How to Install Washing Machine Hookup Wall Port

Fig.1 Laundry Port

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:
Channel® locks pliers
Teflon® tape  
Washing machine Port
 
Most new homes have a room specifically for the use of laundry appliances and this is the location of the washing machine hook ups. The installation is similar even if you have a home with the washing machine in the garage or on the porch. There will be a place where you find an electrical outlet, a cold and a hot water spigot and a drain line, and that will be the location for laundry appliances.

This post shows the the six steps below to install your washing machine port.

Step 1:  First the washing machine needs to be near the hookup ports. Above fig.1 shows the photo shows the washing machine port in the wall. The port consists of two spigots, usually one with a red handle meaning hot hose and a blue meaning cold hose. There is also the drain for the washing machine to empty itself, the hole is usually on the left side. The drain line is  usually a black pipe which measures 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The pipe can be made of ABS plastic or metal.If you are unsure what hose to use, look at the back of the washing machine and the hot and cold are stamped into the back. Some washing machine have a red mark on the hot water side, others have both colors.
Step 2: Now apply Teflon® tape to both the hot and the cold spigot threads, the tape is thin and is enough to assure that the washing machine hose threads are sealed preventing water leakage. Fig.2 shows there is no port in the wall, apply the Teflon® tape over both the hot and cold water spigots threads. Usually the left spigot is the hot and the right spigot is the cold. In some older homes the plumbing may be reversed, and a bucket needs to be placed under the water spigot to make sure the hot water is correctly placed on the washing machine.

Fig. 2 Teflon tape

Step 3: Fig.3 shows to start hooking up the washing machine hoses. The use of  Channel® lock pliers are used to tighten the hose threads onto the spigot threads.  In this picture the hot side spigot threads is tightened to the hose coupling.

 Fig.3
Channel® lock pliers

Step 4: Fig.4 shows the cold side, just repeat the procedure for the hot side and the hose coupling will be finished.

Fig.4 Marking cold hose

Step 5: Wait, we are not finished. We still need to hook up the drain line, it's a rubber hose about 1 1/2 inches in diameter with a bend at the end.  The bend fits inside the hole that is provided within the washing machine port.  If the washing port is not in your home, a black pipe is often what will be used to drain the washing machine. Fig.5 shows the black pipe on the left side of the hot water spigot is the drain hose. Don't forget to plug the electrical cord into the socket to power the washing machine.

Fig.5 Laundry 
ports ready to use

Step 6: Fig.6 shows the washing machine all ready for use. See how easy that was, or you can call a handyman to the job. But with these instructions you are armed with the steps needed just in case the handyman or technician misses a step you can help him/her work out the details. 

Fig.6 Moving 
appliance backwards

 

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