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DIY | DIY
plumbing | How to plumb in a washing machine
Plumbing in a washing machine, although
time consuming is not difficult! With the use of push fit fittings
this task is well within the capabilities of a novice.
Firstly locate the best position for the washing machine or dishwasher,
on an outside wall near the sink is Ideal as all pipes will be in
close proximity, you normally need a hot and cold supply for a washing
machine and a cold only supply for a dishwasher. A electrical socket
is also needed nearby for the appliance to be connected to the mains
supply.
Dishwashers fill with cold water only and then heat the water after
first washing the plates, this is because of egg yolk. If the dishwasher
heated the water first it would bake the egg yolk onto the plates
and cutlery and make it very difficult to remove.
You need to decide which method you are going to use to plumb in your
washing machine or dishwasher, please see below-
The easiest way to plumb in your appliance is to pick up some off
the shelf self cutting fittings, these are much more expensive than
normal plumbing fittings but if you don't have the correct tools in
the first place it could be more economical to to pay for the self
cutting type rather than buying all the necessary tools to complete
the job as detailed in Method 2.
The disadvantages of the self cutting taps and self cutting waste
pipe fittings are the cost of the fittings and the need for the appliance
to be connected to be very close to the existing pipe work as you
are restricted due to the length of the flexible washing machine connector
hose. Self cutting taps are only suitable for copper pipe!
Advantages are their pure simplicity, speed of fitting and the fact
that you do not need to drain down the system.
Fitting self cutting taps is very easy, manufactures individual instructions
should accompany the fittings when you purchase them. In Most cases
it is simply a matter of opening the back plate of the tap as it is
hinged, it then clamps around the pipe, normally there is then a screw
to insert and finally the tap body screws into the back plate which
cuts an hole in to the pipe, it is then simply a matter of screwing
the appliance hose onto the tap tightly!
Self cutting waste pipe connectors are similar to fit, they have a
body which is clamped to the existing waste pipe, then a screw cutter
is inserted into the fitting and turned until a complete hole is cut
in the plastic pipe, try and remove the plastic circular piece which
you have just cut out as this can cause blockages. After removing
the cutter it is simply a matter of screwing the piece into the clamp
which accepts the washing machine waste hose, this then needs fastening
with a jubilee clip!
Firstly choose which fittings you are going to use- compression or
push fit.
Push fit fittings are by far the easiest type of connection, it's
simply a matter of cutting the existing pipe and pushing the pipes
into the fitting, compression fittings can be difficult to tighten
in confined places but are slightly cheaper.
The water needs isolating to the two pipes that you are going to cut
into, if you are fortunate there will be isolating valves between
the main supply side of the system, if not you will have to isolate
the water at the main water inlet stopcock and possibly drain down
the hot water system, depending on what type of system you have!
Another possibility is to use a pipe freezing kit to freeze the pipe
whilst you cut into and join the washing machine taps.
After isolating the water supply to the two pipes that you are going
to enter you must cut into them, there may still be some water left
in the pipes so be ready with a bowl or a towel to soak up the spill.
If your pipes are copper the best way to cut them is with a pipe slice,
these are excellent for confined places, other than that you will
have to use an hacksaw.
Plastic pipes are best cut with a dedicated tool which is specifically
made for cutting plastic pipe.
Now the pipes have been cut you can either fit a T piece and another
length of pipe and fix a washing machine tap to this or you can fit
a washing machine tap T piece.
Now the supply for the appliance has been taken care of, there is
now the waste pipe to plumb in.
This can vary in difficulty depending on which method you use, typically
if the washing machine is close to the sink then a waste pipe trap
with spigot trap is ideal. All you have to do is to connect the washing
machine waste hose to the spigot which is on the side of the waste
trap underneath the sink using a jubilee clip or similar. Ensure that
the waste pipe from the appliance is higher than the height of the
waste trap otherwise the machine can be emptied by syphonage! It is
a good Idea to fix the hose to the kitchen worktop as seen in this
diagram by using a screw in hook.
The next method involves buying a off the shelf self cutting waste
outlet, this simply clamps around an existing waste outlet pipe and
is connected to the waste from the machine. Normally after clamping
the body onto the pipe you must insert a cutter which removes a circular
piece of the waste pipe. Then another piece is screwed in and the
waste from the machine is fastened to this.
If there is no suitable place to connect the waste pipe from the machine
you will have to fit a waste pipe and trap. This pipe must connect
to the foul water sewer and not the rain water soak away The Foul
water sewer can easily be identified as this is where the waste from
the toilet goes. You will need to make an hole through the wall which
is big enough for the waste pipe to fit through, this pipe is normally
40mm.
Courtesy of Ultimatehandyman.co.uk
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