washing machine water shutoff
I have a stacked washer/dryer unit that is located in its own closet. The unit had an issue and leaked causing damage to the floor. I would love to turn the water off to the unit either between uses or if I am going to be gone for a few days. The problem is the…
I have a stacked washer/dryer unit that is located in its own closet. The unit had an issue and leaked causing damage to the floor. I would love to turn the water off to the unit either between uses or if I am going to be gone for a few days. The problem is the water valve is at the back of the closet behind the unit and it is not realistic to pull it out every time. Does anyone know of a way I can set it up so the water can be shut off more easily?
Thanks for your help.
We use something like the emergency shut-off that herkimermaid describes in almost all of our condo and co-op renovations. In fact, almost boards now require some sort of automatic shut-off. The one we spec is from Floodmaster.
Jim Hill
Urban Pioneering Architecture
Couple of ideas:
1. Our washer has the pipe to hose connector at the front of the closet with cut offs. So you could a little plumbing to get that done.
2. If you don’t want to go to the expense of having the pipe installed, you could put in an additional segment of hose that stretched to the front of the closet. This really gives you more points of possible failure tho so may not actually be an improvement.
This isn’t exactly what you’re asking about, but I have a similar situation in my house. The tenants’ washer/dryer is located on the top floor in a closet where I can’t access the valves, so the plumbers installed this item:http://www.watts.com/pro/divisions/watersafety_flowcontrol/learnabout/learnabout_intelliflow.asp
It essentially shuts off the water flow in case of a flood. It hasn’t been activated yet so I can’t vouch for its effectiveness. I’ve heard (from others, not just the plumbers) that they work well. Keeping my fingers crossed.
DIBS, in your opinion/experience are those very effective? That is what I was considering but there is just something more satisfying and reassuring about simply turning the valve and cutting the water.
There are automatic valves that can be installed that only allow water to flow when the washer is turned on and, in addition, shut off if there is an ongoing flow of water, i.e. a leak. They tie into the electric current demand by the washer.
Do some gooling and you’ll find them.
What’s behind the back of your washer/dryer closet? Ours are also in a closet, backed by a clothes closet. We’ve got a removable panel in the common wall of the 2nd closet that gives us access whenever necessary to the washer/dryer plumbing.