Washer and Dryer Hookups
Doing laundry for your family does have some amount of safety awareness in your home. It’s just as important since electricity plays a side by side role with these major appliances. I've seen many times and I know I’ll see more of them in the future where laundry safety is severely lacking.
Let’s start the discussion off with washing machines. Modern technology has brought the washing machines we use in our homes to levels of water savings that truly make a difference in a quarterly water bill. Water savings are not worth their weight in gold unless the proper safety measures are in place for your washing machine connections. The old days of manual individual shutoffs and standard receptacles are just not good enough. Investing a little bit extra for the right shutoffs in addition to having the correct electrical connections will offer just about any homeowner the right peace of mind.
“Leaving a washing machine's valves open all the time greatly increases the chance of a catastrophic hose burst. This is why professionals suggest shutting them off when a machine is not in use, but most people don't bother.”
1. Hot and Cold valves should be accessible (within reach)
2. Dedicated 20 amp circuit & equivalent rated receptacle and should be GFCI rated (within 6 feet of a water source; i.e. laundry tub/sink)
3. Your washing machine outlet should be placed up and out of the way of the drain hose and water lines that are attached to your machine. This is both an ease-of-use issue and a safety one.
Dryers & Ventilation
Every home is different when it comes to the location of dedicated laundry rooms, closets, etc… Some homes still have their connections in the basement. Regardless of the location, dryers need to have proper ventilation and should terminate to the exterior of the home. If your washer and dryer are within the living space of your home, consider installing an exclusive exhaust fan for added ventilation.
“Clothes dryers evaporate the water from wet clothing by blowing hot air past them while they tumble inside a spinning drum. Heat is provided by an electrical heating element or gas burner. Some heavy garment loads can contain more than a gallon of water which, during the drying process, will become airborne water vapor and leave the dryer and home through an exhaust duct (more commonly known as a dryer vent).”
1. The connections should be sealed and leak free
2. There should be no flow restrictions
3. Excessive lint accumulation could cause a fire
4. Rigid metal (smooth interior surfaced) duct should be used.
**Only flexible duct-work meeting UL 2158A can be used as dryer venting.
* Plastic/Vinyl hoses are no longer allowed per the “IRC” (if your home has them – REPLACE THEM IMMEDIATELY)
5. The length of an exhaust duct shall not exceed 25 feet
**The maximum length of the duct shall be reduced 2.5 feet (762 mm) for each 45-degree (0.8 rad) bend, and 5 feet (1,524 mm) for each 90-degree (1.6 rad) bend. The maximum length of the exhaust duct does not include the transition duct.
Alternate Blog Post Links:
http://www.interactofnorwalk.com/washer-and-dryer-hookups/
https://www.facebook.com/notes/homerun-homes-inspection-llc/washer-and-dryer-hookups/799371980108331 (this link will include all the photos referenced below)
The links below,along with some attached photos are a mixture of the good and the bad when it comes to washer & dryer connections.
http://www.watts.com/pages/_products_sub.asp?catId=64&parCat=279
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/skill-builder/0,,20055341,00.html
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20555339,00.html
http://www.dryerbox.com/welcome_dryerbox.htm
http://www.familyhandyman.com/laundry-room/septic-system-how-to-filter-out-laundry-lint
http://www.familyhandyman.com/laundry-room/avoiding-a-laundry-room-flood-in-an-upstairs-laundry-room
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