Installing A Washing Machine

Installing A Washing Machine

In an earlier blog, we talked you though replacing a leaky tap – a job that could otherwise be very expensive if you were to call out a handyman or plumber. Here’s another job you should be able to do yourself and save a few pounds into the bargain – installing a washing machine.

Get someone else to do the hard work

Probably the most difficult thing about installing a washing machine is getting it into position, so it’s a good idea to get the delivery person to bring it in and put it into position for you. If you can arrange in advance for them to uninstall and dispose of the old machine away, then all the better. Take a look at how they do it and you’ll have a better idea of how to install the new machine.

Don’t get yourself in a spin

When installing any new kitchen appliance, you should read the instructions thoroughly to familiarise yourself with any safety instructions or features that are unique to your particular model.

 

Once your machine has been unpacked, you should see two supply hoses at the back of the machine, colour-coded red and blue. As you’d expect, red refers to the hot water inlet and blue to the cold water inlet. These need to be connected to the corresponding pipes in your kitchen plumbing. If you’ve already disconnected your old washing machine, the valves for these pipes will be in the ‘off’ position. If they aren’t, you’ll know about it because your kitchen will be flooded!

 

Some newer washing machines come with a single cold water pipe. In which case, they’re even easier to install.

Make all the right connections

Carefully connect each supply hose to the corresponding pipe on your kitchen wall, ensuring a good seal. But be careful not to overtighten the screws.

 

Don’t open the valves just yet. First, you need to attach the waste water pipe of the machine to the plumbing underneath the sink. How this attaches should be self-explanatory if you’ve just removed your old washing machine. The standard method involves positioning the machine hose into the pipe so that the water doesn’t flow back into the machine. To ensure this, make sure that the opening for the waste water is at least two feet above the floor.

Good to go

It’s important now to make sure the washing machine is level before you open the plumbing valves. All four feet should rest on the ground. Feet height is usually adjustable by screwing the feet up or down. A spirit level will tell you when it’s just right. Omitting this step will make your machine noisy and even dangerous.

 

Now, open the valves, making sure there are no leaks, before pushing the machine into its final position.

 

Finally, before you turn on the machine, make sure you remove the transit bolts that hold the central drum in place. That’s it! Your new washing machine can now be plugged into an electrical socket and switched on, ready for its first load.