• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Whitegoodshelp

  • WASHING MACHINES
  • TUMBLE DRYERS
  • MORE APPLIANCE TYPES
    • COOKERS & OVENS
    • DISHWASHERS
    • FRIDGE & FREEZERS
  • BUYING
  • CONSUMER
  • REPAIRING
  • RENTING
  • SAFETY
  • SPARES
  • USING
You are here: Home / Washing Machines / Tips for connecting a washing machine

Updated October 17, 2020 : First Published April 9, 2013

Tips for connecting a washing machine

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
More
0 Shares

5 things to check for after connecting a washing machine

Checklist A good engineer always double checks their work after any repair and never assumes things will be OK even if a new part has been fitted. It’s necessary to ensure everything is working properly with no leaks or faults. Only then is it safe to leave the washer to get on with its job. Carrying out repairs often involves disconnecting and reconnecting from the plumbing, moving or laying the washer down and generally disturbing things. All of these can cause new faults or introduce new leaks.

Make sure there are no leaks from the plumbing

1 If you’ve (re)connected fill hoses or the drain hose then watch these areas carefully for leaks. Let the machine fill and empty 2 or 3 times to test. Even if satisfied, check them again several hours later as leaks from where a fill hose connects to the washer or tap, and where the drain hose connects to the plumbing can start off very slow and increase in seriousness or simply remain slow drippers that cause damage over a long period.

Make sure drain hose is positioned correctly

2 If your drain hose is connected under the sink make sure there isn’t a direct run on the drain hose down to the washing machine, which can allow dirty water poured into the sink to run down the drain hose into the washing machine. A drain hose connected to a sink u-bend should first go up at least 3 or 4 inches high before running down to the washing machine. It may need tying up with a cable tie to force it to stay in this position.

Drain hose goes up from spigot Once correctly positioned, make sure there are no leaks coming from the drain hose or the u-bend connector when water runs down the sink as well as when the washing machine pumps out water.

Peter Tyson Appliances give high quality service coupled with special offers and competitive prices on carefully chosen white goods.
Peter Tyson Appliances

Make sure stand pipe is positioned correctly

3 If your drain hose is pushed into a stand pipe (not connected to the u-bend under the sink) make sure there are no leaks when the washing machine is pumping out water into it and check the following points..

Make sure the waste water pipe is standing up straight and hasn’t fallen over at an angle (if it isn't properly secured to the wall like it should be), otherwise water can pour out when it’s draining, or you can have water siphoning out of the washing machine because the drain hose ends up too low down

Make sure you don’t push the drain hose too far down the waste water pipe. This is a common mistake caused presumably by worries the hose may fall out. There should be a plastic hook that the end of the drain hose clips into.

This forces the hose into a shepherds hook and prevents you pushing it too far in. Roughly 5 or 6 inches of the drain hose should stick out of this hook, which then just pushes into the stand pipe and shouldn't fall out. If the drain hose is pushed too far down then water can siphon out of the washing machine down the drain ( Washing machine constantly fills with water and goes down the drain ) If the plastic drain hose crook is missing, replace it.

Alternatively you could try forcing the end of the drain hose into a hook shape and securely tape around and across it to force it to stay in that shape, then drop the end of the hose into the stand pipe.


Check for kinks in the fill hose(s)

4 When you push the washing machine back into place you often can’t see what happens to the fill or drain hoses. Drain hoses have long since been “kink-proof” but they can still kink if subjected to strong forces or the washer is somehow pushed onto it. The fill hoses remain the most likely to kink, especially if a hot one is fitted as when hot water runs into it the hose softens considerably and can succumb to a kink. Checking involves simply putting the machine on a fill programme and ensuring the water is running into the soap dispenser at a decent rate of flow.

Don't over tighten the fill hoses

Over tightening causes the rubber seal between the hose union and the water valve or tap to be tightly squeezed and cut into. Tighten them finger tight and then just nip them up a little bit more. However, not tightening enough causes drips so beware.

A leaking fill hose can sometimes be cured by taking out the rubber seal, cleaning it and replacing it the other way round though if it’s worn it should be replaced.

No more repair bills

Forbes specialise in renting Bosch appliances so they know them inside out. They also rent other brands and many other products – more details

Forbes Rentals


Final checks: When washing machine is back in place

5 After the washing machine has filled up and started washing, either cancel the programme or turn it to drain/spin and make sure the water empties out properly. If it doesn’t, follow this article – Won’t empty water after connecting to new plumbing.

The following washing machine faults can be introduced after moving and reconnecting a washing machine so if you discover any of the following new faults, which weren’t there before, check out these articles..

  • Washing machine constantly fills with water and goes down the drain
  • Washer now leaking
  • No water coming into machine
  • Won’t drain water after moving and connecting – but it did before

Related article: How to install a Washing Machine

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
More
0 Shares

Filed Under: Washing Machines Tagged With: Installing & Connecting washing machine - Leave a Comment

Buy Spares

Ransom Spares is a family company with over 1 million white goods appliance spare parts for sale. Next day delivery available, friendly company with over 5000 reviews on Trust Pilot

Price match promise: "If you find the exact same part or accessory elsewhere for cheaper, we’ll not only match it, we’ll beat it!" -

Buy your appliance spare part


Latest Reviews

Which? Trial Offers

  • Full Online Access, Magazine & App – Introductory offer of £5 for first month, £9.99 Monthly Price
  • (Or get special £99 Annual Price)
  • Digital - Website + App – £7.99 Monthly Price
  • Print - Magazine Only - £7.99 Monthly Price
  • Choose your Which? Package

Get Your Appliance Fixed

Appliance Repairs

Book Your Appliance Repair



Skip comments?

Skip Comments Note: Comments often contain very useful and extra information.

Reader Interactions

Comment Policy:

All comments are moderated before appearing and need to be on topic. Please don't ask questions already answered in the article above.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

  • Go to top of page

Author

This site is run entirely by myself, an engineer with 40 years experience in the white goods trade Andy Trigg

  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright Whitegoodshelp 2000 - © 2021