Home tips 101: Washing machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

| March 15, 2017

Some quick tips about common appliances in your home, that can have many issues.  Lets take a look at each:

Washing Machine:

  • We highly suggest you connect your washing machine with braided hoses.  Connect these hoses from the faucet to the washer.  Regular rubber hoses can develop a bubble or aneurysm that can burst and leak water.
  • If you have washer that drains into a floor drain, we suggest buying an inexpensive PVC laundry tub.  Have your hose drain into the tub, then have your tub drain into the floor drain.  This prevents a large pool of water all over the floor.  If you sewer drain is higher then the washing machine you could then have the tub drain into an aftermarket ejector pit to pump the water up into the higher sewer drain.
  • If you have front end loaders, be sure to leave the door open after loads or when empty.  Be sure to run the “clean” cycle with bleach or vinegar once a month.  Drain your clean out on the bottom of the machine.  All this will help reduce mold growth.

Dryers:

  • Gas or Electric:  Be sure to check gas line, smell connections and shut off valves to make sure nothing is leaking.  If there is a gas line there but not in use, be sure the end is capped.  If you have an electric dryer, the outlet should be secured, the wire feeding the outlet should be concealed (in wall) or in conduit.
  • CLEAN YOUR DRYER VENT!   60-75% of the lint goes past the filter and travels through your vent.  This can build up and even cause fires.  Clean vent and exterior vent covers regularly.
  • Dryer vents should not exceed 20-25 feet in length and it is best to use rigid piping not plastic flex.
  • Check exterior vent cover.  Make sure it is working freely and that rodents or other critters can’t access into the vent.

Dish Washers:

  • Most people may not know but here is a screen on the drain in the bottom of the dishwasher.  Remove your lower rack and be sure to clean drain area regularly.
  • The drain hose from the dishwasher should at minimum be higher then where it connects into the sewer drain (most commonly under your kitchen sink.   The proper connection is to have what is called an “air-gap” connection.  If you dishwasher hose is directly connected to the garbage disposal or the sink drain, consult a plumber to rectify this connection.   An air-gap with prevent contamination.

 

Any questions you can always reach out to us.