Red flags that a laundry upgrade is needed
The old adage goes, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. However, when it comes to dated on-premises laundry equipment, the same can’t be true…in fact, fixing machines may be part of the problem. So, how do you know it may be time to upgrade your on-premises laundry? Here are a few thoughts to consider.
Mounting repairs. If your local service tech spends more time in your laundry than most employees, it may be time to consider an upgrade. When it comes to deciding when to repair and when to replace, relying on your distributor should be the first step. A true partner will help you weigh the pros and cons based on your unique set of circumstances. If repairs are growing more frequent and costly, it’s an indicator that it may be time to consider an upgrade.
Utility costs. Utilities are a central component to operating an on-premises laundry. No doubt, we’ve all seen rising utility rates. And if your laundry is utilizing dated, inefficient equipment, utilities as a percentage of your operating costs may have risen significantly. If your operation has seen this situation playing out, upgrading to more efficient machinery may be the answer.
Labor costs. The highest cost of running an on-premises laundry is labor. If that cost is rising and you are seeing more overtime incurred to make daily throughput numbers, it may be time to look at an upgrade or increasing capacity. Leveraging a delayed start feature also may help, where a washer can be loaded at the end of the day and programmed to start just before staff arrives the following day.
Dryer bottleneck. Loads backing up on the dry side can be the result of a variety of issues – wrong sizing, inefficiency, dirty venting. The bottom line is that while your tumblers may not be giving you service problems, their inefficiency or under sizing compared to washers could be a red flag that an upgrade is needed.
Rebates, financing. No manager wants to be caught flat-footed, having to make an on-the-spot decision on an expensive repair or starting over with new equipment; we’ve already established laundry doesn’t stop when you have a breakdown. Being proactive is always the best option. When you add in rebates and financing specials offered, along with the efficiency strides and productivity gains, upgrading may be more cost effective than you think.
If you are experiencing any of the above scenarios, it may be time to have a conversation with your laundry equipment distributor to see if upgrading can make an immediate impact on your operation.
