Whether you are connecting a new machine, moving one to a different room or chasing a leak behind it, the plumbing has to be right — a loose waste hose is one of the most common causes of kitchen floods.
Gas Safe registered 25 years in the trade 12 years running the business
What a washing machine needs
A washing machine needs three things: a cold water feed with an isolating valve, a waste connection that cannot siphon or leak, and enough space to pull the machine out without straining the hoses. Most machines today are cold-fill only, heating their own water, so a single feed is normally enough.
A dedicated cold feed with its own isolating valve, so the machine can be turned off without affecting the rest of the house
A waste connection into the sink trap or a standpipe, secured so it cannot pop out mid-cycle
Hoses in good condition, replaced if they are perished or kinked
Connecting a new machine
If the pipework is already there, connecting a machine is quick: check the valves work, fit the hoses, secure the waste and run a test cycle while watching for drips. If there is no connection where you want the machine, we can tee into the nearest supply and waste, adding proper valves so the machine can be isolated in future.
The same applies to dishwashers, and one visit can often sort both. If the kitchen tap is dripping while we are there, our leaking tap repair service can deal with it in the same visit.
Moving a washing machine
Moving a machine to a utility room or garage means extending the supply and waste to the new position. The waste run matters most: it needs a steady fall and a proper connection, or the machine will pump out slowly and the hose will work loose. In a garage, the pipework also needs protection from frost.
We will look at where the machine is going, tell you honestly what is involved, and leave the old position capped off neatly if the pipework is no longer needed.
Leaks behind the machine
Water pooling behind or under the machine is usually a hose connection, a perished hose or the waste working loose. Pull the machine out, turn off its isolating valve and mop up before the water reaches the floorboards. If the isolating valve itself is stuck, that is worth fixing too — a valve you cannot turn is no use in an emergency, and our stopcock replacement page covers the same problem at the mains.
Booking
Ring 07429 632804 or send a photo of the space and the existing pipework on WhatsApp. We will tell you what is needed and arrange a convenient time.
Common questions
Washing Machine Plumbing FAQs
Clear answers before you arrange a visit.
Can a washing machine be installed anywhere?+
It needs a cold water feed, a waste connection and power. Within reason we can extend pipework to a utility room or garage, provided the waste can fall properly and the pipes are protected from frost.
Why does my washing machine smell?+
Often a waste connection that lets drain smells back, or a machine that needs a hot maintenance wash. A properly trapped waste connection solves the plumbing side of it.
Do I need a plumber to connect a washing machine?+
If the valves and waste are already in place, many people connect their own. If you need new pipework, a waste connection or the valves are seized, it is worth having it done properly.
Can you plumb in a dishwasher at the same time?+
Yes. Both machines can often share the same visit, with separate isolating valves so each can be turned off on its own.
