Dryers and washers have become must-have appliances in our household, haven’t they? They have made our lives much simpler.
That being said, you might be wondering if you can lay the dryer and dishwasher on its side. Let’s find out if you can lay the appliances on their side and the right process to do it.
Can you lay a dryer & washer on its side?
You can lay a dryer on its side, but you should not lay down a washer on its side. If you lay the washer on its side, the two washers’ tubs can collide against each other. The collision can damage the suspension, break the support pads, and shift the tubs out of operating position.
The washers should always be kept in an upright position while transporting or storing. However, you can keep the dryers on their side for a short period of time with proper precaution.
The washers are equipped with two tubs – inner and outer tubs. When you lay the dishwasher on its side, a tub can hit the other tub which can dislocate the tubs from their original position.
The dislocation of the watching machines’ tubs can make it non-operational. Then again, the dryers consist of only one tub for drying the clothes. As a result, you can place the dryer on its side.
Can you lay a stackable washer and dryer on its side?
In a stackable washer and dryer, the dryer usually remains on top of the washer. The dryer and washer can not be separated from one another without a complete uninstallation process.
So, laying down a stackable washer and dryer on its side with proper caution is a tough task in itself.
The washers’ suspension and tubs can get damaged if the stackable washer and dryer are placed on their side. Thus, it is highly advised not to set a stackable washer and dryer on its side.
Can you transport a washer and dryer on its side?
You shouldn’t transport a washer and dryer on its side. During transportation, the vehicle can face road bumps and potholes which can damage the dryer and washer laid on its side.
The best possible way to transport them is by keeping them in an upright position with proper packaging and safety measures.
If you transport a washer and dryer while kept on its side, the suspension and supporting pads might get damaged and come off from their original position. The glass door of the washer and dryer can break and the tubs can get damaged as well.
What happens when you lay a dryer and washer on its side?
A lot of things can happen if you keep a dryer and washer on its side. It can dislocate the tubs, break the glass doors, and more.
If you lay those appliances on their side while transporting while not being handled carefully, the measure of the damage can be much higher. Have a detailed look at what will happen when you lay a dryer and washer on its side:
Dryer:
The glass door can crack:
The dryer comes with a see-through glass door. This glass door is installed in such a way that no uneven pressure falls on it when the dryer is placed in an upright position.
However, when you lay the dryer on its side, the pressure will be applied unevenly on the glass, eventually breaking it.
Damage in the exterior body:
The surface on which you will place the dryer on its side will not necessarily be even and clean. There might be dust and debris, which can scratch and damage the exterior covering of the dryer.
However, you can avoid this from happening by wrapping the dryer up with bubble wraps or packaging materials.
Washer:
Tubs can move out of alignment:
The washers are equipped with two tubs which are installed in such a way that they remain in place when the unit is in the upright position. The tubs don’t remain in place when the washer is kept on its side as they have no protective covering on their sides.
The tubs moving out of alignment can stop the washer from functioning properly or even damage them permanently.
Damage in the suspension:
The suspension of the washer is engineered to keep the tubs in place during any movement in an upright position. When you lay the washer on its side the pressure will fall on the side of the suspension which can bend and damage it.
Supports pads can get loose:
The support pads remain perfectly attached when the washer remains in a normal position. When the washer is kept on its side, the support pads will move more than usual and they can get loose.
How do you ship a dryer and washer?
Shipping a dryer and washer is not as difficult as it may seem. You can transport a dryer and washer safely by following a few simple steps.
Let’s take a look at how you can ship a washer and dryer without any issues.
Dryer:
Unplug the dryer and secure the plug:
Before packing the dryer, you should unplug it from the power socket. Then, make sure to secure the plug so that it doesn’t get damaged while being transported.
Secure the door:
The door of the dryer is made of glass which is quite fragile. So, you should wrap the glass door with bubble wrap so that it doesn’t break due to unusual pressure.
Pack the dryer:
Now that you have secured the plug and the glass door, it is time to pack the dryer. You should use bubble wrap, padding, or other packaging materials to secure the unit. You can also put the dryer in its box to ensure maximum safety while shipping.
Washer:
Disconnect the washing machine:
You shouldn’t start preparing your washer for transporting while it is still connected since it can cause an accident. So, you should first disconnect the washer.
Empty the washer:
Make sure there are no clothes still there in the washing machine. If the washer is not empty, it might not damage the washer. However, it is much safer to ship an empty washing machine than a full one.
Secure the cord:
You should secure the cords so that it doesn’t break the glass door of the washer while it is being transported. You can use tape to secure the cord.
Pack the washing machine:
You should use packaging material and the box of the washer to pack it before shipping. It will make sure that the unit remains safe while being handled during the shipping process.
What to do before moving a washing machine?
Before moving a washing machine, you must make sure that the unit is unplugged and the cord is secured. If you don’t secure the cord, it can damage the body of the washer and the glass door. Then, you should empty the washer before you start packing it.
After doing all that, it is time to secure the whole washing machine and you can do that by wrapping it up with bubble wraps and padding material.
Can I move a washing machine in my car?
A washing machine should not be placed on the side, it should be transported in its standard position. Fitting a washer in an upright position into the trunk of a regular car won’t be possible. So, you can’t move a washing machine in your car.
However, you can transport it in a pickup truck quite comfortably.
Will it damage a dryer to be transported laying on its back?
A dryer is made in such a way that it doesn’t get damaged if you place it on its back. So, it shouldn’t damage a drying machine to be moved laying on its back.
However, the dryer needs to be well packed so that the exterior body doesn’t get damaged while being transported laying on the back.
Can a dryer be transported front side down?
You shouldn’t transport a dryer with its front side down.
The front side of the drying machine has a glass door and a control panel. So, when you will ship the drying machine laying on its front, both the door and the control panel can get damaged no matter how well packed they are.
Final Thoughts
The dryer is made in such a way that it can withstand being placed on its side. However, the washer has two tubs, which will move out of place even if you only lay it on its side. The supporting pads and suspension of the washing machine will also get damaged if you lay it on its side.