Laundry Upgrade. How Can My Stacked Washer/Drier Be Moved?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Laundry Upgrade. How Can My Stacked Washer/Drier Be Moved?

steve181

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#319206 2-Apr-2025 17:05

Hi everyone.

I am currently working with a designer from a joinery business to come up with a final design for my new laundry area.

My washing machine is 68kg & condensing drier 43kg. The drier is attached to the washing machine at the rear by two mounting brackets.

As you can see in the sketch the washer/drier would be framed by the wall on the right side, the top cupboard & a vertical panel between them & the new sink.

Eventually both appliances will need to be replaced. I believe the manufacturer recommends both be moved separately however this would be near impracticable being surrounded by cabinetry right?

There are plenty of images of this set up around so there must be a trick I am not aware of to slide them out from the cabinetry? Are washing machines even designed to be lifted up from their base?

I did discover this cool device but not sure if it's commonly used in NZ? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1EteI-d_0XU

Any insight on this issue would be much appreciated. I asked the designer this question & got the impression it wasn't her area of expertise & that of the staff who come out to install the laundry.

Thanks!

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#3359813 2-Apr-2025 17:26

Don’t make my mistake and have the sink too close to a wall. You need elbow room to adequately use it. Mine is too close and that makes me avoid using it.

wellygary

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#3359814 2-Apr-2025 17:26

My biggest concern wouldn't be moving them.. it would be accessing the taps /power points behind in some form of emergency....

I would get your cabinet maker to cut out a chunk of the back right side panel of the under sink cupboard so you can get a little access in behind the machines while they are in place.

As for moving them, - using a tall hand truck on the front of the whole stack would be the most likely way to get them out,

mdf

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#3359817 2-Apr-2025 17:36

My situation isn't exactly the same as yours, but I have upside down carpet squares under the rear feet of my washing machine. When I need to get it out, I add more squares under the front feet and it slides fine. It is a bit less rigid than all four feet on something solid (I very ocassionally have to straighten it up), but seems to be an okay compromise.

dfnt

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#3359820 2-Apr-2025 17:39

When a fisher and paykel tech visited, he slid a big piece of plastic sheet under the stacked unit which made it easy to maneuver around

steve181

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#3359822 2-Apr-2025 17:47

Eva888:

Don’t make my mistake and have the sink too close to a wall. You need elbow room to adequately use it. Mine is too close and that makes me avoid using it.

Cheers. The current sink only gets used a handful of times a year so the practicalities are not too much of a concern. If no plumbing was required (for the washing machine) I could almost do away with a laundry sink altogether to be honest.

wellygary:

My biggest concern wouldn't be moving them.. it would be accessing the taps /power points behind in some form of emergency....

Absolutely. There are two conditions that would need to be met for me to approve the design; I need access to the power points behind the appliances & the drier cannot have a barrier between it's rear & the ceiling to allow for air to circulate.

steve181

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#3359826 2-Apr-2025 18:27

dfnt:

When a fisher and paykel tech visited, he slid a big piece of plastic sheet under the stacked unit which made it easy to maneuver around

A product like this? https://www.amazon.com/Soaoo-Appliance-Plastic-Furniture-Hardwood/dp/B0CP2D33SP?th=1

That looks like it would work well. Currently with no cabinetry there is no real issue moving them however once the new laundry is installed something like that would need to be in position ready to go for when the appliances eventually need replacing.

I just found this. If the people installing the cabinetry placed the washer/drier on it that might be the go. It would increase the total height which would reduce the vertical length of the top cupboards but might be worth the sacrifice. https://www.bunnings.co.nz/easyroll-545kg-easy-roller-heavy-duty-appliance-mover_p0249917

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HelloThere

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#3359827 2-Apr-2025 18:41

Do they need to be bolted together? My dryer sits on top with just a rubber sheet between them. Have you thought about installing a PowerPoint in the cupboard and have it wired up to a switch above the sink so it's easier to turn it on and off and then the appliances should sit up against the wall.

dfnt

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#3359828 2-Apr-2025 18:49

steve181:

dfnt:

When a fisher and paykel tech visited, he slid a big piece of plastic sheet under the stacked unit which made it easy to maneuver around

A product like this? https://www.amazon.com/Soaoo-Appliance-Plastic-Furniture-Hardwood/dp/B0CP2D33SP?th=1

That looks like it would work well. Currently with no cabinetry there is no real issue moving them however once the new laundry is installed something like that would need to be in position ready to go for when the appliances eventually need replacing.

I just found this. If the people installing the cabinetry placed the washer/drier on it that might be the go. It would increase the total height which would reduce the vertical length of the top cupboards but might be worth the sacrifice. https://www.bunnings.co.nz/easyroll-545kg-easy-roller-heavy-duty-appliance-mover_p0249917

Not as sophisticated but close enough yep

steve181

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#3359830 2-Apr-2025 18:51

HelloThere: Do they need to be bolted together? My dryer sits on top with just a rubber sheet between them. Have you thought about installing a PowerPoint in the cupboard and have it wired up to a switch above the sink so it's easier to turn it on and off and then the appliances should sit up against the wall.

Yes; LG the manufacturer included the stacking kit with the drier.

The drier user manual states a minimum distance it must be away from the back wall. Off the top of my head it's 30cm, I currently have it about half that distance. It needs a gap at the back to function properly according to LG.

If the new laundry area ends up being like the sketch I will make it so the vertical cabinetry panel between the drier & sink has a cut away at the back not only to access the power point but also to reach the washing machine plumbing (hoses).

Cheers.

eracode

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#3359889 2-Apr-2025 20:48

wellygary:

As for moving them, - using a tall hand truck on the front of the whole stack would be the most likely way to get them out,

That wouldn’t work without removing the overhead cupboards first. Using a hand truck requires the stack to move upward and tilt - the overhead cupboard would prevent this.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

eracode

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#3359894 2-Apr-2025 21:16

Our laundry is very similar but with fewer cupboards. F&P condenser drier sits on an F&P washer via a 40mm F&P stacker kit. The kit fixes to the top of the washer with four screws. The feet of the drier fit into recesses moulded into the top of the kit and the drier is fixed to the kit with two screws at the front. Gravity does the rest.The two main pieces are easily separable.

We recently had to get the drier onto the floor for servicing. Removed the two front screws and two of us lifted the drier up to clear the kit, then down onto the floor.

Your setup sounds different because the two main units are more permanently fixed together? Even if they weren’t, you will probably always need to remove the top cupboards to do anything with the drier and/or washer.

You may want to consider leaving a gap of say 100mm between the top of the drier and the bottom of the cupboards above - to give manoeuvring room perhaps to avoid needing to remove the top cupboards. Also investigate whether it is strictly necessary to have the two machines permanently connected at the rear.

Edit: Ah - just saw your reference to the Easyroll system. Left permanently in place, that looks like a good solution.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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neb

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#3360002 3-Apr-2025 09:25

You can get things that are like caster cups but with smooth rounded bases for sliding heavy outdoor furniture and similar around, search for "furniture glides".

steve181

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#3360293 3-Apr-2025 19:26

eracode:

Edit: Ah - just saw your reference to the Easyroll system. Left permanently in place, that looks like a good solution.

Thanks for taking the time to reply & add a picture. Your laundry area space is indeed very similar to mine & same location too (back of garage).

I had a light-bulb moment earlier today. The stacking kit I am currently using (see photo) is necessary as the appliances are free standing. With the new cabinetry that itself can keep the appliances secure making the stacking kit redundant. With them not joined together it would be significantly easier to move them if & when necessary.

A big concern for me is drier ventilation. I will work with the designer to have no cabinetry barrier at the back so the drier has plenty of room to breathe.

eracode

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#3360322 3-Apr-2025 20:50

@steve181 Poor design by LG to have the two stacked units connected at the back because it makes it almost impossible to separate them to move them - at least in situations like yours and ours. F&P is quite brilliant by comparison.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

k1w1k1d

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#3360334 3-Apr-2025 22:04

Not sure sitting the drier on a 16mm mdf shelf with just edge supports would be strong enough in the long term.

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