Laundry Remodel

[dieselscout80]

We are re doing our laundry and I have a couple of questions.

1. We want to stack our washer and dryer, but where is the best place for the connections so you shut off the water if needed?

2. Currently our dryer has a 3 wire plug should we switch to a 4 wire plug?

 

[RNeumann]

The dryer specs should specify if they need a neutral. Typically this is so the appliance can run parts at 120v. If it was a standard dryer the existing two power wires and a ground would be fine.

Typically the height of the water and waste box is set at 40ish inches. That would hold true for the stacking machines too. Typically the dryer is on top. If space is tight you will want to plan the dryer exhaust duct carefully. Your washer and dryer will have all the specs- I’d have the specs before I did a rough in.....if space is tight.

 

[sodamo]

Many appliance models you can find the User / Install manuals online.

 

[3Ts]

The 3 wire vs 4 wire - The 3 wire is 2 hot wires plus a neutral that also has the ground tied to it. The 4 wire is 2 hot wires plus a neutral (by itself) and a separate ground wire. The newer machines are going to 4 wires.

 

[dieselscout80]

I guess question two wasn’t clear most of the time the washer connection is directly behind the washer.

However, with a stacked washer/dryer I would not be able to reach the valve to shut the water off in an emergency.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah, if you are building a slide-in cabinet that will be a problem.

Not knowing your situation, is it possible to locate two shutoff valves outside the cabinet but hidden such as under a sink cabinet nearby??

 

[dieselscout80]

I have a blank slate to work with as long as it fits in a 87” x 164” (inside room dimensions).

 

[KennyG]

If you stack them, you definitely want to move the water lines so that shutoffs are easily accessible without moving the machines. These typically have in wall boxes for the connections but you can also put them inside a cabinet or adjacent to the machines. I have two laundry rooms and both are behind the washer, so I have to lean over them to reach the shutoffs. I wish they were beside them but it's not practical. If you are completely redoing the room and putting in tile, consider adding a floor drain. It will save a mess if the drain line gets plugged. I added this to the laundry room I remodeled but the time the drain plugged it was in the room I didn't remodel and it was a mess.

 

[dieselscout80]

I wonder what’s the best way to get slope I would need in that sized room.

 

[3Ts]

I wonder what’s the best way to get slope I would need in that sized room.

And you'll need a trap and a way of keeping the trap filled, otherwise you'll end up with sewer gas in the room.

Note: there are valves that fit in a cold water line feeding a sink or other appliance that trickles water into a side port (which runs to the trap) when the water runs. However, I took mine out because the plunger got stuck frequently and it would just run and run.