In a basic laundry room, supply pipes branch off to provide hot and cold water to both the utility sink and the washing machine. The machine’s drain hose clips to the side of the utility sink, which has a P-trap that connects to a house drain line. To hook up a washing machine to hot and cold water and a drain, you’ll need to install washing machine valves. These valves look like outdoor hose bibs but point straight down. The washing machine drain hose hooks to a standpipe or a sink, which has a P-trap that connects to a house drain line. The drain for either of these must slope down at a rate of 1/4 inch per running foot. Many washing machines are self-leveling. Grab the machine by its control panel at the top rear, pull forward to slightly tilt the machine, and let it drop back solidly on all four feet. Adjust the front legs to make sure the machine is level in both directions. Editor’s tip: Where there is no room for a utility sink, install a standpipe for the washer drain. The pipe must be large enough to insert the washing machine’s drain hose into it, and the top must be above the machine’s water level. Editor’s tip: If your walls are not finished (the studs are exposed) or if you are able to run pipes through walls, you can install a washing machine supply box for a neater look. It controls hot and cold water with one valve and provides an outlet for a drain hose.
