Aqualogic are well versed in the maintenance and repair of commercial washing machines and dryers. In the 50+ years we’ve been leading the commercial laundry equipment industry we have noticed that there are common issues that arise. Some are easy to prevent and fix yourself, others require a laundry service technician. Here are the top 5 problems found in commercial washers and clothes dryers and how to fix them.
Foreign Objects Causing Havoc
It is not uncommon to accidentally leave foreign objects in the wash, particularly in an Aged Care Facility, Accommodation or Hospitality business setting. Foreign objects can include items such as hair clips, coins, lighters, cutlery, and dentures. Unfortunately, these items can cause significant damage to the washing machine drum and sometimes get lodged within the machine, causing the machine to breakdown.
How to prevent and fix: This can be easily prevented by reinforcing the habit of checking pockets and shaking out clothes and linen before everything is put into be washed. This can be supported with extra staff training, and signage around the laundry. We also recommend having a sorting table within your laundry soiled area, making it easier to go through clothes and linen. If your commercial washing machine has broken down and you suspect it’s due to a foreign object, book in a repair with Aqualogic.
Clothes Dryer Not Heating
If you find the dryer is no longer heating it could be due to a tripped thermostat. A tripped thermostat is often caused by opening the door while the dryer is still in operation, or if the lint screen or exhaust ducting have not been cleaned in a while. A build up of lint in the machine or in the ducting will block the airflow, causing the machine to overheat. It is important to note that this can also increase the risk of fire and air-contamination.
How to Prevent and Fix: The dryer’s lint screen needs to be cleaned every 2-3 loads. This can be achieved by tapping on the screen, enabling the blanket of lint to fall to the floor of the lint compartment, and then putting the lint in the bin. It is also recommended that your laundry ducts be cleaned by a professional at least once a year, depending on the throughput of your laundry. You can also avoid a tripped thermostat by using the pause/stop on the dryer prior to opening the door. Speak to the friendly team at Aqualogic to learn more, or to book in a maintenance service.
Washing Machine Not Completing the Spin Cycle
There are a number of reasons that your commercial washer isn’t spinning, but a couple of common culprits are because of an unbalanced load. Softmount commercial washing machines can be quite sensitive when it comes to distributing a laundry load effectively. A load of linens with varying weights can prevent the washer from not distributing the load evenly around the cylinder before the extraction part of the cycle. Another factor could be if the washer has either been under or overloaded. This can cause the load to gather to one side of the drum, again making it difficult for the machine to distribute the linen evenly.
How to Prevent and Fix: Where possible, wash like-for-like items, for example washing only towels, washing only sheets, or washing items with the same fabric. As well, making sure that the load of laundry is the right amount for the capacity of the washer is crucial. We call it the “rule of thumb”, because there should be approximately a thumb-sized gap once all the linen has been loaded into the machine. If the washer stops fairly quickly into a spin cycle, you can attempt to remedy by selecting the rinse and spin cycle without going through the entire wash cycle again.
Blocked Inlet Hose Filters
If you find that the washing machine is leaking, is not filling up the whole way or is filling slowly, you could have blocked inlet hose filters. This can be caused by debris or sediment build up from a disruption in the plumbing or testing backflow prevention/RPZ units.
How to Prevent and Fix: You can avoid blockages occurring in the inlet hose filters by turning the washing machine off when plumbing work is happening. Once the plumbing work has been completed, purge the water lines to drain before restarting the washers. To fix a blockage, turn the taps off and disconnect the water hoses. Then remove the filters, clean and refit. Turn the taps back on and you’re ready to go. If ever you’re not sure, you can always call us!
Dryer Not Drying Clothes and Linen
If your dryer is not drying the load and heating doesn’t appear to be the issue (see number 2), it could be due to blocked gas burners on dryers. As well as undried linen it can also cause:
- Sooting or grey linen
- Intermittent or constant heating system failures
- Lint or dust build up in burner perforations
- Cracks in burners from heat fractures
How to Prevent and Fix: The best way to prolong the life of the burners in your dryer is to have your machines serviced regularly. We recommend a minimum of twice a year, depending on the throughput of your laundry. A qualified technician will clean the burners and inspect them for cracks and corrosion, replacing them when necessary.
While it is inevitable that there will be hiccups over the years in a commercial laundry due to the nature of the business, these can be minimised by taking good care of your machines, ensure that procedures are being followed correctly, as well as having your machines serviced regularly. Should any issues in your laundry arise, Aqualogic is here to help! Make an enquiry online or call us on 1300 222 119.
