Do you need a tradesperson to install a clothes dryer?

As long as you have ample power points in your laundry, you don’t need a licensed electrician, but if you’re renovating the room you might need one to move the power point or install an additional one.

If you need external ventilation ducting for a vented dryer, you’ll need this to be professionally installed. The other option is to have an external door or window left open during drying cycles to let the hot air escape and prevent condensation from creating mould and damp problems in your laundry room. This isn't always possible, or ideal, especially if the reason you are using your dryer is because it's raining or humid.

In most cases, you don't need a plumber to install a clothes dryer, but if you buy a gas dryer you will require a certified gas fitter, or a plumber who’s also qualified to do gas fitting, to either install a new gas connection or hook the dryer up to an existing one.

Gas dryers typically require a vent to safely expel exhaust gases as well, so you’ll need this installed if this isn’t already in place from a previous gas dryer.

Heat pump dryers and condenser dryers don’t need to be fitted to gas pipes, and don’t require the level of ventilation that vented dryers need either, so you won’t need to have ducting installed.

Heat pump dryers collect the leftover vapour/water extracted from wet clothes in a condensation container, which can be emptied by hand or connected to a drain by a special hose, to empty automatically. You don’t need a plumber for this process. Heat pump dryers are by far the most energy efficient dryers, and save you a lot of money on your power bills, but their greater weight means that they can’t be wall mounted.

If you have floor space for your dryer, install may be as simple as just unboxing it, positioning it and plugging it in (unless additional venting work or gas connections are needed).

If your laundry room lacks floorspace, however, you may want to place your dryer on top of, or above, a washing machine, either wall mounting it or stacking it.

Even if you do have room to position a dryer on the floor, you may prefer to have it wall mounted or stacked, because it places the dryer’s door at a convenient height that requires no bending down to load and unload it. Not all dryers, however, can be wall mounted.

The weight of dryers varies considerably according to the type and capacity, and this affects whether they can be wall mounted.

Vented and smaller (4-6kg capacity) gas dryers can weigh between 27kg and 40kg and can be wall mounted using the brackets that come with the dryer. These brackets vary according to brand and model, so you shouldn’t attempt to fix a new dryer to existing brackets.

Heat pump and condenser dryers, as well as large (9kg capacity) gas dryers, are too heavy to be wall mounted (weighing between 50-70kg). However, you may be able to stack them (see below).

Wall mounting is a practical choice if you have a top-loading washing machine that can’t have anything stacked on it. Wall mounting enables you to position the dryer a bit higher on the wall to keep easy access to the washer’s lid.

Before deciding on a wall space to attach the dryer, consider whether the wall is tiled and requires a masonry drill to attach the wall brackets. Also, check for any obstructions such as power points or air vents that may hinder the installation. If this sounds too complicated for your own DIY skills, it doesn't mean you need to abandon the idea, as you can get it wall mounted when it gets delivered (see below).

Whether it’s because they’re too heavy to be wall mounted, or something on the wall is preventing wall mounting brackets from being fixed to it, you will generally have the alternative option of appliance stacking. This enables you to place your heat pump, condenser, or vented dryer on top of your front loader washing machine (not vice versa, because washing machines are heavier). As mentioned, it’s not possible to stack any type of dryer on top of a top loader.

To stack a dryer, it must have the same or smaller dimensions (width and depth) as the washing machine it’s stacked on. You can’t just sit the dryer directly on top of the washer, though, as the movement during drying and washing cycles could cause it to fall off. You’ll need to get a stacking kit or a rubber washer/dryer mat.

A stacking kit is essential for stacking heat pump and condenser dryers, because of their greater weight. It’s also preferable for vented dryers, but these kits are often designed for appliances from the same brand. If you need to stack a vented dryer from one brand on top of a different make of washing machine, a rubber washer/dryer mat is often suitable.

If your new dryer is going to be placed on the floor and doesn’t require any additional wall mounting, stacking, ducting or gas connections, it’s a simple set up. If you order through Appliances Online, it will usually arrive by the next day, free delivery, and the team can unbox it, instal it, connect it, show you how to use it, and then take the packaging and your old dryer away for recycling, at no extra charge.

The basic instal also includes placing a vented dryer on top of a rubber stacking mat (as long as it’s of the right dimensions), but not stacking with a stacking kit, which is a more complicated process. 

If you want to stack your new dryer (heat pump, condenser or vented) on top of a washer using the correct stacking kit for your appliances, you can add a dryer stacking installation service to your order when buying your dryer. It’s best to call Appliances Online on 1300 004 500, or to message via the website chat boxes, to discuss and place your new dryer order, because the team will be able to advise which specific stacking kit you need and also place the installation booking for you. All of which is a lot easier than guessing what you need and arranging your own separate trades.

After making sure the new dryer will stack correctly with the washing machine, the installation team will put the stacking kit together and safely fix the washer and dryer to it (this sometimes involves drilling into designated areas of the appliances). Once securely stacked, the team will plug the new dryer in and test it, before demonstrating how to operate it. All that’s left then is to put the old dryer, if there is one, on the back of the truck with the empty boxes, and take it away to be recycled.

If you’re getting a new vented or small gas dryer that needs to be wall mounted, and you’d rather avoid the hassle of drilling the walls or tiles (taking steps to avoid electric, gas or water pipes within the wall), affixing the brackets and lifting the dryer into position, you can add a simple dryer installation service to your order.

This means that the guys delivering your new dryer will also install it, saving you the bother of organising your own tradespeople. The delivery, installation and clean-up generally take less than an hour.

After checking the area and making sure the new dryer will fit into the space, the instal team will remove the old dryer if needed, make sure the wall is clear from water and power services, mount the brackets to the wall using the right fixings for the wall type, place the dryer on the bracket, and then plug it in and test it. Once it’s up and running, they’ll show you how to use the dryer, before taking away the rubbish and your old dryer for recycling.

We deliver dryers, and the rest of our products, to 95% of Australia’s population with Appliances Online's legendary FREE delivery - and we can usually get it to you by the next day (Mon-Fri). Most Australian retailers don’t offer this efficient service, so if you’re comparing prices, always factor in the other store's delivery cost and how long it will take to get to you. PLUS, if you’re getting rid of an old dryer, we’ll happily take it away for recycling when we deliver your new one.

You can view the full range of dryers here, or if you need some help deciding whether a heat pump, vented, condenser or gas model is best for you, read about everything you need to know before you buy a clothes dryer in Australia, check out our Laundry Buying Guide or call our friendly team 24/7 on 1300 004 500.