How to install a washing machine in the kitchen with your own hands
There is an opinion that a washing machine located in the kitchen area will certainly “spoil” the overall appearance of the room and make it somewhat untidy. In fact, placing a washing machine in the kitchen can be a great and even ideal layout. With a competent approach to the process, the machine will only complement the interior, making it more functional. How to properly install a washing machine in the kitchen, what nuances to take into account and what to focus on, we will tell you in this article.
Procedure
Before you buy a machine, you should plan where to place it, think about whether it will be built into the kitchen furniture or installed permanently. Based on these parameters, you should select an SMA of suitable dimensions. The ideal option is to think through all the details at the stage of renovating the premises.
First you need to determine where the unit will be delivered. It is best for the equipment to be located close to utility lines, this will allow you to seamlessly organize connection points to the water supply and sewerage.
It is equally important to install a separate electrical point under the automatic machine, protected by the automatic machine. The outlet must comply with all safety regulations. Another serious aspect is strengthening the floor covering where the washing machine is installed. The floor under the body must be strong and level, this will ensure the stability of the washing machine during operation. If we describe in general terms the front of the upcoming work, it will consist of the following stages:
preparing the washing machine after transportation;
installation of the unit at the selected location and placement of the housing;
creating an electrical point for the device;
connecting the water intake hose to the water supply network;
connecting the machine's drain to a sewer pipe.
In the case where the automatic machine is built-in, the algorithm of actions will be supplemented by hanging the facade on the cabinet of the kitchen unit. When building equipment into furniture, you must choose the washing machine very carefully; the dimensions of the machine must ideally match the dimensions of the cabinet. The main action plan has been determined; you can proceed to a detailed description of the upcoming work.
Floor under the machine
It’s not difficult to connect a washing machine in the kitchen area with your own hands; the main thing is to follow the basic recommendations for action. Be sure to consider the type of flooring in your kitchen. Experts do not recommend placing the machine on a laminate or parquet board - if even a small leak occurs, the coating may swell and become unusable. If you are sure that the housing is one hundred percent protected from emergency leaks, do not forget that the garbage filter will have to be cleaned periodically, and when the plug is opened, liquid will still fall on the floor.
The ideal covering under the machine is tile or concrete. The surface must not only be waterproof, but also very durable, since during operation the washing machine tends to vibrate, sway and “jump”.
Preparing the electrical network
The process of organizing an electrical point for a machine with your own hands may be a little more complicated. Due to the fact that the washing machine has a fairly high current consumption, it will require a separate electrical line from the switchboard device. The connection diagram will be transparent: the contact from the input is transferred to the circuit breaker, from it it is supplied to the residual current device, after which the phase goes by wire to the outlet point of the socket.
The electrical point under the washing machine must have a grounding connection; in its absence, the factory warranty for the unit is not valid.
It is important to correctly calculate the rating of the protective circuit breaker. The machine is selected based on the current value required by the washing machine. The value can be found in the technical data sheet or determined independently. For example, if the power of the machine is 3.5 kW, you need to divide this value by 220 V. In a simple calculation, we will get a current of 15.9 Amperes. The protective circuit breakers offered for sale have standard ratings: 6, 10, 16, 20 Amperes. For the example described, a 16 A protection device would be ideal.
When choosing an RCD, you should take into account that its rating should be one step higher than the similar characteristic of the machine. In our case, the device rating should be 32 A. Pay attention to the leakage current of the RCD. When connecting the device to a dedicated line, the value of this parameter should be 10 mA.
It is also important to select the wires of the required cross-section. So, for automatic washing machines with a power of less than 4.1 kW, cables with a cross-section of 1.5 sq. mm are perfect; for machines with a power consumption of up to 5.5 kW, the core cross-section should be 2.5 sq. mm. It is advisable to use wires with copper conductors.
And, of course, you need to choose the right outlet itself. When choosing, pay attention to the presence of a grounding device, the maximum voltage value, and the rated operating current. This information can be obtained by examining the markings on the socket body. When the manufacturer has not indicated the necessary data on the device, it is better to refuse to purchase the device; it may be of poor quality and will not be able to perform its functions properly.
Preparing the machine for installation
What needs to be done after the machine is purchased and delivered to your home? Of course, free the unit from its packaging and remove the protective elements located on the surface of the housing. Don't forget to remove the shipping bolts. This is a very important rule, since if you forget to remove them from the case, you can damage the machine the very first time you use it.
The screws designed to hold the drum during transportation of the device can be easily unscrewed with a regular wrench, which comes with the washing equipment. After the bolts and bushings are removed from the body, it is necessary to close the resulting holes with special plugs supplied with the machine. After the preparatory steps, you can connect the machine in the kitchen.
Connect the inlet hose
Usually, following the installation rules, the machine is connected to cold water. The heating element, which is equipped with an automatic machine, heats the water received by the system to the desired temperature, depending on the selected washing mode. Some users, in an effort to reduce energy consumption, connect the machine to the hot water supply system. However, such savings are very doubtful: tariffs for cold and hot water differ too much, so it will still be cheaper to pay for the kilowatts spent than for “hot” cubes.
In addition, drawing water into the tank from hot water supply pipes will have a negative impact on the quality of washing.The high temperature will quickly curdle the whites, so it will be very difficult to wash them.
Let's move on to describe the process of installing the inlet hose. It comes complete with a washing machine and is about 80 centimeters long. If this length is not enough to connect the unit to the water supply, you can purchase a hose of both 1 and 3 meters in length at specialized retail outlets.
On the back of the machine body there is a special hole with a rubber seal into which you need to screw the water intake hose. The union nut can be tightened by hand. If you use a wrench, do not turn it too much, just tighten the nut half a turn.
The other end of the inlet hose is connected to the water supply system. In the case where a special outlet is provided - it’s good if it is missing - you will have to make an insertion of the tap. If the kitchen wiring is made of plastic or propylene pipes, you should purchase a special tee, turn off the water, carefully cut off part of the pipe and solder the device. If there is metal wiring, you will have to use a welding machine to insert the tee.
After the tee is installed, you should attach the faucet to it. When attaching it, the thread should be wrapped with a special thread. If the water entering the apartment is characterized by high hardness or severe contamination, you can install a special filter before turning on the tap. This measure is not mandatory, but is purely advisory.
We organize connection to the drain
The drain hose supplied with the automatic washing machine is connected to the sewer system.If the washing machine is installed in close proximity to the kitchen sink, then there should be no problems with the connection.
To do this, instead of the existing siphon, you need to purchase a new one, with a special outlet for connecting an SMA or other household appliances. After installing the special siphon, all that remains is to connect the drain hose to the outlet. Another method is to run the washer directly into the sewer system. To do this you need:
replace or install a new tee going to the sink;
organize a separate outlet for SMA.
It is worth mentioning that the diameter of the drain hose is smaller than the size of the outlet point. Therefore, when performing installation, it is necessary to insert a rubber seal into the outlet. This measure will allow you to avoid leaks in the connection and the penetration of unpleasant odors into the apartment. The cuff is simply inserted into the outlet, the hose is stuck into the elastic band, which tightly compresses it, thereby ensuring water- and air-tightness of the system.
There are also temporary ways to connect the drain hose. You can simply dip its end into the kitchen sink every time you wash it. This method is undoubtedly the fastest, but this is where its advantages end. But there are many more disadvantages of this method - the unreliability of the design increases the risk of water draining directly onto the floor, in addition, waste water will very quickly pollute the sink.
When using any method of connecting the washing machine to the sewer, be sure to ensure that the hose does not have kinks or loops.
The bending radius of the drain pipe should be minimal, this will reduce the likelihood of blockages forming in its cavity.According to the installation rules, the bending radius of the corrugated hose should not exceed 85 cm. To securely fix the hose in the initially specified position, you can use special clamps that are attached to the corrugation.
There is an opinion that a washing machine located in the kitchen area will certainly “spoil” the overall appearance of the room and make it somewhat untidy. In fact, placing a washing machine in the kitchen can be a great and even ideal layout. With a competent approach to the process, the machine will only complement the interior, making it more functional. How to properly install a washing machine in the kitchen, what nuances to take into account and what to focus on, we will tell you in this article.
It’s not difficult to connect a washing machine in the kitchen area with your own hands; the main thing is to follow the basic recommendations for action. Be sure to consider the type of flooring in your kitchen. Experts do not recommend placing the machine on a laminate or parquet board - if even a small leak occurs, the coating may swell and become unusable. If you are sure that the housing is one hundred percent protected from emergency leaks, do not forget that the garbage filter will have to be cleaned periodically, and when the plug is opened, liquid will still fall on the floor.
What needs to be done after the machine is purchased and delivered to your home? Of course, free the unit from its packaging and remove the protective elements located on the surface of the housing. Don't forget to remove the shipping bolts. This is a very important rule, since if you forget to remove them from the case, you can damage the machine the very first time you use it.
Let's move on to describe the process of installing the inlet hose. It comes complete with a washing machine and is about 80 centimeters long. If this length is not enough to connect the unit to the water supply, you can purchase a hose of both 1 and 3 meters in length at specialized retail outlets.
The drain hose supplied with the automatic washing machine is connected to the sewer system.If the washing machine is installed in close proximity to the kitchen sink, then there should be no problems with the connection.
It is worth mentioning that the diameter of the drain hose is smaller than the size of the outlet point. Therefore, when performing installation, it is necessary to insert a rubber seal into the outlet. This measure will allow you to avoid leaks in the connection and the penetration of unpleasant odors into the apartment. The cuff is simply inserted into the outlet, the hose is stuck into the elastic band, which tightly compresses it, thereby ensuring water- and air-tightness of the system.
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