Finding the right laundry appliances for a new build requires balancing ease of installation, reliability and price point.
That’s why more developers are equipping their new construction condos with in-unit laundry setups from Bosch. Equipped with features designed to make installation, usage and maintenance smoother for longer, the Bosch 500 and 800 series of washers and dryers are finding their way into a host of multifamily buildings around the country. The compact and quiet European appliances are perfect for condos, where they can be tucked away in a kitchen and seamlessly integrate with a home’s aesthetic without intruding on residents’ quality of life. We got the details about this new line from the BSH team before speaking with developers about why they chose Bosch laundry products for their latest projects.
Builder’s best friend: from simple installation to expanded layout potential
The 500 and 800 series dryers feature a heat pump that recycles and reheats the air, creating a closed loop system. This elegant design has a number of benefits, first and foremost saving builders the trouble of having to install a vent from the laundry area to the outside. Not only does this save on materials, but it allows designers to place the units wherever they fit within a floorplan.
“Because there’s no ducting, they can be placed anywhere,” says Katharina Prauschke, Head of Strategy & Business Development at BSH. “It’s something that’s new to the American market, and it’s very convenient for builders.”
Another crucial feature is the washers’ AquaStop technology, which provides protection against leaks.
“One of our major focuses during the design process for these washers was advanced leak protection, which is especially important in tall buildings,” says Emily Dixon, Product Marketing Manager at BSH. “In many of these buildings, one leak can cause water damage for multiple floors. Our products minimize the risk of that happening.”
Gabe Siegel, Head of Asset Management at Charney Companies, called these units “an ideal fit for our urban developments…the combination of thoughtful design, durability, and sustainability makes Bosch a valuable partner.”
The appliances come with all of the required hoses and electrical adapters, ensuring easy installation. And, thanks to its worldwide reputation for excellence across multiple consumer categories, a Bosch washer/dryer setup is a convincing marketing point for buyers in the attainable luxury sector.
“ZD Jasper selected the Bosch 800 Series washer and heat pump dryer for their performance, efficiency and clean design,” says Susan Wu, Chief Operations Office at ZD Jasper. “Both units run quietly, fit seamlessly in compact spaces, and reflect the high standards we aim for in every residence.”
Quiet, easy-to-use, reliable
The first thing that residents will notice about the latest line of washers and dryers from Bosch is how quiet they are. This is a crucial improvement for smaller units that are designed to live behind a thin door in a kitchen or hallway.
“It’s an advantage for machines that are intended to be in high rise buildings,” says Prauschke. “That way they don’t distract residents with loud noises while they’re watching TV or cooking dinner.”
BSH focused on convenience for the latest round of upgrades to the Bosch washer and dryer lines. The most innovative feature, available in the top-of-the-line 800 Series washer, is i-DOS, which measures the perfect amount of detergent and dispenses it automatically.
“It’s a feature that’s more common in bigger washers, but you don’t often see it in compact units,” explains Dixon.
The heat pumps in the 500 and 800 Series dryers feature a Self-cleaning Condenser that automatically rinses itself, keeping the units operating efficiently without the need for manual cleaning. It’s the kind of detail that has given Bosch appliances a well-earned reputation for longevity over the decades.
“Developers can feel safe in the knowledge that Bosch laundry products are reliable, keeping them from worrying about going back into the building and checking on these units,” says Dixon, who quotes her clients when she says, simply, “Bosch doesn’t break.”
As an example of the brand’s longevity, Dixon related a story about a recent service call her department received from a customer who was looking to replace a Bosch unit from the 1990s.
“They didn’t even want to replace both the washer and the dryer, because one was still working,” she says. “With Bosch, you really are saving money over the life of the product.”
European standards come to America
As a European company, BSH often takes design cues from the European market for its products. Some of these improvements, like energy efficiency and compact size, make the Bosch appliances perfect for high-rise buildings in American cities, while others may help Americans change their attitude towards laundry altogether.
“In Europe, people want their clothes to last a long time,” says Prauschke, who was based in Munich before moving to Irvine. Traditionally, European washers are slower, and often drying is done on clotheslines; compare this with the standard American laundry routine, which is focused on speed and uses rough wash cycles and high-heat dryers.
Prauschke describes how Bosch’s latest line of washers and dryers bring the European sensibility toward laundry to the States, putting clothes through gentler cycles that preserve them for longer, without sacrificing speed.
“These new 500 and 800 Series units, they clean your clothes, but they don’t clean them so hard and so fast they destroy your clothing,” she says. “You can use these Bosch washers and dryers for almost any fabric. As long as you select the right program, you’ll have a really good result.”
Between ease of installation, energy and space efficiency, reliability, low maintenance requirements, longevity and the ability to preserve users’ clothes, the 500 and 800 Series set the standard for in-unit washer/dryer setups for condos. Get more details about Bosch Laundry here, and to learn more about Bosch and the entire BSH line, visit the Appliance Hub.