• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Whitegoodshelp

  • WASHING MACHINES
  • TUMBLE DRYERS
  • MORE APPLIANCE TYPES
    • COOKERS & OVENS
    • DISHWASHERS
    • FRIDGE & FREEZERS
  • BUYING
  • CONSUMER
  • REPAIRING
  • RENTING
  • SAFETY
  • SPARES
  • USING
You are here: Home / Tumble Dryers / Tumble dryer stacking kits

Updated October 27, 2020 : First Published October 9, 2007

Tumble dryer stacking kits

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin2
Share
More
2 Shares

 If you want to stack a tumble dryer on top of a washing machine you need a stacking frame or stacking kit. This article explains why, and gives advice about buying one.

Can you stack a dryer on a washing machine without a stacking kit?

I’ve come across many people who just stood their tumble dryer on top of the washing machine. But it should be obvious that this is not a good idea. There are two reasons why you need a stacking kit. The first is because the tumble dryer could get thrown off the washing machine during a fault, or merely vibrate off during a particularly boisterous spin.

The second reason is that a person could potentially pull a dryer on top of themselves if they pulled down on its open door. This scenario is less likely though. The concern is aimed more at children, but it’s possible to imagine someone stumbling near by and grabbing hold of the dryer door only to have it fall on them.

If your washing machine and tumble dryer are the same brand and style, the manufacturer may have designed a frame specifically for them. This is definitely the best option if you can find one. The trouble is that there are many different configurations of tumble dryer and washing machine, and different models from the same manufacturer may have different chassis and casings.

Universal tumble dryer stacking kits

There are universal stacking kits available that are supposed to connect any tumble dryer to any front loading washing machine. They should be cheaper than the manufacturer’s although they might not be as snug a fit. You may prefer to try a universal stacking kit if your washing machine and tumble dryer are different makes or if you find the manufacturers kit too expensive.

As with all “universal fit” products there is the potential for it to not be a “perfect” fit but if the makers say they connect all tumble dryers to any front loaders then they should do so satisfactorily or you will be entitled to your money back. Pay close attention to the sizes of appliance they quote to make sure yours will fit.

Related links: Find washing machine – tumble dryer stacking kits

  • Search for tumble dryer stacking kits including universal kits
Peter Tyson Appliances

Peter Tyson Appliances give high quality service coupled with special offers and competitive prices on carefully chosen white goods.

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin2
Share
More
2 Shares

Filed Under: Tumble Dryers - 95 Comments

Buy Spares

Ransom Spares is a family company with over 1 million white goods appliance spare parts for sale. Next day delivery available, friendly company with over 5000 reviews on Trust Pilot

Price match promise: "If you find the exact same part or accessory elsewhere for cheaper, we’ll not only match it, we’ll beat it!" -

Buy your appliance spare part


Latest Reviews

Which? Trial Offers

  • Full Online Access, Magazine & App – Introductory offer of £5 for first month, £9.99 Monthly Price
  • (Or get special £99 Annual Price)
  • Digital - Website + App – £7.99 Monthly Price
  • Print - Magazine Only - £7.99 Monthly Price
  • Choose your Which? Package

Get Your Appliance Fixed

Domestic & General Repairs

Hoover or Candy Repairs Hoover | Candy


Skip comments?

Skip Comments Note: Comments often contain very useful and extra information.

Reader Interactions

Comments: (Oldest first)

  1. bruce girvan says

    October 24, 2007 at 12:00 pm

    can a fixing kit be used to put a dishwasher on top of a washing machine ?

  2. Washerhelp says

    October 24, 2007 at 2:24 pm

    I know you wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t something you felt you needed to explore but I would be extremely surprised if anyone made a stacking frame which allowed a dishwasher to sit on top of a washing machine.

    If the dishwasher leaked it could potentially soak the washing machine beneath and cause physical and or electrical damage.

    Dishwashers also tend to be a different shape and depth than a tumble dryer which tends to be quite similar to a washing machine so the dishwasher is likely to be a poor physical fit.

    The biggest problem is that the drain hose for the dishwasher would be far too low because the plumbing would be a few feet beneath it. This could allow water to siphon out during use causing the dishwasher to malfunction as this washing machine troubleshooting section describes – washing machine constantly fills with water and goes down the drain

  3. Rumple Stiltskin says

    September 10, 2008 at 10:01 am

    Hello,

    Can these stacking things be used for stacking free-standing fridges and freezers atop each other?

  4. Washerhelp says

    September 10, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    That’s an interesting idea. I’m not aware of anything available to do that. There’s no way a washing machine / tumble dryer stacking kit would be suitable because of the difference in shape and size of the appliances.

    If you just stacked the fridge on top of a freezer, in theory (if it was a stable fit) they could be OK because they don’t move or bounce around. However, there would be a danger of the top appliance being knocked off. The arrangement would be particularly unstable when the door of the top appliance was opened as any leverage on the door could topple it on top of someone. Also, if the door was opened but then closed again and you tried to open it again shortly after then the door tends to be extra hard to open as it creates a type of vacuum. This could also cause the top appliance to fall off if someone pulled on the door but it didn’t open and instead pulled the appliance forward.

    Having said all that, I have this arrangement in my garage where I have a free standing upright freezer with a free standing fridge on top. The freezer is slightly larger so the fridge stands firmly on top without the feet being precariously close to the edge. Everything works fine and feels stable.

  5. Jose says

    September 30, 2008 at 10:43 am

    following your reply to Bruce Girvan about the dishwasher on top of a washing machine, I have the same issue. I want to install a dishwasher in the kitchen and the only room left would be on top of the washing machine. is there any plumbing solution to avoid the dishwasher to malfunction ?

  6. Washerhelp says

    September 30, 2008 at 11:50 am

    Jose: The main issue apart from stability and leaks is the drain hose. A drain hose on a washing machine or dishwasher needs to go up well above the level of the water inside the machine to prevent siphoning.

    The waste water pipe is usually near floor level and extends 2 – 3 feet up the wall where the drain hose is then placed. To position the waste water pipe in the correct position for a machine elevated 3 or 4 feet high it would need to be similarly elevated which depending on the siting could be undesirable. On the other side of the wall the pipework would run outside at about 5 feet above ground and would look similarly bad.

    Personally I feel it’s a bad idea. Have you looked into having one fitted into a kitchen cupboard. You can get built in dishwashers that take up just one cupboard space or small dishwashers – or even worktop dishwashers that drain into the sink. You could regain the cupboard space by having one fitted above the washing machine.

  7. Jose says

    September 30, 2008 at 1:02 pm

    thanks for your prompt reply. Now I understand what the technical issue is. I thought I could connect the drain hose from the dishwasher to drain into the sink, like the washing machine already in place.
    I wish I could consider that option (take kitchen cupboards apart), but this is not my flat I am just renting it for a year or so.

  8. Washerhelp says

    September 30, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    Jose: If the drain hose was extended so it was long enough to be tied up at the back of the dishwasher but then run into the sink it might avoid the siphoning problem. If the drain hose just runs downwards to the drain or as in your case to the sink then because the water inside the appliance is higher than the end of the drain hose it can just run out through gravity.

    If the drain hose is forced to go up first, then is allowed to drop lower then water should only run into the sink if it was pumped up 3 feet or so before running down to the sink.

    However, if the end of the drain hose is lower than the level of water inside the appliance it is possible for siphoning to occur because the pump can start off siphoning in the same way as you could by sucking the end of the hose. Once water has started to run down a pipe it will continue even after the pressure that started it has gone (this is what we call siphoning). It would depend exactly how the appliance works. If the machine started filling whilst water was still running out of the machine (if siphoning has been started) it is possible under the circumstances we are discussing that water would run into the machine but go straight down the drain and the appliance would be stuck in a never ending filling and draining cycle.

    You would only know for sure after trying it out.

    [ related: Washing machine constantly fills with water and goes down the drain ]

  9. Jose says

    September 30, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    thanks for your reply.
    so worktop dishwashers do not have that siphoning issue ? why is that ?

  10. Washerhelp says

    September 30, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    You would need to double check if looking into a worktop dishwasher. They are very small though so possibly unsuitable. I can’t say for sure, but I think they may not have a normal pump, I think they may have a valve that opens up when it needs to drain using the wash motor. I know dishwashers from the past used to have this arrangement until modern dishwashers started to have a separate pump similar to a washing machine pump.

    As worktop dishwashers are designed to sit on a worktop and many will presumably drain into the sink at the side I suspect they may have the drain valve instead of a pump, which would not allow any water out of the machine unless the machine was wanting to drain.

    No one should assume this is the case though and should check they are suitable for draining into the sink.

More comments: (oldest on page 1)

1 2 3 … 10 »

Comment Policy:

All comments are moderated before appearing and need to be on topic. Please don't ask questions already answered in the article above.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

  • Go to top of page

Author

This site is run entirely by myself, an engineer with 40 years experience in the white goods trade Andy Trigg

  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright Whitegoodshelp 2000 - © 2021