Moving brings lots of stress, including setting up all of your appliances again. But before you run to the nearest handyman and pay his fees, you should know that you can set up a washer and dryer by yourself. Save yourself some money and follow these steps to set up a washer and dryer.
STEP 1:
Check your connections. Your electrician will have installed a special outlet specifically for your washer and your dryer (or your gas technician, if your washer and dryer are gas). Turn off the power or gas to these outlets until you have finished this entire process. Then visually look to see that there is nothing blocking the outside dryer vent. In new homes, builders will often block these vents to stop drafts until the new home owner moves in. Also, make sure you've got running hot and cold water.
STEP 2:
Move in the washer and dryer. You'll need some help to carry your new washer and dryer to your selected location before you can begin to set up your washer and dryer. They will be heavy, and you cannot do this on your own. A moving cart with a good secure strap is a great idea here too.
STEP 3:
Level the washing machine. To avoid your washing machine from bouncing all over the floor during the spin cycle, it needs to be set up on a level floor. Move the washer into position and then use a level to ensure it is sitting level. You can adjust the height of the feet on your washer to account for unlevel spots in your floor.
STEP 4:
Attach the washer hoses. Once the washer is sitting level, attach the hoses to the proper outlets, making sure that the hot and cold water lines are run properly. If you have a water suppression valve in your washer, be sure to install this according to your manufacturer's directions. You may also wish to secure the water hoses in place using silicone tape. This will prevent slippage and leaks. Then hook the washer's drainage pipe up to drain either into your laundry sink or to a standpipe (if you have it). Again, you will want to secure the drainage pipe so that water only drains where you want it to!
STEP 5:
Connect the dryer. The final step when you set up a washer and dryer is to connect the dryer, and you have two options here. If you have a gas dryer, connect the gas line to the shut-off valve. Secure this with tape specifically meant for gas installations. Then connect the flexible gas line to your dryer, ensuring that the fitting is tight and that there are absolutely no leaks. On the other hand, if you have an electric dryer, simply plug in the cord to the electrical outlet. Then attach the metal ducting pipe to your dryer and also to the exterior dryer vent. You will need to use metal ducting tape (not regular duct tape - it's flammable!) as well as any elbows, fittings and clamps necessary to ensure a tight fit. You should not be able to pull the ducting pipe off of either connection if you have installed it correctly. Once you've correctly attached all hoses, pipes and cords and ensured that there are no air, gas or water leaks, you have successfully set up a washer and dryer. Now you can turn on the power, water and gas supplies again and get started on your laundry.
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