When you think of plumbing jobs, installing a washing machine might not be the first one that comes to mind. After all, most people associate plumbing with sinks and toilets. But there’s much more within your home that connects to incoming sources of water (not to mention outgoing water) and your washing machine is definitely one of those appliances. Think about it — without water coming into your washer via pipes, this appliance isn’t going to work very well.
Installing a washing machine isn’t something you necessarily need a professional to handle for you, although plumbers are available to take on this job if you don’t feel comfortable handling it yourself. And depending on your skill level, it might be better for you to opt for professional assistance in this situation. The last thing you want is to have your source of water incorrectly or inadequately connected to your machine, leaving you with water all over the floor. Beyond the stress you went through to do the job, you now have an even bigger mess to clean up!
Here's what installing a washing machine entails — consider whether you feel up to the challenge of doing it yourself:
Remove your old machine:
Out with the old and in with the new. After you’ve bought your new washing machine from the appliance store, it’s time to dispose of your old washing machine that’s still installed in your home. This can be a more difficult swap than you might expect. Here’s what you should do:
Start by unplugging the old washing machine so that you don’t accidentally turn it on during the removal process. You should also turn off the hot and cold water valves that connect to it.
Now you need to remove the supply lines. Use a wrench or vice grips to unscrew the tubes on the back that source the cold water and hot water from your pipes.
After you’ve removed these tubes, you also need to remove the draining valve — sometimes called the wastewater valve — from where to enter the wall or the floor from your old machine.
Put the new washing machine in place:
When you’ve moved the old washing machine out of its location, the next step is to put the new washing machine in its place and connect the hoses or valves to the appliance so that you have water access. Here’s how to do that:
Take the hoses or valves that you removed from the old washing machine and match them up with the new machine. Be sure to carefully note that you’re matching the hot water valve and the cold water valve up properly.
Screw the valve in by hand and get them as tight as possible. If you are having trouble tightening the valves, you can use mole grips to increase your hold on the valves and help you twist them more tightly.
Although you want to get the connection right, it’s important not to over-tighten. Over-tightening can cause a leak. This is because most connectors have a rubber washer designed to create a tight seal between the machine and the valves. When the valves are screwed too tight, it can break the rubber washer and result in dripping. And on that note…
Check for leaks:
You definitely don’t want any leaking or dripping — it can create a huge mess and lots of property damage. Even a minor drip of water at the beginning of your washing machine’s life can quickly become a huge deluge later. The final step to installing your new washing machine is going to be checking to make sure that you don’t have any leaks:
Turn on the water supply and pay attention to places where the valves connect your plumbing to the appliance. If there is no sign of any water escaping, you can have confidence that all is working properly.
If you see any water escaping from the valves, this is a sign that the valves are not sealed. Turn off the water supply, unscrew the valves, and try screwing them back in again. Pay close attention to the rubber washers inside the valve. If these are cracked or broken, you need to replace them.
Even if you see no signs of dripping or leaks, wrapping the drains in electrical tape can help create an extra barrier for better peace of mind and less risk of problems happening later. Come back and check the tape occasionally to make sure there’s no sign of water damage — if there is none, then your valves are screwed properly.
You now have a new washing machine that’s properly installed and ready to handle a load of laundry. Remember not to overload your washing machine and to be diligent about keeping the inside of it clean.