When a business decides to bring laundry in-house, the equipment purchase is usually the number that gets the most attention. The utility infrastructure requirements — and the costs that follow — are almost always underestimated until after installation.
Gas Line Requirements
Commercial gas dryers operate at 80,000–200,000 BTU/hour per unit, compared to a residential dryer's 20,000–30,000 BTU/hour. A property with two or three commercial dryers running simultaneously may require a high-pressure gas service upgrade — a project that involves your utility provider, local permits, and a licensed plumber. In Illinois, that process typically takes 4–10 weeks and costs $1,500–$8,000 depending on distance from the street meter to the equipment location.
Many commercial properties are served by a gas meter sized for HVAC and kitchen equipment only. Adding high-demand laundry appliances without a service upgrade is an under-delivery situation — dryers run longer per cycle because they can't sustain full BTU output, increasing utility costs and cycle time simultaneously.
Water Supply and Drain Specifications
A commercial front-load washer requires a 3/4-inch or 1-inch supply line at minimum water pressure (typically 20–30 PSI). Multiple machines running simultaneously need a water supply system sized for their combined demand. Buildings with aging galvanized pipes often cannot deliver that volume at the pressure rating needed without re-plumbing the supply run to the laundry room.
Drain capacity is equally constraining. A 60-pound-capacity washer discharges 60–80 gallons per cycle. If the floor drain or standpipe cannot handle that flow rate without backing up, you are looking at floor drain upgrades — or intermittent flooding incidents that damage equipment and flooring.
Peak Rate Electricity Costs
Commercial dryers run on 240V, 30–50 amp circuits. Running two or three simultaneously during peak utility hours (typically 9 AM–9 PM in Illinois) can push a business into a higher demand tier. Many ComEd commercial tariffs include a demand charge based on peak 15-minute consumption — a metric that laundry equipment directly and significantly affects.
Replacement Cycle Reality
Commercial washers in heavy-use environments have a service life of 7–12 years before major component replacement becomes economically unfavorable. Budget 3–6% of equipment value annually for maintenance and repair. A $15,000 washer-dryer pair generates roughly $450–$900 in annual maintenance cost on average — in addition to parts costs for major failures.
For a comprehensive cost comparison between in-house and outsourced laundering, see Outsourcing vs. In-House Laundry: Evaluating Utility, Labor, and Space Constraints.
Evaluate your potential cost savings before investing in equipment. Calculate your batch estimates on our Pricing page — or reach out for a consultation based on your specific volume and facility situation.