Ceiling Airer FAQ's. Your Questions Answered

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What do ceiling airers come with as standard?

Our ceiling airers are supplied with everything you will need for a standard installation. This includes a pair of rack ends, a full working pulley system comprising of one double pulley, one single pulley, 10 meters of pulley rope, a wall cleat hook, and a choice of different length wooden laths. We also provide a full set of instructions. These can be viewed online here

What size wooden laths / slats do you offer and how do I decide which lenth to choose?

For customer based in the UK, we can supply wooden laths in lengths of up to 1.8m long. These typically come in 0.9m, 1.2m, 1.5m and 1.8m sets as standard, which can be cut to size if required. Our traditional airers are also available as a kit allowing you to add your own laths. For customers outside the UK, the lengths we offer depend on shipping restrictions and are listed accordingly.

It is important to choose a length of lath which is at least 30cm longer than the distance between the two pulleys, so that the wooden slats can protrude the rack ends at each end of the clothes airer. These can be longer if needed however they should allow an overhang of at least 30cm. Remember the wooden slats can be cut to size if required allowing you to get the exact fit for the space provided.

Why would I need an extra double pulley and / or sash cord extension?

Our ceiling airers are supplied with one double and one single pulley as standard, which is ideal for locations where the clothes airer is likely to be close to the adjacent wall and where the cleat hook will sit.

Adding a second double pulley and sash cord extension allows you to position the airer away from the wall, allowing you to run the rope across the ceiling and down the wall at a right angle. The option for an extra double pulley is available when placing your order, or an additional pulley can be purchased separately here

How do I work out the length of sash cord required for a standard or tall ceiling?

We supply our ceiling airers with 10m of pulley rope as standard, which allows for the height of most ceilings. For those with particularly heigh ceilings, we have the option to add an additional 10m of sash cord to your order, making 20m of pulley rope in total. To work out the amount of pulley rope needed, multiply the ceiling height by four. This is the number of times the rope runs up and down throughout the system. If you have opted to add an extra double pulley, then add twice the distance between the two double pulleys on top.

What are the hanging hooks for and why would I need them?

When placing your order there is the option to add a set of 8 stainless steel hanging hooks. These are designed to fit over the airer laths and are ball tipped to help hold them in place. They are ideal for hanging small items of laundry as well as other items such as pots and pans or dried herbs. Although not essential they are a lovely addition to the drying rack giving it a more diverse range of uses.

Installing A Ceiling Airer

What is the best place to install a ceiling airer. For example, do I need good ventilation or high ceilings?

Easy to install in most ceiling spaces, our ceiling airers can be installed in various locations, such as kitchens, utility rooms, hallways or even stairwells. You do not need particularly high ceilings to install a ceiling clothes airer as well-hung washing will dry naturally in the warm air within the home. We do however recommend installing the airer in a room which is well ventilated with a sufficient heat source to allow the washing to dry naturally whilst it is hung in the ceiling space.

How much weight will a pulley airer take and will my ceiling support this?

Our drying racks are designed for drying laundry and each will take a full load of washing. With this in mind, we do not recommend overloading the airer and we keep our recommended weight limit conservative at 14kg. If you are unsure if the ceiling will take the weight, then we highly recommend speaking to a professional trades person who would be able to advise you further. If the pulleys are installed into good solid joist however, then this is never normally an issue.

How do the pulleys attach to the ceiling and how do I locate the ceiling joists?

Our drying racks are supplied with screw pulleys which are cast as a single unit and screw directly into the ceiling joists, found under most plasterboard ceilings. To locate these either use a stud finder or tap across the ceiling whilst listening to the density of the sound. Most ceiling joists will run either parallel with the wall or will meet it at a 90-degree angle and are normally spaced 35cm apart. To locate hard to find joists, use a small pin and tap into the plasterboard at 5cm intervals. These holes will be unnoticeable and can be refilled afterwards.

Can I install a pulley clothes airer if I do not have access to the ceiling joists?

If you have a suspended ceiling or are unable to locate the ceiling joists, then the only sure way to install the pulleys is to attach a baton to the ceiling and to screw the pulleys directly into this. Some suppliers offer pulleys with longer screw threads to reach through the cavity and into the joists however the pulleys need to be installed into and abutted up to something solid, so that when the airer is being raised and lowered, the pulleys are not drawn together. Longer screw threads leave the pulley unsupported and can cause damage to the plaster board around the pulley. Adding a baton to the ceiling will keep these in place, and this can either be painted and blended in or made to be a feature.

Can a ceiling clothes airer be installed on a sloping ceiling?

Yes 100% a ceiling airer can be installed on a sloping ceiling. The only requirement is that there is a clear line of sight between the pulleys so that the ropes can run freely and unobstructed. You can either position these at an angle or so that they are vertical. The rack can be kept level by adjusting the ropes as required.

Can a ceiling clothes airer be installed on a concrete ceiling?

Yes, it is possible to install a ceiling airer on a concrete ceiling. As with a suspended ceiling, the best option is to install a baton and screw the pulleys into this. The baton can be firmly attached to the ceiling or supported at either end and either blended in or made into a feature.

How much clearance height will I need for a door to open underneath?

The clearance height for a ceiling clothes airer depends on the height of the rack ends and pulleys combined. Depending on the model (height of the rack end) this is set at between 20cm to 25cm tall. This is enough height for a door or cupboard to open underneath.

Can the cleat hook be positioned to one side or does this need to be in line with the pulleys?

Yes, the cleat hook can be positioned to one side. Because the airer is static when not in use, this can be offset allowing for installation in spaces where there is no adjacent wall for the cleat hook to be installed. It is however highly recommended that when the airer is being raised and lowered that the rope is not allowed to rub on the side of the pulley block. This will cause the rope to fray.

The Wooden Laths

What are clothes airer laths made from?

Clothes airer laths are made from Scandinavian redwood pine, selected for its fast-growing sustainable properties. These are kiln dried meaning that the moisture content in the wood is removed, and that the wood will not warp or stain your clothes. Other woods such as oak should be avoided, as these contain tanning which is likely to seep out when wet washing is hung to dry, causing marks to form.

Are ceiling airer laths supplied treated or left natural?

Ceiling clothes airer laths are supplied untreated and can be stained or varnished if required. If the airer is being used in a warm, well-ventilated room, then staining or varnishing the laths should not be necessary. The key thing is to remove the washing in-between loads to allow the wood underneath to breath. This will prevent mould forming on the laths, which may stain them overtime.

Where can I buy replacement laths for my ceiling airer?

Replacement clothes airer laths are available to purchase from the clothes airer accessories section on our website. Our laths are a standard fit, which means they should fit most models of ceiling clothes airers other than our own. These are supplied in various lengths, and are guaranteed for up to 10 years.

Can I buy a ceiling airer without the wooden laths?

Yes, all of our ceiling clothes airers are available as a kit, without the laths, allowing you to add your own. This is a good idea if you are looking to take the product abroad as it reduces the shipping costs. The slats can normally be purchased locally or made to the exact length required by a joiner or carpentry workshop.

What are the profile dimensions of the wooden laths?

Standard ceiling clothes airer laths have a profile of 15mm by 33mm and are four rounded top and bottom to create a smooth oval finish. These are designed to be a loose fit to allow the airer to sway when in the ceiling space.

Can the wooden laths be cut to size?

All our ceiling clothes airers are available with a range of size laths, from 0.9m, 1.2m, 1.5m and 1.8m long, or as a kit allowing you to add your own. The laths themselves can be cut to size meaning that you can get the exact fit for the space provided. Simply order the next size up and cut these to the length needed. This is a good solution if you are unsure about the length to order or wish to decide where to locate the clothes airer at a later date.

Do your clothes airer come with a guarantee?

Our ceiling clothes airers are guaranteed for ten years. This covers the installation and use of the product, and we guarantee to replace any part which is deemed to be faulty within 10 years of purchase. For more information including details of what’s covered, click here.

How do I stop the laths from moving around?

The laths need to be a slightly loose fit to allow the airer to sway in the ceiling space. This also allows the rack ends to adjust themselves as the airer is raised and lowered. To minimise this movement, it is important to ensure that the correct length laths are selected, and that the pulleys are installed close enough to allow the laths to protrude the rack ends by 30cm at either end. Make sure that the ropes can run through the pulleys unobstructed and that several knots have been tied in the loop of the ropes to lock these in place.

Do I need rubber grippers to hold the airer laths in place?

Although there is no harm in purchasing the rubber grippers sold by some suppliers, the grippers themselves are often little more than overpriced rubber bands or ‘O’ rings. We ourselves do not believe that these are necessary. The laths need to be a little loose to account for any natural movement as the airer is raised and lowered, and adding rubber bands to the laths will make little difference. If the airer is installed correctly then these should not be needed.

Mould has formed on the laths, how do I get rid of it?

To avoid mould forming on the surface of the laths, it is necessary to remove the laundry in between loads to allow the wood underneath to dry out in a timely manner. If mould is allowed to form on the surface of the laths, then this should be cleaned and wiped off with a cloth as soon as it is noticed. After a while this may start to stain the laths. In this instance we recommend giving them a good clean with a light bleach or some soapy water. It should not be necessary to stain or varnish the laths, however after time they will start to discolour. This is a good way to revive them which we fully support, alternatively replacements can be purchased in our online store here.

The rope has frayed or warn, what can I do?

If the rope has frayed in a specific area, then this is normally because it is rubbing against the pulley blocks. The most common reason this happens is  because the rope has been threaded incorrectly or the operator is standing to one side whilst raising and lowering the drying rack. Please email photographs to sales@pulleymaid.com and we can look at this for you. You can also contact us using the form below.

Where can I buy replacement pulley ropes or wooden laths?

We sell the full range of replacement parts on our website including replacement ropes and sash cords. To find out more, click here.

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