort through filthy garments, wash, dry, fold, and put them away. Even though doing laundry is something we all do on a regular basis, its location is often overlooked.

    Main Considerations

    Locating a laundry room can be difficult. Your laundry room must balance seemingly contradictory factors. It should be convenient but not noisy. It should be big enough for large appliances and clothes, but not so big that it takes up living space. Your laundry room must tap into difficult-to-move utilities and access points. You want laundromat placement flexibility.

    Hitch Property Constructions has a wide range of Melbourne leak detection.

    Utilities

    When deciding where in your home to put your laundry room, the location of the utilities is the most crucial factor to think about. Positioning a laundry room so that it is next to, or in close proximity to, electrical, plumbing, and venting points will save you a lot of time, money, and frustration.

    Electrical

    A gas dryer will always need an electrical outlet nearby since there is no such thing as a gas dryer that can function without electricity. A standard three-prong, 120-volt electrical outlet is required for use with a gas dryer. Dryers that run on electricity need to be plugged into a 240V, 30-amp circuit. The electrical outlets used to power washing machines must be able to handle 15 or 20 amps of current at 120 volts of alternating current (AC). The recommended distance for electrical outlets is four to six feet from each appliance. A grounding system is required for all electrical outlets, and all outlets must have three prongs.

    Plumbing (Water Supply)

    You can't just hook up a washing machine anywhere; you need a hot and cold-water valve, water that isn't corrosive, and a spot within six feet of the washer to hook it up.

    Drain System

    Washing machines require some kind of draining system, which can be a floor drain, a floor standpipe, a wall standpipe,or even a laundry tub.

    Ducting

    A dryer's vent must exit through a window, exterior wall, or roof in order to function properly. Without any turns or curves, the length of some stiff metal ducts that lead outside can reach up to 120 feet. The best practise, however, is to minimise the dryer duct's length and keep it as straight as possible.

    Gas

    If your dryer is powered by natural gas, you can only connect it to a natural gas line; connecting it to a line that supplies liquid propane is illegal.

    Space

    Make sure each machine has at least 30 inches of width and 35 inches of depth. In order to make room for the dryer vent, 5.5 inches of extra space is required behind the dryer.

    Sturdy, Level Floor

    The flooring in your laundry room should be strong enough to support at least 200 pounds. Consider the appliance's weight alone, as well as how much it weighs when paired with its other half. Make sure there is no more than a one-inch difference in elevation over the breadth of the appliance.

    Convenience

    If the laundry room has to be located in a far-flung corner of the house, away from the main living and working areas like the kitchen, doing the laundry will be an even bigger hassle. Place the laundry room close to your main living spaces so that you can easily access it while working or relaxing.

    Safety Concerns

    It's not necessary to worry about potential dangers when using a washer and dryer if they are installed and maintained properly. Make sure the dryer's vent is always free of lint and debris. Make sure your stackable washer and dryer are installed securely to avoid any accidents. Choose a washing room on the ground floor if you have problems transporting big, bulky items of clothing.

    Layout Options

    Placement is also affected by the layout. Galley-style laundry rooms, which are long and thin, make efficient use of space and are located near the kitchen. With this setup, you won't have a lot of room to work with.

    Laundry rooms in the shape of a L or U provide the most flexibility in terms of appliance placement, storage, and access to sinks and other utility fixtures. Extra counter and cabinet space is required in L-shaped rooms. You'll need extra storage and counter space, as well as room for a folding table in the center, to accommodate a U-shaped laundry room.

    Laundry Space Options

    Laundry Renovation

    A variety of laundry room layouts are discussed on the page dedicated to laundry room measurements:

    • Self-contained laundry room.
    • Laundry closets could be attached to or integrated into the kitchen, bathroom, walk-in closet, mudroom, garage, or any number of other interior or exterior rooms.

    The size of the household as well as the number of people who live there will determine how much space you need for laundry, and also whichever of these 2 types of laundry spaces would be most ideal for your needs.

    Dedicated Laundry Room

    If your home already has a dedicated laundry room with all the appropriate plumbing fixtures, switching your laundry routine to that space is the best option. Electrical, Drainage, and water supply points have already been installed, saving you the time and money it would have taken to do so. All of your concerns are moot as a result of this.

    If you're having second thoughts about installing a laundry room here, it's usually easier and more cost-effective to fix whatever's giving you pause than to uproot the room and put it somewhere else. If your current laundry room is too small, you may want to consider knocking down a wall to make place for more machines. If the room is not in a very noisy part of the building, it might be worth it to replace the current hollow-core inner door with a solid soundproof door.

    Near the bedrooms

    Laundry should be done and stored in close proximity to the bedrooms. Laundry trips are cut down, and the chore is hidden from view. Could someone nap as a machine processed data? The number of flights of stairs you have to climb depends on whether or not the bedrooms are on the ground floor.

    Putting the washer and dryer close to the bedrooms is a good idea.

    • In the family bathroom
    • in the master closet
    • in a landing, corridor or hallway near the bedrooms

    Near bedroom pros

    Rooms where people undress, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, are often located close to one another, contributing to a buildup of soiled linens. As a result of its strategic placement, less hauling is necessary here. If you put a utility room close to the bedrooms, people will think it's a regular part of the house rather than an afterthought.

    Near bedroom cons

    The appliances are less likely to be destroyed in a flood if they are stored in a bathroom, but the risk of damage can still be mitigated to some degree. If any of the goods to be laundered are exceptionally unclean, they may make a mess as their owners carry them through the house to the laundry room. The laundry appliances are rather noisy, so using them late at night might be problematic.

    Near a Kitchen

    The kitchen is where we spend most of our time, so it makes sense to put the laundry there. Water lines are available, and the units can be hidden behind cabinets with storage and a sorting/folding countertop. This can take up valuable work and storage space, and everyone in the kitchen will hear it. Can someone fold laundry while you cook?

    Placing the laundry room next to the kitchen gives you all the above benefits while keeping it out of sight, improving experience and productivity. Having a mudroom, butler's pantry, or garage near the kitchen helps with privacy and noise.

    These are typical laundry room locations. Any space with plumbing can work, including bathrooms and spare bedrooms (especially when incorporating soundproofing techniques).

    Near the kitchen pros

    In the same way that you can see the other things in the kitchen, you can also see the laundry. In homes where there is room for both a laundry room and a butler's pantry, the laundry room often serves both functions.

    Near the kitchen cons

    Transporting between the bedrooms, bathrooms, and the linen closet on foot. It's possible that you'll have trouble with noise in your home if the main living area is also close to the laundry room.

    Mudroom or Family Entrance

    On house plans and floor plans, the laundry room is frequently positioned in a transitional space such as the mudroom or the corridor next to the home's family entrance. This is a common layout choice.

    In the mudroom or family entrance pros

    Gear that is dirty, sweaty, or wet can be discarded right away at the location where it will be washed. I would also suggest installing a shower in the mudroom, in the event that this is the case in your home.

    In the mudroom or family entrance cons

    It's common practise to let pets in through the family entrance or the mudroom. In my opinion, animals and freshly washed clothes do not mix. Carrying the majority of the laundry from and back to the bedrooms and linen closets is a necessary part of doing the laundry.

    Basement

    Basements offer more space than the ground floor or upper levels for laundry rooms. Putting the laundry room in the basement saves space upstairs. In case of flooding, water is contained in the basement.

    This is the traditional Midwest laundry room location because it's hidden and quiet. Tables, lighting, and storage around the washer and dryer create a productive basement workspace. As we age, climbing and descending stairs (often with a load) can be difficult. It's illogical to keep laundry far from clothes and linens.

    Basement Pros

    You and your guests won't be required to stare at the laundry, and you won't have to worry about feeling rushed to clean up the mess if you have guests over. It is common practise for builders to instal laundry connections in basements as a matter of course. As a result, even if your basement is unpleasant, you can make it a little nicer by making some simple updates around the washer and dryer. Things like lighting, cabinets, paint, and a plush rug can go a long way towards making a space feel less intimidating.

    Basement Cons

    The dilemma that arises from having the laundry room on the second floor is also present in homes with basements, as was mentioned earlier. You will have to make multiple trips up and down a flight of stairs. If you are busy, you run the risk of forgetting to check on the load because you won't hear the buzzer because you will have to make multiple trips up and down the stairs.

    Hallway

    It is a great way to save space and, given that bedrooms and bathrooms are frequently located off of a hallway, it is also a very convenient location to put the washer and dryer in question. When you put them away in a closet, you can hide them from view and reduce the amount of noise they make by shutting the doors.

    Congestion in the hallway will likely occur while you are attending to the laundry, and there might not be enough room for both a folding surface and a laundry hamper. This is a disadvantage.

    Hallway Pros

    If you don't have a lot of room in other areas, this is a great alternative for you to consider. It works really well for people living in condos, for single people, for childless couples, and for anyone else who doesn't mind having their laundry out in the open. Because hallways are typically situated in the middle of a house, they bring you closer to the bedrooms, the laundry room, and the bathroom, all of which can be reached more quickly.

    Hallway Cons

    Laundry is space-consuming. Hallways are high-traffic areas where you need to bend down, open doors, and set down a hamper. If you have a narrow hallway, bifold doors, and laundry piled in front of the machines, you have a choke point, and it will be hard for others to walk up and down the hall.

    Consider how often you'll need to go up and down the stairs to sort and load laundry if your hallway and bedrooms are on a floor other than the main floor, where you spend most of your time. Will you forget to switch loads if the machines are out of earshot? Will the noise disturb naps?

    And storage. Where will you store soap, fold clean clothes, and sort laundry if the machines are in a closet? This may not be a big deal if you live alone, but for large families it's not ideal.

    Washers need cold and hot water, electricity, a drain, and outside venting. Costs can add up quickly when moving all this equipment.

    Laundry Design Considerations

    On the laundry room design page, we discuss what makes a good laundry, and some points deal with laundry room location. Why, who, when, where, and what. These questions affect laundry room design.

    • Laundry? Themselves.
    • What's your laundry schedule? One thing is a couple doing one or two loads per week. That's another if you have six. The more laundry you do, the more accessible it should be.
    • You do laundry when? This question is important because of laundry noise. In some countries, it's cheaper to run appliances at night, so you don't want the noise drifting into bedrooms.
    • Where is the laundry dried? If you want to dry your clothes outside, you'll need a balcony or other outdoor space. Set up a well-ventilated indoor drying system.
    • Wassup? Your laundry may include heavily soiled or wet items like rugby gear, pet equipment, or wetsuits, which may affect where you locate your laundry room. If the stairs get dirty and wet, dirty laundry could be carried upstairs. Hitch Property Constructions offers
    • Melbourne laundry renovations.
    • How should laundry feel? Location can affect a room's vibe. Your laundry room may feel like a working space or a pleasant place to do work. Location can make your laundry feel like an outhouse or a luxurious bathroom.

    Conclusion

    To find the best spot for the laundry room, weigh competing priorities. Your location must have hard-to-move utilities and access points. Four to six feet separate appliances from outlets. All outlets must be grounded and have three prongs. Depending on your family size, you may need more or less laundry room space.

    L- or U-shaped laundry rooms give you the most options for where to put appliances, storage, and utility fixtures. Bedrooms near the laundry room. Whether the bedrooms are on the ground level determines how many stairs you must climb. Also, late-night laundry may be too loud. The above benefits can be achieved by locating the laundry room near the kitchen.

    Any room with plumbing can be used. Builders almost always instal basement laundry hookups. Laundry sorting and loading require many trips up and down stairs. If you're short on space, consider this choice. Ideal laundry room?

    Heavy soiled or wet goods in the laundry include sports equipment, pet supplies, and wetsuits. Although using appliances at night can save money, the noise isn't pleasant in most bedrooms.

    Content Summary

    • When deciding where in your home to put your laundry room, the location of the utilities is the most crucial factor.
    • A standard three-prong, 120-volt electrical outlet is required for use with a gas dryer.
    • To make room for the dryer vent, 5.5 inches of extra space is required behind the dryer.
    • If the laundry room has to be located in a far-flung corner of the house, away from the main living and working areas like the kitchen, doing the laundry will be an even bigger hassle.
    • Place the laundry room close to your main living spaces so you can easily access it while working or relaxing.
    • Ensure your stackable washer and dryer are installed securely to avoid accidents.
    • Choose a washing room on the ground floor if you have problems transporting big, bulky clothing items.
    • Laundry rooms in the shape of an L or U provide the most flexibility regarding appliance placement, storage, and access to sinks and other utility fixtures.
    • Extra counter and cabinet space are required in L-shaped rooms.
    • You'll need extra storage, counter space, and room for a folding table in the centre to accommodate a U-shaped laundry room.
    • The household size and the number of people who live there will determine how much space you need for laundry and whichever of these two types of laundry spaces would be ideal for your needs.
    • If your home already has a dedicated laundry room with all the appropriate plumbing fixtures, switching your laundry routine to that space is the best option.
    • If you're having second thoughts about installing a laundry room here, it's usually easier and more cost-effective to fix whatever's giving you pause than to uproot the room and put it somewhere else.
    • If your current laundry room is too small, consider knocking down a wall to make a place for more machines.
    • If the room is not in a very noisy part of the building, replace the current hollow-core inner door with a solid soundproof door.
    • Laundry should be done and stored close to the bedrooms.
    • The number of stairs you have to climb depends on whether or not the bedrooms are on the ground floor.
    • If you put a utility room close to the bedrooms, people will think it's a regular part of the house rather than an afterthought.
    • If any of the goods to be laundered are exceptionally unclean, they may make a mess as their owners carry them through the house to the laundry room.
    • The kitchen is where we spend most of our time, so it makes sense to put the laundry there.
    • Placing the laundry room next to the kitchen gives you all the above benefits while keeping it out of sight, improving experience and productivity.
    • A mudroom, butler's pantry, or garage near the kitchen helps with privacy and noise.
    • In the same way, you can see the other things in the kitchen, and you can also see the laundry.
    • In homes where there is room for both a laundry room and a butler's pantry, the laundry room often serves both functions.
    • Putting the laundry room in the basement saves space upstairs.
    • As a result, even if your basement is unpleasant, you can make it a little nicer by making some simple updates around the washer and dryer.
    • As mentioned earlier, the dilemma arising from having a second-floor laundry room is also present in homes with basements.
    • It is a great way to save space, and given that bedrooms and bathrooms are frequently located off a hallway, it is also a very convenient location to put the washer and dryer in question.
    • Congestion in the hallway will likely occur while you are attending to the laundry, and there might need to be more room for both a folding surface and a laundry hamper.
    • If you have a limited amount of room in other areas, this is a great alternative for you to consider.
    • Because hallways are typically situated in the middle of a house, they bring you closer to the bedrooms, the laundry room, and the bathroom, all of which can be reached more quickly.
    • Consider how often you'll need to go up and down the stairs to sort and load laundry if your hallway and bedrooms are on a floor other than the main floor, where you spend most of your time.
    • And storage.
    • The laundry room design page discusses what makes a good laundry and some points that deal with laundry room location.
    • If you want to dry your clothes outside, you'll need a balcony or other outdoor space.
    • Set up a well-ventilated indoor drying system.

    FAQs About Laundry Room

    Considering where the bulk of laundry is stored and used, it makes sense to put the laundry room near bedrooms. This would cut down on transporting dirty and clean laundry back and forth, and keeps the chore out of sight in the more private part of the home.

    Placing your laundry center in the kitchen makes it simple to do a quick load of wash while preparing a meal or cleaning up. Blend your laundry area with your kitchen by hiding it behind a set of doors. Here, even when the doors are open, the clean white washer and dryer set matches the color scheme of the kitchen.

    Best is to find a closet or small area that is adjacent to your kitchen or a bathroom. This will help you save money because there is already existing plumbing in these areas, so you will not need to create plumbing for your washer. Also, the ideal laundry room layout will have wet and dry zones

    The average laundry room size for most houses in the US is 54 square feet (6ft x 9ft). This space is enough to accommodate at least three laundry features, like laundry machines and storage units. Take into account the clearance spaces around these pieces, especially if you have a front-load washing machine.

    Locating the laundry room on an outside wall ultimately depends on your appliances. Gas dryers always need to be vented to the outdoors, while electric dryers have indoor venting options. Consider the proximity to the outdoor wall for simplicity of the dryer's vent installation.

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