How to Lower Energy Costs in a Laundromat

Energy is one of the biggest controllable costs in a laundromat. Most stores spend the bulk of their utility dollars on heating water and running dryers, with lighting, HVAC, and idle losses making up the rest. The good news: a mix of maintenance, small operational changes, and targeted upgrades can cut energy use significantly without hurting customer experience. This guide breaks down the highest‑impact steps, why they work, and how to prioritize them.

1. Reduce Hot-Water Energy (Usually the #1 Expense)

For many laundromats, gas or electric used to heat water is the single largest energy load. Lowering hot‑water costs typically produces the fastest payback.

• Lower delivered hot‑water temperature where practical. Many stores run 140°F+ by habit. Dropping to 120–130°F for standard cycles can cut heating costs sharply. Keep a high‑temp sanitizing option for customers who need it.
• Insulate tanks and pipes. Wrap water heaters/boilers and insulate exposed hot and recirculation lines. Heat lost in uninsulated piping is a steady, invisible drain.
• Fix leaks immediately. A dripping hot‑water valve or faucet wastes both water and the energy used to heat it.
• Optimize recirculation pumps. If the recirc pump runs 24/7, you reheat your pipe loop all day. Add timers or demand controls to reduce overnight runtime.
• Upgrade to high‑efficiency heating when replacing equipment. Condensing gas heaters, efficient tankless systems, or (in the right climate/rate structure) heat‑pump water heaters can reduce fuel use per gallon delivered.
• Program washers for lower fills on light/medium loads. Modern machines allow water leveling by cycle; making eco fills the default reduces gallons and heating load.

 

2. Make Dryers Cheaper to Run (Usually #2 Expense)

Dryers burn a lot of fuel and also exhaust conditioned air from your building. Anything that improves airflow or reduces dry time lowers both gas and HVAC costs.

• Maintain airflow aggressively. Clean lint screens daily, schedule duct cleaning, and correct crushed flex ducts or long runs with too many elbows. Restricted airflow lengthens dry times and increases gas use.
• Verify burner and ignition performance. A weak flame or delayed ignition means longer cycles. A simple tune‑up to factory spec can save substantial fuel.
• Default to auto‑dry/moisture‑sensing cycles when available. Timed cycles encourage over‑drying; auto‑dry stops when clothes are ready.
• Help customers right‑size loads. Undersized loads waste heat; overloaded dryers extend runtime. Simple signage like “2 baskets = 1 dryer” reduces inefficient usage.
• Balance makeup air. Too little air causes poor dryer performance; too much pulls extra conditioned air out. Ensure makeup air is adequate but not excessive, and sourced from non‑conditioned zones when possible.

 

3. Improve Washer Efficiency and Extraction

Efficient washers reduce water heating demand and, through better extraction, lower dryer time.

• Move toward high‑G extraction soft‑mount front loaders. Higher extraction leaves clothes drier, cutting dryer minutes per load.
• Set eco/low‑water programs as the default. Keep extra‑rinse/heavy‑soil options available but not pre‑selected.
• Maintain mechanical components. Worn bearings, seals, or shocks cause rebalances, retries, and longer cycles.

 

4. Optimize Utility Rates, Controls, and Pricing

Some savings come from how—and when—energy is used, not just how much is used.

• Explore time‑of‑use rates if your utility offers them. Shifting some demand to off‑peak hours can lower bills.
• Use smart pricing to nudge behavior. Discount cold‑wash cycles or bundle wash‑and‑dry pricing to increase balanced loads and reduce over‑drying.
• Consider load management for large stores. Staggering water heating or dryer banks helps avoid demand spikes.

 

5. Cut Building and HVAC Waste

Lighting and HVAC may not be the biggest loads, but they’re often the easiest to improve.

• Convert all lighting to LED. LEDs reduce power draw and heat load, lowering HVAC needs.
• Add occupancy sensors in restrooms, storage, and back‑of‑house areas.
• Seal air leaks. Dryer exhaust creates negative pressure that pulls unconditioned air in through gaps. Weather‑strip doors and seal penetrations.
• Retune HVAC. Many stores overcool to offset dryer heat. Use ceiling fans to destratify air and reduce runtime.

 

6. Preventive Maintenance = Ongoing Energy Savings

Energy waste is frequently a maintenance issue in disguise. Create a simple recurring checklist.

• Quarterly dryer airflow checks and lint‑path inspections.
• Annual (or more frequent) dryer duct cleaning, depending on lint load.
• Semi‑annual water heater/boiler descaling and burner tune‑ups.
• Quarterly washer fill‑valve screen cleaning and drain inspections.
• Monthly leak audits (hot water, steam, supply valves).

 

7. Encourage Energy‑Smart Customer Habits

A few small nudges can cut waste without restricting customers’ choices.

• Promote cold‑wash options with clear messaging: “Cold cleans great—save money here.”
• Post load‑size guidance near washers and dryers.
• Have attendants coach customers during peak times when feasible.
• Offer loyalty perks or promotions tied to eco/cold cycles.

 

Where to Start: Highest‑ROI Order

• Dryer airflow maintenance and duct cleaning.
• Hot‑water temperature adjustment and pipe insulation.
• Recirculation pump timers/controls.
• Washer programming (lower fills, eco defaults).
• LED lighting and air‑sealing.
• Equipment upgrades when capital allows.

 

By starting with maintenance and low‑cost controls, most laundromats can capture meaningful savings quickly. Then, as equipment reaches end of life, upgrading to high‑efficiency washers, dryers, and water heating locks in long‑term reductions.