Washer Hookups for Dummy Plumbers

Washing machine hookup box

There are some fairly accomplished do-it-yourself types on the research team here at the Antisocial Network, people competent to tackle a variety of home repair projects. By "competent" we mean possessing both the tools and the knowledge to get a task done. As such, our staffers occasionally find themselves online searching for help with an unfamiliar procedure. Let's take a f'rinstance: someone wants to install rough-in plumbing for washing machine connections: how far from the floor should they be? Well, an on-line search turns up plenty of advice, some of which can be found in forums populated by professional plumbers. The same search also turns up repeat offender Ruth de Jauregui, who told readers about "The Height of Washer and Dryer Hook-Ups" for Demand Media's SFGate Home Guides. Ruth's problem? She got it wrong...

After blathering for a couple hundred words (the better to meet Demand Media's minimum word count), here's what de Jauregui said:

"Washer drain hookups should be between 30 and 55 inches from the bottom of the washer... If you're installing new water supply lines and a drain, placing it behind the washer at a height of 30 to 34 inches allows you to easily reach over and behind the washer to turn the faucets on and off."

Sorry, Ruth, that's wrong. The 30- to 55-inch dimension you cite is measured from the bottom of the tub, not from the bottom of the washer. More important, however, is that the hookups (and top of the discharge pipe) must be above the top of the water line when the washer is full. Second, in what universe does "a height of 30 to 34 inches [allow] you to easily reach over and behind the washer"? Except for apartment-sized washers, few washing machines are less than 38 inches tall. Some are as tall as 45 inches! If you were to ask a professional plumber, he or she might well give you some advice like this (note the number of master plumbers in the forum...). Ruth goes on to similarly "explain" dryer hookups:

"Electrical hookups for washers and dryers should be placed within 6 feet of the unit. While a minimum height for outlets in a home may very, depending on local building codes, for convenience both outlets should be placed between 34 and 36 inches high... Ground fault circuit interrupter outlets are required in laundry areas to protect you from electrocution."

Ruth probably doesn't even know that an electric dryer must be on a 220-volt circuit. The line cord for an electric dryer, according to code, can be no longer than 72 inches and those shipped with the dryer are often considerably shorter: better be careful about locating that electrical hookup (and keep in mind that the dryer will be the same height as its matching washing machine). By the way, a GFC isn't required by the national code unless there's a sink in the laundry room... 

Oh, yeah, and Ruth? what about the exhaust hookup for the dryer? Forgot that, didn't you...

Interestingly enough, Demand Media does not allow its contributors to cite forums in their references... though if de Jauregui had looked at a forum before writing this bull, she might have noticed how poorly she answered the question at hand. She didn't, however, and when people publish crap like this without proper research and/or knowledge, we are more than happy to present to them our Dumbass of the Day award.

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