Electrical Load Planning for Commercial Washers and Dryers
Opening a modern laundromat is no longer just about floor space and machine count. Power capacity now plays a central role in uptime, safety, and long-term operating cost. A single miscalculation can lead to breaker trips, machine errors, or costly retrofits after opening. This blog describes the calculation of the electrical load in the laundromat, the systems that your buildout should support, and how to plan your power correctly when you start. We will discuss the demand of washer-dryers, phase, plan, and layout to use in the real world to ensure your store is code-compliant and future-production.
Why Electrical Planning Matters in a Laundromat
Commercial laundry equipment draws far more energy than residential machines. High-G dryers, industrial washers, water heaters, and payment systems operate in parallel for long periods. Unlike cafés or retail shops, a laundromat can reach peak load every hour of the day.
Without a proper plan, operators face:
- Frequent breaker trips during peak hours
- Overheated wiring and safety risks
- Downtime on multiple machines
- Delays in passing local inspections
- Expensive post-launch upgrades
Electrical planning is not a backend detail. It is a core design decision that affects machine selection, layout, and even how many customers your store can serve at once.
Understanding Commercial Power Systems
Most professional laundromats run on 3-phase power. This system distributes electrical load across three currents instead of one, allowing heavy equipment to run efficiently and with less strain.
Benefits include:
- Lower amperage per line
- Better motor performance
- Reduced voltage drop
- Stable operation during peak loads
Many high-capacity dryers and soft-mount washers are designed exclusively for three-phase service. If your site only has single-phase power, you may face equipment limits or added costs for service upgrades.
Confirm available phase service, maximum utility kVA, and upgrade permissions; this single verification step prevents months of costly redesign later.
Calculating Total Equipment Load
Every machine has a rated voltage and amperage. Add all connected loads, then apply a diversity factor for real-world operation. A typical mid-size laundromat may include:
- 10–20 washers (varied sizes)
- 10–16 dryers
- Water heating system
- Change machines and POS
- Lighting and ventilation
This is where the power requirement washer dryer data becomes critical. A single 45kg commercial dryer can draw more power than several washers combined. Heating elements dominate the total load.
Key rules:
- Always use manufacturer nameplate ratings
- Include the startup current for motors.
- Add HVAC and water heating loads.
- Reserve 20–30% capacity for growth
This ensures your system can handle peak demand without stress.
Panel Planning and Distribution
Correct panel sizing is about more than fitting breakers. Panels must handle peak current, allow expansion, and meet local electrical codes. Undersized panels create bottlenecks even when utility power is sufficient.
A good distribution design:
- Separates washers and dryers across phases
- Uses sub-panels for machine zones
- Isolates lighting and POS circuits
- Leaves spare breaker capacity
Avoid placing all dryers on one phase, sharing circuits between high-load machines, and using residential-grade panels in commercial laundromat operations.
Commercial laundromats require industrial-grade switchgear. The upfront cost is higher, but it prevents recurring failures.
Layout Decisions That Affect Power
Electrical design should follow the machine layout, not fight it. Long cable runs increase voltage drop and cost. Grouping similar machines simplifies balancing across phases.
When planning your floor:
- Place high-load dryers close to main panels
- Cluster washers by voltage type
- Reserve wall space for future panels
- Keep service corridors accessible.
This also reduces downtime during maintenance and upgrades.
Three Planning Checklists
- Pre-lease evaluation
Confirm utility service type and capacity, request a load letter, check upgrade timelines and fees, and verify local electrical codes.
Design phase
- Map every machine with voltage and amperage
- Balance loads across all phases
- Size panels for peak + growth
- Define separate circuits for each dryer.
- Pre-opening verification
Simultaneously run all machines, measure voltage at full load, verify breaker response times, and document the final as-built electrical layout.
Each phase catches different risks. Skipping any one of them increases the chance of failure after launch.
- Scaling and Future Expansion
Electrical systems should never be designed only for today’s machine count. Smart stores leave space for:
- Larger-capacity washers
- Additional dryer stacks
- Heat recovery systems
- EV chargers or solar inverters
When your second row of dryers cannot be powered without a utility shutdown, growth becomes painful. A properly engineered laundromat electrical load calculation includes a future margin from day one.
This is also where 3-phase power proves its value again. It allows denser machine layouts and smoother expansion without rewiring the entire facility.
Common Cost Traps to Avoid
Many owners underestimate the electrical scope because it is invisible once the walls are closed. Typical cost traps include:
- Replacing panels after inspection failure
- Upgrading service after the machines arrive
- Re-running conduit due to layout changes
These costs often exceed the price difference between basic and professional planning. Investing early reduces long-term capital burn.
Even lighting choices matter. High-bay LED systems draw far less than legacy fixtures, freeing capacity for machines.
Why Precision Beats Estimation
Guesswork leads to overloading or overspending. Real planning uses:
- Manufacturer spec sheets
- Electrical engineering calculations
- Utility coordination
- On-site load testing
This process ensures your store operates at full capacity without stress. A well-balanced system extends equipment life, improves safety, and keeps customers moving during peak hours.
A second pass on your laundromat electrical load calculation after final machine selection is a best practice many new operators skip.
Conclusion
Electrical load planning defines how reliably your laundromat runs. From understanding the power requirement washer dryer profiles to choosing the right panels and phase systems, each decision affects uptime, safety, and scalability. Proper layout, growth margin, and testing prevent the most common operational failures seen in new stores. Before breaking ground, build a clear electrical roadmap. Request a buildout checklist to ensure every phase of your project is power-ready. Your store’s performance starts in the panel room, Launch Laundry.
FAQs
1. How do I estimate total power for a laundromat?
Add the rated load of every washer, dryer, heater, and support system, then apply a diversity factor. Always include startup current and future expansion margin.
2. Is single-phase power enough for a small laundromat?
Small stores can operate on single-phase, but machine choice becomes limited. Many commercial dryers require three-phase service.
3. What happens if my panels are undersized?
You’ll see breaker trips, machine downtime, and inspection failures. Retrofitting panels after opening is costly and disruptive.
4. How often should electrical capacity be reviewed?
Review whenever you add machines, upgrade dryers, or change heating systems. Even one new high-capacity dryer can shift load balance.
