Do You Want to Explore the Idea of a Laundry Chute
Gary Cripps 
You can be just one person in your house, or there can be children and a partner living with you. In either case, laundry will be a regular job. Segregating linens, darks, whites, and others is a must, but the never-ending task sometimes gets the better of you. Collecting different pieces from different corners of the house and climbing up and down the laundry room can make it more tiring. Spending time in the laundry room can be another area of concern. While the washing machine and dryers churn a load, you occupy yourself with folding and ironing clothes from your previous day. If you estimate your time there, it can be around 17 minutes on average.
How do you improve your laundry experience? Choose a heavy-duty laundry sink, the best washer and dryer, intelligent storage systems, and elegant décor. But what about the running part that involves gathering and hauling a messy load up and down? A laundry chute can solve this complaint. You can send your garments and linens right close to the washing and drying machines hassle-free without involving hampers. Does it look fascinating? Dig into this idea more.
Benefits of a Laundry Chute
Open your chute’s access door to drop your laundry down to the laundry room. Once you are free, you can visit the room to set up a wash cycle. A well-planned chute will have a laundry basket right under it. It is a direct path connecting your room to the laundry area through a broad duct installed in the walls and floors. It should also take care of fire risks.
Nevertheless, you can incorporate this system in your house for convenience. Living in a house with many family members makes your life easy with the weekly piles of clothing you handle. You get rid of dragging heavy baskets up and down the stairs, toss the dirty linens down the duct, and enter the laundry room in your free time to wash the load. Because of this feature, your rooms can stay mess-free from piling clothes and a foul smell. Your bedroom will thank you for removing the laundry basket from its area. Some believe this also adds resale value to your property.
The Installation Cost of a Laundry Chute
It depends on several factors. One of the apparent areas to impact your budget can be the choice between hiring a professional service and taking a DIY approach. You know where you need to spend less. However, it makes little sense, given the amount of time you have to pay on this project. Then, the home’s layout and distance between the laundry and chute opening also influence your expenses. Since you need to add longer ducts for a long path, the project cost will be high by default.
Overall, your DIY installation efforts can cost around USD $100-200.
When you work with contractors, they will charge you based on the project’s complexity and location. Their fees can be higher in expensive neighborhoods. Considering everything, this cost can be anywhere around USD $800. Ask for quotes from different companies before taking a call, though.
Requisition for a Permit for a Laundry Chute
Contact local authorities for permit requirements, as they can differ in different regions. You generally obtain permits to make any significant structural changes to your property. If you consult a contractor, they can guide you on this. Just make sure your upgrades are legally relevant. If your city demands a permit, waiting for approval before installing the chute is better, even when it takes weeks. You want to avoid paying the penalty.
Risks with Laundry Chute
Homeowners can have specific queries like what if their clothes get stuck or whether it is safe for kids. These can be your concerns as well. To the first question, it will be no less than frustrating to find your clothes getting jammed in the duct. Usually, you can clear the clog by pushing something heavy down through the passage. If this doesn’t help, you can go to the end of the chute to work on the blockage with your yardstick or broom.
Nevertheless, you can minimize this risk during installation time by keeping the chute’s interiors smooth. If the layout allows, opt for a wider tube. At the same time, push only a few items down at a time to avoid headaches. According to design experts, a laundry chute can pose safety concerns for a home with toddlers, who can fall into it if the parents are not around or the chute’s access is open. You can prevent this risk by putting tamper-proof locks on the access door.
Care and Maintenance of Laundry Chute
Maintaining this specific feature of the house can be good for blocking safety hazards, such as the risk of fire spreading or toddlers slipping down the chute. Inspect the passage from the entry point to the laundry room to spot any obstructions. Dislodge them. Check the access door for smooth operation. If the fittings are loose, screw them tight to avoid functional issues. Remember, lock and entry problems can lead to fire risks. Hence, it’s better to involve contractors in this.
Things to Know
With primary construction skills, you can build this chute yourself – take care of the layout and the wires that may come in the way. Also, pay attention to the chute’s size – a tight tube will get easily blocked when you drop bulky towels and sheets down it. Planning the route is essential. After this, you make a hole in the laundry room’s ceiling and the entrance point’s wall or floor. Your best duct material can be metal.
You can manage and angle it well. Plus, the smooth surface of the material will allow clothes to pass down smoothly to the laundry room. Anyone without DIY experience should avoid it, as this project is complex. You can simplify your laundry work easily with innovative solutions like this. However, before choosing anything, study them well to understand their pros and cons.
