Proper number of dryers

[Avery]

I am looking to replace some single pocket dryers with 2 pocket and 50 lb. units 1)What is a good number of pockets to have in relation to washers? 2) What has your experience been with 50 lb dryers. Thanks

[PeterH]

I'm looking do the same! It appears to me that you need 4 dryer pockets for 5 washers.

While some have told me that as long as your total dryer capacity is more than your washer capacity, you'll be ok. Well, I have 26 washers (488# of total capacity) and 17 dryers (510# total) and I have major bottlenecks on the weekends!

I get a heck of alot of comforters and sleeping bags, so I want the 50# dryers to handle these.

-ph

[Howard]

Your analysis sounds about right. Currently I have 777 pounds of washer capacity and only 510 pounds of dryer capacity. All is well, except on the weekends when things can get ugly. I will be replacing my singles with stacks and will then have 920 pounds of dryer capacity. I am going with all 30# stacks and one 50# single.

[Marianne]

You will not be sorry if you have 25% more pounds of dryer capacity than washer capacity and a couple of extractors too. Customers resent waiting for dryers more than for washers because they feel trapped in the situation. They also will use dryers more freely to separate their wash loads into smaller dryer loads when there are fewer customers. They seem able to use all dryers no matter what.
I have two huge and ancient 50# dryers. They do a great job of fluffing the comforters and seldom let the large items ball up. But they use as much space as six pockets of stacks. I have two reversing 50# dryers that fit in the space of 4 pockets of stacks. They dry sleeping bags and other heavy items in 15 minutes. The customers love them and I can keep the regular clothing loads out of them be explaining that the reversing feature robs them of 10 seconds of heat every minute.

I price my dryers so that each quarter buys the same amount of btu's. It costs about the same to dry a load in any dryer, it just takes different amounts of time.