As an engineer with over 30 years experience I have useful advice and tips to help you connect a washing machine up and avoid some problems. You should already have the plumbing available (plumbing in a washing machine is a plumbing issue) and full instructions should come with the washing machine. My advice is about things not covered in any instructions.
A new washing machine will arrive fully protected for transit, not only externally, but internally too. Special transit packing is installed inside the washing machine to hold the tub solid and prevent it moving about. If used without removing the transit packaging the suspension will be locked and the washing machine will bounce around on spin potentially causing damage.
How hard is it to install a washing machine?
It should normally be very straight forward, with no specialist knowledge or tools required. It’s just a matter of removing the transit packaging as instructed in the instruction book (or on a leaflet taped to the washer) and then screwing on the fill hose(s) and connecting the drain hose to the waste water system.
Make sure the washer is level
It’s important to make sure the washing machine is nice and level so that it doesn’t rock around on spin. Check that it’s level not only across from left to right, but from front to back. In other words makes sure it doesn’t tilt forward or back as well as being level. If it tilts forward it’s possible for water to leak out of the soap drawer in certain circumstances. These days most washing machines have adjustable feet, at least at the front. Sometimes a spanner for adjusting the feet comes with the machine.
The best thing is to try and tip the machine back slightly whilst you adjust the feet which will make it considerably easier to screw them in or out. Once level many have locking nuts to tighten up which should prevent them loosening up. If locking nuts are fitted it will be necessary to undo them before you can screw a foot in. If by any chance the feet are not adjustable and you have a rocking washing machine you will need to wedge something under to level it, cardboard, folded paper or a proper wedge will all do but most will be subject to needing occasional adjustment as movement of the washer may move it.
If you don’t have a spirit level then the best you can do is try to make it so it looks level and doesn’t rock side to side or front to back. However, if you have a smart phone you may be able to download a spirit level app. I have a great one on my iPhone called Dual Level Pro, which once calibrated is excellent. Unfortunately though, you ideally need a spirit level to check a particular surface (like a desk, table or kitchen worktop) is actually level so you can place the phone on it and calibrate it before you first use it. You could still try assuming one of these places is pretty level though.
Tips for installing a washing machine: The Fill Hoses.
There are several potential problems related to the fill hoses on a washing machine –
Can I use the old washing machine hoses or should I fit the new ones?
Washing machine hoses can last much longer than washing machines these days. If you are sure the old ones are in perfectly good condition you could leave them in place and keep the new hoses as spares, particularly if the new fill hoses aren’t as long as your old ones and won’t fit (which is common). Personally, I prefer to fit the new hoses if I can though and have to advise it is best practice for obvious reasons.
How tight should I connect the fill hoses?
It’s very common for people to over tighten them. Over tightening makes them more likely to leak, which is counter-intuitive. This is because it cuts and damages the rubber seal between the water valve and the hose. Make sure you don’t cross-thread the connector (I’ve always preferred to lightly lubricate the thread on the hose with WD40 which makes it easier to screw on but this isn’t necessary). Tighten the hose finger tight.
Once firmly finger-tight I then tighten it just a fraction more. I would describe it as screwing the hose about 2 – 5 mm tighter than I got it by hand – but if you have a strong grip it may be unnecessary to tighten it further. I tighten with pipe pliers. You aren’t supposed to use pipe pliers because you can easily over do it, but I always do (although delicately). If I don’t have pipe pliers I use a cloth to get a little extra grip. Remember, if you over tighten you can cut the thin rubber washer inside which will start to leak – not always instantly.
Watch the hose and connections for leaks
Check for leaks, and check again at least several minutes later before pushing the washing machine back. A hose connection can appear watertight at first, but start dripping after several minutes or longer, or after moving the washer back into place. Once the washer is back in place you can’t usually check so you need to make sure there are no slow drips.
A very slow drip can continue unoticed for years and cause damage. Keep checking the connections at the tap end if the taps are visible once the machine is in place. Keep an eye on them over the following days as I’ve had many which stared to drip when they were perfectly fine when checking at installation point.
Fill Hose not long enough?
It's common for washing machine hoses to be too short to reach the plumbing. The fill hoses are just long enough to connect to plumbing right next to the washing machine. The two choices available are to either extend the existing fill hoses by connecting another pair of fill hoses with a special fill hose connector, or to replace the fill hoses with extra long ones. (Buy washing machine fill hoses)
Watch for kinked hoses
When you push the washing machine back in place make sure you don’t kink the fill hose(s). If no water comes into the machine or it comes in too slowly check you haven’t kinked athe fill hose.
More information and advice on installing a washing machine
- Connecting a washing machine to a softened water supply
- Do new washing machines use the same hoses and plumbing?
- 5 things to check for after repairing or installing a washing machine
- Washing machine wont empty water after installing in a new house
- Connected washing machine but now it just constantly fills with water and goes down the drain
- If you connect a washing machine in a new house or to new plumbing and it won’t drain the water
- Aqua stop hoses for washing machines & dishwashers (What is an aqua stop hose and do you have to use it?)
- Washing machine is a hot and cold fill, but I only have a cold water supply
- What should I do with the old hot water tap when connecting a cold fill washing machine?
- Don’t connect a cold fill washing machine to the hot water supply
- Can I connect a cold fill washing machine to both the hot and cold water taps?
I wish your article had mentioned in more depth on how to make a washing machine is level and the procedure of going about it, being a novice it would have been helpful. I recently bought a Zanussi ZWH120P after much research. But the information booklet on making the machine level was not clear enough for me. Some companies even supply you with a wrench for the specific purpose which is considerate. It would have been helpful if Zanussi had done so because I will have to go out and purchase one and am not sure what size adjustable wrench to buy.
Hi. I’ve just added two large paragraphs on the Make sure the washer is level section above, which is hopefully an improvement.
There is a blocker nut on the pipe I need to connect to. But when I try to Un tighten it the pipe moves as well has anybody got any suggestion thanks
You need two pipe pliers or pipe pliers and a pair of vice grips, or a pair of pipe pliers and a spanner. Basically the body of the tap needs holding with some pliers or grips whilst you turn the nut.
Hi there. I had a washer dryer installed today and the waste pipe from the machine was just placed into the white pipe already plumbed in from the previous tenant. I was told I could just tape this in place. is this correct? Is there a part I can buy to make it more secure? Thanks
Hello Yvonne. I’m assuming it pushes into a stand pipe rather than connecting to a plastic spigot at the u-bend. If it pushes into a stand pipe there should be a drain hose crook that forces the end of the drain hose into a shepherds hook configuration. The drain hose then just drops into the standpipe and shouldn’t come out.
A better idea (including a link to a picture of a drain hose crook) can be found in my article Tips for connecting a washing machine.
I have actually taped drain hoses in place in the past when I didn’t have a proper drain hose hook though it’s not ideal. You especially shouldn’t tape one up in a way that seals the drain hose in because an air gap is between the drain hose and the standpipe helps the water to run through the pipe.