Thoughts?
Thanks.
I just saw that a family in my area has installed a washing machine and dryer tower unit in their balcony. Since we're a working couple with a toddler, a waschtag once in around 18 days, and a small bathroom, this obviously caught my attention. Question is, is this a good idea? Somehow my gut tells me that having electrical appliances exposed to the elements (especially freezing temperatures) is a terrible idea in the long term and that I should not even think about getting tempted.
Sounds risky to me. Electrical and water connections trailing from the balcony to where for utilities? As you say, out in the elements too which can’t be good.
If you decide to take the plunge remember you need permission from your landlord/agency to do anything like this.
When we lived in Shanghai, our washing and drying machine was also installed on the balcony and that seemed to be common practice over there. I found it a bit strange and had some observations as to safety and whether it was not bad for the machines with the humid climate but we never had an issue. It never froze as hard though as it can over here.
I have seen fridges or freezers on people's balconies, but a washer seems like a terribly bad idea considering the sometimes freezing temperatures in Winter.
Would it be any different from having a spa pool on a balony or outside in the snow? Both involve electriity and the movement of warm water.
Spa pools are designed for outdoor operation. Washers aren't.
Quite often Apartments have the Washing machine and dryer tower in a toilet & I always feel a bit nervous about being so close to these 415v appliances while performing my duties.
You are probably right. But in what way - prone to rust? prone to give people electric shocks ( aren't laundries full of water too?) or...? I am just curous about the facts now that the topic has been brought up.
I have certainly seen them under very basic 3-sided outdoor shelters in motor camps in france and have seen them on a balcony in central Sydney.
Well I just wouldn't do it, especially not with Swiss winters. Anyhow, it is very likely that it will be totally verboten by your contract
Come and use mine on Fridays, its free all day.
A spa pool (hot tub) maintains the water at "warm" constantly. So the pipes would only freeze if there was a long (days) power cut. I miss our hot tub (it stayed in England....)
Obviously the water supply and waste pipe would freeze up in Winter, and humidity would not be kind to the controllers, so looking long term, it's a definite no.
How would you get rid of the waste water? All the balconies I have seen drain outwards and down into the garden: so can you imagine the result of pouring soapy water onto the garden? You would not be at all popular!
Guess what the theme picture on the next SVP poster will probably be of?
I was thinking .... with all the narrow streets in the old parts of towns, why they don`t just hang their laundry accross the streets? You know - using a pulley system like in the olden days? Would save on using drying rooms in summer AND electricity.
Don't give people ideas Smoky! Can you imagine the laundry rules? How much washing, of which type, on which line, and which side of the street...
Have you noticed (Not that I'm kinky mind) that we never see underwear in the drying rooms? Well mine is always visible, but seldom other peoples.
Maybe other neighbours ARE kinky and their underwear disappears?
Back on topic: I think the OP must have seen a tower of machines being stored by some unfortunate soul. I can't imagine them actually running them there.
It's a bad look to dry ones laundry in public.
I tried that on a clothes horse on the balcony on a nice sunny day and received my warning of what is expected within the neighbourhood.
I shit ye not.
My rental contract expressly forbids displaying washing on the balcony.
I can think of two issues - well, three really, with this, the first obvious one being that of ensuring you have proper outdoor electrical connections.
That aside, the longevity of the machine will surely be affected, and quite significantly so, I'd have thought, although I guess that depends just how sheltered it is from potential driving rain or snow. But even just outside but not exposed to the wet it will start to corrode much quicker with the exposure to humid air.
As for the frost - well I think the main problem here would be that there's quite a few smallish pipes and connections internally that will always be at least part-full of water. These are not designed to be frost-proof, so would be quite likely to split or burst if exposed to real low temperatures. Again, it depends how exposed it is - if your balcony is very sheltered and it's against the wall of the building, it may be that temperatures are kept above freezing, but otherwise I think the risk could be quite high.
As already said. Where would you put the waste water??? Not a good idea in my opinion!
I have a fridge on one of my balconies, been there for years with no problems.
A washer would be a problem for the plumbing, though. We have ours where the bidet used to be.
Tom
downstairs' problem, not yours