What's the difference between commercial & domestic commercial machines?

Do you know what the key differences are between commercial washing machines and domestic washing machines?

In the blog we’re going to look at the main differences focusing on factors such as efficiency, durability, and robustness.

Reliability and Durability
Commercial laundry equipment is engineered to minimise downtime and streamline maintenance. A typical domestic washing machine is built to last around 5 years, delivering an average of 270 washes a year.

A commercial washing machine has a much longer life span, roughly 10 years of life based on running 8 hours a day for 365 days a year. The components of a commercial washing machine are of a higher specification than those in a domestic machine. The motor, for example, is of a much higher grade and so will last longer. The heating element in a commercial washing machine is also of a higher quality allowing commercial washing machines to meet stricter infection control requirements for environments such as care homes or healthcare.

Cycle Times
Commercial dryers are pretty much on par with domestic dryers when it comes to speed. However, commercial washing machines are much quicker than their domestic counterparts. Domestic washing machines can take over an hour or even as much as an hour and a half, whereas a commercial washing machine cycle will typically be about 30 minutes.

Special Features
There are a number of special features and types of cycles that are exclusive to commercial washing machines:

• Hot-fill: Commercial washing machines can be filled directly with hot water which means quicker cycles and lower energy usage
• Specific wash programs: These can be tailored to meet the needs of different sectors, in particular care homes.
• Auto-Dosing: Commercial machines can be fitted with auto-dosing pumps which dose industrial detergents at the exact quantity needed.

Size
Commercial washing machines have a variety of size options to meet requirements. The smallest commercial washing machines tend to have a load capacity of 8kg but only take up floor space roughly equal to that of a domestic washing machine.

The larger commercial washing machines can have a capacity of 32kg and above. The advantage of these larger washing machines is being able to reduce the number of loads required, saving time and money.

Industrial washing machines are even larger, designed for environments such as industrial cleaning companies.

Warranty
Domestic laundry machines come with a manufacturer’s warranty, and if a domestic machine is used in a commercial environment the warranty becomes void. Commercial washing machines are built to sustain more and come with an extended warranty.


Energy and Water Efficiency
Commercial washing machines have a much lower energy and water consumption than domestic washing machines. Because of commercial dryers having a much faster spin speed, less time in the dryer is needed, also saving on energy use.

Cost
Probably the most significant difference between commercial and domestic washing machines is the price. Whilst domestic washing machines are cheaper, they break sooner and need replacing more often.

With GA Commercial you can also lease your commercial laundry equipment in order to offset that initial cost. You can find out more about leasing your laundry equipment from GA Commercial here.

Find the right commercial laundry solution for your business today with GA Commercial. Get in touch with our team to discuss your needs and find what will work best for your business today.