MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO YOUR LAUNDROMAT EQUIPMENT
By: “Laundromat 123”
Let's be perfectly clear, when you modify, redesign or "improve" a factory design you are no longer operating a FACTORY-MADE washer or dryer, you are offering a (“Your name here”) washer or dryer to the public.
You likely don't have the resources, insurance or documented expertise to defend an error or design flaw in any of your modifications which might result in an injury to a customer. I’m not including the brand of coin box, lock, water hose or electronic card system in this notation. I’m talking about those skilled, but not certified, owners who believe they can improve a door lock mechanism, install a more powerful motor, or an improved burner box on a dryer.
It's probably not a good idea to present your "improved designs" to this or any forum and lead a newbie to believe he has the right to modify a factory design. You may not like a feature or think you have a better design, but you are risking injury to others and financial ruin to yourself.
A major injury liability lawsuit could cost upwards of $500,000.00 in legal fees, experts and other costs, even if you win. If you lose (which I believe would be likely) the sky is the limit. Use parts from a reputable parts house.
Please don't potentially encourage others to follow your path of amateur innovation. You move outside the protection umbrella of the factories and their financial assets to compensate any person injury through a design defect.
I have been accepted by a number of courts as a Laundromat expert. A random multi-store owner would likely be totally overwhelmed by the gaggle of experts that would be assembled by the attorney for an injured party. Please think of the potential negative consequences you might inspire in someone who might read your comments and make unprotected modifications.
Once you make modifications or even use "non-factory" aftermarket parts, you are moving the needle of liability in your direction and away from the factories. Just my belief and opinion.
That's why Milnor spent so much money finding and providing upgrade kits to the "red handled" models because they had only one safety shutoff switch that was activated after the door was starting to be opened.
If you do all your own repairs and you don't repair them to factory standards, you're definitely contributing to any injury. If you're a newbie and don't know how to repair, especially a safety door lock, you're exposing yourself to a liability claim.
if you modify the equipment to provide one feature or another, you will likely have the manufacturer cross complaining against use for unauthorized modifications.
If you decide to bypass door lock safety devices because you think the repair part is too expensive, you're making a serious mistake.
Regular inspection, and probably testing, of the door locks is your responsibility and job. Although various door locks are available, any UL listed washer will have multiple backups in their door locking mechanisms to avoid the danger of a door being opened while spinning.
Top load washers can either mechanical lock the lid or provide a brake that will stop the spinning tub within a few sections. Injuries to children falling into spinning washers is what caused our government to mandate all the door lock safety laws for front load and top load washers.
Dryers have automatic shutoff for door opening but the danger to a customer from a spinning dryer is much less than from a washing machine in extract mode.
You can't grandfather in a potentially dangerous condition in a previous design and expect the courts to waive your liability. You're conducting a business, open to the public, which exposes that public to a potentially dangerous condition. Ownership means liability as well as potential revenue. Good intentions do not forgive errors in operation.