Commercial Laundry Buying Guide: Capacity, Installation & Samsung vs Maytag

The right commercial laundry setup is the one that clears your busiest day's washing and drying within your available working hours, suits your fabrics and fits the services in your building. Drum size is only the starting point.

This guide explains how to calculate realistic capacity, compare Samsung and Maytag options, check installation requirements and keep essential laundry moving when a machine is out of service.

1. Start with the laundry you actually generate

Weigh laundry dry over representative working days, including your busiest day. Separate towels, bed linen, uniforms and delicate items rather than treating everything as one load. Record how much needs tumble drying, your turnaround deadline and the hours staff can load and unload machines.

Allow for re-washes, seasonal peaks and loads that cannot be mixed. Bulky items may reach a programme's volume limit before its weight limit. Check that the machine and selected programme suit the fabrics, soil levels and intended commercial duty.

2. Turn daily kilograms into a workable schedule

Required wash cycles = daily dry-laundry weight divided by the realistic load per cycle, rounded up. Then multiply by the actual programme time and allow for loading, unloading and routine cleaning. Use the load limit for your chosen programme, not automatically the maximum printed on the machine.

For example, 80kg per day at an assumed usable 16kg per wash requires five cycles. If each cycle takes 60 minutes and handling adds 10 minutes, that is 350 minutes of washer time. This is a planning example, not a performance claim for any model. Separate fabric groups or smaller programme limits could increase the number of cycles.

Calculate drying independently. The slower stage sets your overall output, and washing and drying can overlap only when equipment, staffing and the workflow allow it. A short quick-wash cycle for a small load is not evidence of full-drum hourly capacity.

3. Samsung and Maytag models to compare

Use the models below as a shortlist, then confirm current specification sheets, programme capacities, commercial-use suitability and warranty terms. Compare stated capacities on the same basis: some listings use different commercial and domestic rating conventions. Do not convert one rating into another without manufacturer confirmation.

Samsung: larger nominal loads and heat-pump drying

The Samsung WF20DG8650BV 20kg washing machine is listed for light-duty commercial use with cold fill and a 13A plug. Check that its duty level and programme options match your operation; a large drum alone does not establish suitability for continuous heavy use.

The Samsung DV16T8520BV 16kg heat-pump dryer offers a different drying approach from a vented machine. Its listing gives 126 minutes for an 8kg load and 289 minutes for a 16kg load. Treat these as published reference figures, not guaranteed timings for your fabrics or site. Obtain programme-specific information before calculating throughput.

A full 20kg wash should not be assumed to transfer into one 16kg drying load. Plan smaller wash batches, split drying loads or additional dryer capacity where needed.

Maytag: front-loading and top-loading washers

The Maytag MHN33PRTGW 10.5kg front-loading washer provides an alternative for buyers considering a commercial front-loading setup. Its listing specifies hot and cold fill and no internal water heater. Check your incoming hot-water provision and the temperatures needed for your selected wash programmes.

The Maytag MAT23MNAGW 10.5kg top-loading washer is listed with mechanical controls and also requires hot and cold fill without an internal water heater. Allow for lid-opening clearance and staff access above the machine; it should not be planned as the lower half of an improvised stack.

Maytag: gas and electric vented dryers

For a gas-vented shortlist, consider the Maytag MDG28PRTGW 10.5kg gas vented dryer. Its listing states that professional electrical and gas installation must be arranged. Establish gas compatibility, the electrical connection, exhaust route and air-supply requirements before ordering.

For electric vented drying, compare the Maytag MDE28PRTGW 10.5kg electric vented dryer, the Maytag MDE20MNTGW 10.5kg front-loading vented dryer and the Maytag MDE20MNAGW 11kg dryer. Do not assume their electrical requirements are interchangeable: the MDE20MNTGW listing specifies a 30A hardwired supply, while the MDE20MNAGW listing specifies a 25A breaker/fuse. Have your installer verify the current documentation for the exact model supplied.

Maytag: a ready-stacked option

The Maytag MLE22PRTGW 10.5kg ready-stacked washer and dryer is worth considering when floor space is limited. Its washer requires hot and cold fill and has no internal water heater. Check the complete unit's height, service access, electrical connections and dryer venting requirements. A stacked layout saves floor footprint, but does not remove the need to match wash and dry throughput or plan for downtime.

4. Gas, electric vented or electric heat pump?

Gas vented: compare the actual cycle times and gas consumption for your intended loads. Budget for the required gas and electrical connections, exhaust arrangement and air provision. Existing gas in the building does not establish that its supply is suitable for the dryer.

Electric vented: check the model's electrical load and required connection as well as the exhaust route. An electric dryer is not automatically a standard plug-in appliance. Assess duct length, bends, termination and maintenance access against the installation manual.

Electric heat pump: check drying times at realistic loads, permitted room conditions, clearances, filter care and condensate disposal. Do not assume heat-pump technology eliminates room-ventilation requirements.

Compare running costs using equivalent loads and drying results, measured or manufacturer-stated energy use, your actual tariffs and any relevant standing or demand charges. Include installation, servicing and staff time. Neither fuel type nor an efficiency label alone proves which option will cost less in your operation.

5. Installation checks before you buy

Electrical supply

Ask your installer to confirm voltage, phase, rated current, circuit capacity, isolation and connection requirements. Assess all machines operating together, not each appliance in isolation. A product listing that mentions a 13A plug does not confirm that an existing socket or circuit is suitable.

Water and drainage

Check whether the washer needs cold fill only or hot and cold fill, then confirm inlet pressure, temperature and flow requirements. For hot-fill machines without an internal heater, verify that the site's hot-water system can support the intended programmes and simultaneous demand.

Confirm the waste outlet location, discharge method, drain capacity and any permitted pump height. For dryers, establish whether condensate is collected in a tank or connected to a drain, and follow the exact model's instructions.

Ventilation and exhaust

For vented dryers, have the exhaust route and replacement-air provision checked before purchase. Gas models also need assessment of combustion-air and gas-installation requirements. Do not assume an existing vent or accessory kit is compatible simply because its connection looks similar.

Access, layout and maintenance

Measure doorways, corridors, turns and stairs as well as the final machine space. Allow for hoses, ducting, door or lid opening and service clearances. Confirm floor suitability and any levelling or anchoring requirements. Use only manufacturer-approved stacking arrangements, and keep access to filters, isolators and connections practical for staff and engineers.

6. Plan for one machine out of service

Run two checks: first remove your largest washer from the schedule, then remove your largest dryer. Can the remaining equipment clear essential loads before your deadline? Two machines provide useful resilience only if the remaining capacity can handle your priority workload.

For example, two washers each completing four usable 10kg loads provide 80kg of theoretical daily washing capacity. With one unavailable, that falls to 40kg before allowing for sorting, re-washes or drying constraints. This is a planning illustration, not a model-specific output claim.

If the remaining capacity is insufficient, consider additional equipment, an agreed outsourced laundry arrangement or enough spare linen to cover the interruption. Confirm servicing availability and warranty conditions, rather than assuming any model has a guaranteed repair response time.

7. Next-day delivery and unpack-and-position options

Need your new laundry equipment quickly? Next-day delivery options are available, subject to confirmation for your chosen machine, stock availability and delivery address. Before ordering, ask Kitchway to confirm the applicable order cut-off, available delivery date and any additional charges. Do not book an installer around an assumed delivery date.

Unpack-and-position options are also available. Ask for this service when requesting your quote so the arrangements and price can be confirmed for your machine and premises. Share details of steps, stairs, narrow doorways, restricted access and the route to the intended position before booking.

Unpacking and positioning should not be treated as installation or commissioning. Confirm exactly what the booked service includes, including packaging removal, and arrange any water, waste, electrical, gas or exhaust connections separately unless they are expressly included in your quotation. Ask separately about removal of an existing machine if required.

8. Additional warranty options to purchase

Additional warranty options are available to purchase. Ask Kitchway which options apply to your selected Samsung or Maytag model and intended commercial use, and request the price and full terms before deciding.

Compare the additional cover with the warranty already included. Confirm the cover period and start date, whether parts, labour and call-outs are included, any exclusions or maintenance conditions, and how a repair is arranged. Do not assume extra cover includes accidental damage, consumables, a replacement machine or a guaranteed response time unless the terms explicitly state this.

Choose cover alongside your downtime plan: additional warranty protection and spare laundry capacity address different risks, so one should not be treated as a substitute for the other.

9. What to include in your quote request

Send your typical and peak daily dry-laundry weights, fabric types, preferred programmes, staffed operating hours and required turnaround. Include the proportion needing tumble drying, current electrical and water services, drainage details, any proposed exhaust route, access measurements and your downtime plan.

Include your delivery postcode and preferred date, and tell us if you would like next-day delivery, unpack-and-position service or additional warranty options priced. Availability, scope and charges should be confirmed for your order.

Request a Quote from Kitchway with your Samsung or Maytag shortlist. Ask for current specification sheets, confirmation of intended-use suitability and warranty cover, and a clear breakdown of what is included. Have installation requirements confirmed by your qualified installer before purchase.