Buying a Used Washer and Dryer in Kitchener: What to Check First

A used laundry pair can save you a good amount of money, especially if you are setting up a first home, a rental unit or a basement apartment. But a washer and dryer have to work together and fit your space, which makes them a little trickier than buying a single appliance.

We already have a general guide to buying used appliances. This one is specific to laundry pairs. Here is what we tell customers who visit our Kitchener showroom.

1. Measure the Space and the Path In

Measure the width, depth and height of your laundry area, then add room behind the machines for hoses and the dryer vent. Most pairs need several inches behind them. Also measure every doorway and stairwell the machines will pass through on the way in. Basement stairs in older homes can be tight.

2. Match the Capacities

A dryer drum should be larger than the washer drum, roughly one and a half to two times the washer's capacity in cubic feet. Clothes need room to tumble. If you pair a large washer with a small dryer, you will be splitting loads or running the dryer twice, which adds to your hydro bill.

3. Decide If You Need to Stack

Only front load washers can be stacked, and the dryer needs to be designed for it. You will also need the correct stacking kit for that brand and model. Top load washers cannot have a dryer stacked on them. If space is tight and stacking is the plan, confirm the pair is stack compatible before you buy.

4. Check Your Dryer Power or Gas Supply

Most electric dryers in Canada run on a 240 volt outlet. Dryer outlets come in three prong and four prong styles, and the dryer cord has to match yours, so check which one you have before you buy.

If you have a gas dryer, you need an existing gas line in the laundry area. Connecting a gas dryer is a job for a licensed gas technician, not a DIY project.

5. Plan the Venting

A standard dryer needs to vent outside. Use rigid or semi rigid metal duct and keep the run as short and straight as possible. Avoid plastic or thin foil duct, which traps lint and is a fire risk. If you cannot vent outside, look at ventless condenser or heat pump dryers, which need no outside vent.

6. Confirm the Water Hookups and Drain

The washer needs hot and cold water taps and a standpipe or laundry tub to drain into. Plan on new fill hoses with any used washer. Braided stainless steel hoses are a good upgrade over old rubber ones.

7. Inspect the Washer Closely

Look inside the drum for rust or chips. On a front loader, pull back the rubber door gasket and check for mould, tears or a strong musty smell. Spin the drum by hand and listen for grinding, which can mean worn bearings. If you can, see it run through a spin cycle and watch for leaks or heavy shaking.

8. Inspect the Dryer Closely

Check that the lint screen is intact and the drum turns smoothly and quietly. Run it for a few minutes to make sure it actually heats. Squealing or thumping often points to worn rollers or a belt that will need replacing soon.

Private Sale or Appliance Shop?

A private sale can work, but you often cannot test a machine properly in someone's basement, and you are on your own for getting it home and hooked up. Buying from a local appliance shop lets you compare several pairs side by side, ask questions about fit and hookups, and arrange delivery.

Al's Appliance carries used, new and scratch and dent washers and dryers, with delivery available across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. Visit our Kitchener showroom at 20 Stewart Street or our Guelph location at 6 Holliday Street. You can also call 519-824-8828 or browse alsappliance.ca before you come in.