Laundry room plumbing tips and ideas

Laundry room plumbing is important when talking about installations in your home. In this room converge 3 types of installations and if you have a heater in the same area, there are 4 types of connections: white water, sewage, electricity, and gas. The installation must be done well and established by structural and municipal standards.

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Laundry room plumbing code

A standard plumbing permit refers to a set of government regulations with steps that include methods for designing, installing, using, and repairing sanitary, electrical, and gas facilities to achieve, in this case, white water supply, and sewage disposal without interfering with electrical and gas facilities.

Usually, the (NPC) is used at the national level, which includes the requirements for the design, installation, and maintenance of residential plumbing systems.

This standard in conjunction with the (NEC) uses and protects the installation and use of wiring in homes. It includes provisions for safety, fire system, and electrical repairs.

According to Caitlin Sole (NFPA) has created (ANSI Z223.1) which establishes minimum requirements for the installation, inspection, repair, alteration, and replacement of plumbing systems for single-family and multi-family dwellings.

Make sure at the time of installation to have on hand the standard, quality-assured materials and if possible with warranty, that meets the standards required by the standard. Follow the instructions of the standard. Use shut-off valves to shut off water to that room and not to the entire home.

Laundry room water connections

For the water connections to make properly, you must do the following:

Equipment

• Screwdriver
• Groove-joint plier
• Hacksaw
• Tubing cutter

Materials

• Sink
• Washing machine
• Solder
• Flux
• PVC primer and glue
• Trap
• Pipe and fittings
• Carnase Gloves

Step 1: cut pipe

Drain the lines and turn off the water to the supply pipes. Cut the copper supply pipe using a tubing cutter and install a tee fitting to tap into it.

Step 2: tee fitting

Apply flux and sweat to ensure the tee fits properly. If the pipe does not move enough, a piece of pipe and a slip coupling (as indicated above) can be required. Use a compression fitting instead.

Step 3: Attach stub outs

To connect the washing machine’s plumbing to the laundry tub, add pipe lengths. To run pipes to the washer, there are tees included. Sweat on a brass supply stubs out at each supply pipe’s end. Masonry screws are used to fasten the stub outs to the wall.

Step 4: Attach hose bibs

Connect copper piping to the washer. Add supply stub outs and use masonry screws to fasten them to the wall. Apply pipe-thread tape, manually turn each hose bib into its stub, and then use a wrench to tighten it.

Step 5: Assemble the sink

A plastic utility sink is affordable and simple to assemble. Build the sink. On the sink stub outs, install stop valves. Connect supply tubes to the stop valves and install a faucet on the sink.

Step 6: run pipes

Run a drainpipe (sloped at 1/4 inch per foot) to the sink by tapping into a drain line with a tee fitting. Attach the trap by hot-gluing an adapter to the pipe’s end.

Step 7: Install the machine

Level the washer after positioning it. Using pliers, screw the supply lines for the machine to the valves. Place a tight clamp on the drain hose and drape it over the edge of the utility sink.

How to hide laundry room plumbing?

There are several ways to hide the pipes in the laundry room, one of them is to build a false wall, separate the room from the rest, and make the pipe follow an industrial design; it can be covered with plants or foliage. What you want is that the piping not a focal point of the room or highlight.

Another way is to install cabinets, making the connections hidden inside the cabinets and the laundry room a sort of industrial laundry, where you can wash, dry, hang, fold and perhaps store clothes.

or install a shelf like this one.

Tips and tricks for laundry room

The laundry room has details that are vital for its proper functioning of it. That said, here are some tips to keep your laundry room up to date.

Hoses in good condition

Make sure you have quality hoses guaranteed, these are not just any type. Make sure they are of the design diameter and not the one below because it has serious consequences.

Washers and connections are up to date.

In the connections between the washing machine and the pipes, there are usually washers, they can be made of metal or plastic, and these deteriorate and break with use, causing pressure or water leaks. Changing them is simple as long as you have the tools and space at hand.

Drains

Like the supply, the drainage has a specific material and diameter, if these do not comply they bring problems such as, for example, the water being returned or there are bad smells.

Filters

At the beginning and at the end of each connection between the hose and the washing machine, use a filter, this will prevent the passage of dirt such as mud, leaves, stones, and twigs that may come in the water. Change them every 15 days.

Dishwasher

You can install a sink, they are useful, from every point of view. There are clothes, and fabrics that simply cannot be washed in a washing machine and it is necessary to have a space to do it by hand.

Furniture

It is very important to have a place to store cleaning and laundry products, do not skimp either shelves or cabinets, both are affordable options. In addition to protecting the pipes from the elements. You can prevent them from vibrating when water flows through.

Read more: Laundry room cupboard design

Don’t waste water

The only non-renewable resource. Try as much as possible to be friendly and reduce its consumption. Do batches of laundry with the weight capacity of the washing machines and not 4-5 items. Some eco-friendly washing machine options will help you to recycle water or to dose it.

Take notes

Keep a maintenance diary, both for the washer and the plumbing, don’t skimp on changing rubber bands, washers, fittings, and hoses if possible. This will keep the connections in good condition and increase the life of the connections. Maintenance is the key.

The laundry room plumbing can also be a nice, beautiful, and aesthetic place, this will only depend on the budget you have to do the project.

Written by Vanessa Gallanti. November 10, 2022

Enthusiast about planning, project management, construction materials and technology, and construction. A civil engineer from Los Andes University and a content writer for Kukun.