Are there plumbing experts out there? Need advice.

October 17, 2023 6:04 PM

Anyone out there with plumbing expertise? I sent a photo of my new apartment's washing machine hookup (see the photo here!) to an appliance rental place, and they refused to rent a machine to me because there wasn't a standard hookup box. Called a plumber to see how much it would cost to fix the hookup and install a box, and they said $1k minimum. <Would love some advice!

The issue is that I don't know how long I'll be in this place, which is why I was hoping to rent a machine, and why I don't want to spend $1k up front to fix the hookup. I can't ask the landlord for help with this for various reasons I won't go into. Apparently a neighbor was able to install a washing machine with the same hookup, but I'm afraid to buy one and then find out it's not possible. And I'd really love to avoid having to go to a laundromat once a week.

My questions are:
1 - Does this scenario look dire or is the rental company just being picky? I don't even really know enough to know what's wrong with it to be honest!
2 - If it does need to be fixed, could I call a handyman instead of a plumber to update the hookup for cheaper (ie, how hard of a job is it)

Thank you!!

posted by lavenderflowers to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

The strange duplicative sets of unmatched faucets suggests a history of DIY or otherwise poor plumbing practices that might worry the appliance rental company. I think the rental company is probably most concerned about the unsecured cold water pipe dangling down from the ceiling. A filling or running washing machine can transfer vibrations though its cold and hot supply lines, which, over time, might crack or damage the unsecured cold water pipe. I suspect the rental company is worried they might have to pay for water damage if they agreed to install in that location.

I don't think you necessarily need a laundry hookup box — I've seen many laundry rooms with a pair of faucets and a drain stand pipe. The two water pipes with faucets secured to the rear wall are in configuration that would not be unusual to encounter in laundry room and I suspect the rental company would have been happy if that was all that was present. Normally I'd expect one to be hot and the other to be cold. Do you anything about the history behind the redundant hookups?
posted by RichardP at 6:25 PM on October 17, 2023

I don't know anything about them, no! The unmarked one on the left I tried opening it and nothing came out. The unmarked one on the right I assumed was gas... It sounds from your answer like a handyman should be able to install a machine for me if I buy one, let me know if I'm mistaken!
posted by lavenderflowers at 6:32 PM on October 17, 2023

I don't necessarily see a gas hookup for a dryer, unless it outside the area of your photo (although I suppose the unused pipe on the wall on the right might be, it is hard to tell from the photo). It should be possible to identify the current gas line by tracing the flexible yellow pipe from the hot water heater. Yes, I think any handyman would be able to assist you with connecting the cold and hot water supply lines from a washer to your faucets. If you need a gas hookup for a dryer and there isn't one you'll need a plumber — adding a gas hookup is not a job for a handyman.
posted by RichardP at 6:44 PM on October 17, 2023

Seconding that you don't need a box. If I had to guess, the cold water pipe just stopped working or had a leak in the wall at some point in the past, and rather than deal with it they just shut it off and ran a new & janky cold water supply tee'd off the water heater inlet. I'd bet that there is a gas line connected and shut off (or a valve for it) in that bottom right yellow pipe section, since the presence of a dryer vent pipe indicates that someone had a dryer there before.

If all you want is a washer that's going to be a very straightforward job as long as A) you get one that fits, B) there's hot and cold water coming out of those faucets, C) there's a standard three prong electrical outlet somewhere around there.

If I had to guess I'd say it was "designed" (or extended) for a stackable washer / dryer. If there's a gas line you can probably have a handyman put one of those units in with only some mild swearing and maybe an extra trip to the hardware store for one random adaptor or vent piece, assuming the three things I mention above are also true.
posted by true at 7:54 PM on October 17, 2023

(I agree with the above comments about not needing a hookup box for a washer. Also, that your plumbing has not been so much "maintained" as "hauled back from the brink.")

If you were ever thinking about a dryer, I will note that in some places -- e.g., here in New England -- hooking up the gas line requires a licensed plumber.

Appliance delivery guys walk quickly backwards, hands in the air, once the appliance is in your house and unboxed. Electricians will, too, even though the mechanics of it (i.e., tightening the fitting at the end of the hose) are simple; it would seem that detecting leaks is not. (Apparently plumbers, like EOD personnel, are deemed both uniquely skilled and also expendable??)
posted by wenestvedt at 7:22 AM on October 18, 2023

I see washing machines for free or cheap on craigslist, buy nothing, freecycle. You can get quite far with a washer and folding drying rack.
posted by theora55 at 8:43 AM on October 18, 2023

I see washing machines for free or cheap on craigslist, buy nothing, freecycle. You can get quite far with a washer and folding drying rack.

This. You can purchase a washer and probably dryer too for less than the estimate to fix the plumbing.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:54 AM on October 18, 2023

Just a quick FYI that my plan is indeed to be washer-only (no dryer). :)
posted by lavenderflowers at 10:15 AM on October 18, 2023

I've given away washers that completely worked, and i've picked up free washers that completely worked. Usually they even let me turn it on and test it, or i just trusted them because the place looked quite nice. I've also paid $75-100 several time for particularly ritzy ones.

I'm sympathetic to the rental company idea because of the hassle of getting rid of one later in theory, but as soon as they whined about the hookups i'd be off to offerupbooklist-land to get a free or cheap one.

For what it's worth, i've lived a LOT of places with hookups like that and no box, and that basically looks normal to me. And every single time i've needed to move, or for whatever reason get rid of them, posting "free washer, it works"(or even "free washer, it does this weird thing but kinda works") had 10 people trying to pick it up from me within the first hour.
posted by emptythought at 1:02 AM on October 28, 2023