We just got our new red LG washer and dryer for our new upstairs wash closet. (BTW: this money was supposed to go to my new table saw but somehow it got diverted to the washer and dryer). Being concerned about leakage from the washing machine, I got an Oatey drip pan for the washing machine, but now the units can’t sit tight against each other. The drip pan is about 3 inches wider than the washing machine on each side. The floor is brand new bamboo. I’m wondering if there’s another solution other than using a drip pan. Does anyone make a double wide drip pan that can hold both the washer and dryer?
Thanks in advance!
Replies
sheet metal shop? seems a pan to fit just the washing machine.. not sure how much bigger it needs to be to be effective?...would be what you are looking for...
i've never seen a wahing machine overflow... i know it happens I've just never been witness to it... but thinking? is the main problem overflow? or a part/pump failure that would casue it to leak? i think there might be more issues with the hook-up hoses than anything... and then nothing short of a floor drain would be of much help...
think i'd opt for make'n sure my insurance was paid up
p
I had never seen it either - until a couple of days ago. Last week I moved my parents laundry from the basement to the main floor. New location was an old bedroom, hardwood floors, so we put down an overflow pan and tied into the drain.
Things worked fine for 3-4 days and then the washer leaked like crazy. Had the service guy out and the drain was clogged. Turns out my mother had washed some bathroom & kitchen rugs in the machine and all the #### that came out of the carpet had balled-up and clogged the line. Presto, we had a leak. So, I guess it does happen.
-Norm
I suppose some people that have had bad experinces with wash machines would feel inclined for such additional precautions. Frankly, in the 30 + years that I have owned them, I've never had a problem.
I don't use no stinkin' drip pans on my machines. Just good hoses and good machines. Furthermore, when I redid my laundry room, I waterproofed the floor and up the wall a few inches (just in case) before laying the tile.
I beleive the LG is a good machine that could qualify for such treatment.
You don't use drip pans, but you chose to put down a waterproof floor and wall? Well that's kind of cheating, you should have just rolled the dice and not used anything if you were that confident in your good hose and machine! I've had three bad experiences before, those were in my old laundry room with tile over slab and cinder block walls, so no damage was done. In my new laundry closet, I already had the bamboo floor laid down, I think I'll just use the Oatey plastic pan that I bought.
Someone else mentioned a problem with washing rugs and them falling apart, blowing up the machine.
I did the same thing. Foolishly added bleech to the load with rubber backed rugs (and the washing tagged said in bold letters, "DO NOT add bleach!). The rubber backing fell apart and plugged up the pump and drain lines.
But no leaks. And no damage. The pump assembly was accessible from the front and a simple disassemble, shaking out and rinsing of a built in filter cleared the whole thing.
I credit that to a well designed machine. A Kenmore H3.
But as far as using a pan...
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It's form over function in this case.
Pete - we have the same - Sears HE3T (made by Whirlpool in Germany). Does your dryer 'thump' when it first starts? (roller flat spots)Jeff
Ours does. Is it worth worrying about?
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
Edited 11/25/2007 11:31 pm by Scott
Some do, some don't - we've had our drum rollers replaced (under warranty) but the thumping came back - evens out after awhile. Don't think there's any real problem except the nuisance noise.
Jeff
No it doesn't. Nice, quiet.
Even the vibration some talk about, none for me.
Nice units you have there sitting side by side. But that is exactly my problem, I can't sit them side by side with the drip pan installed under the washer. I've got a picture, if you look closely at the base, you can see the drip pan. It actually obsures the front drawer too, I'll have to cut that down with a Rotozip or Dremmel to be able to use the drawers.
Whjat size is the washer?I think the GE drip pan is 32"
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I like the suggestion of a sheet metal shop. Couldn't cost too much and would not be hard for them to do.
BTW, a woman that I once worked with owned a townhouse with W/D on third level. It sprang a leak while she was at work and she came home to three floors of damage. Drywall fallen off the ceiling, carpet, flooring and stairs ruined, etc. The place looked like the fire department had soaked it.
Thanks for reminding me that this is something I need to take care of in our place....
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.”
Our plumber just used these for the first time. One at washer, one at dishwasher. They seem to be a good product. http://www.plumbingwarehouse.com/floodstopsystems.html
I don't ever allow 2nd floor units to go without a pan - usually Floodsaver.
Would their 'slide-and-fold' pan work for you? - http://www.floodsaver.com/APFP2424_INSTALL.htm
Jeff
Don't know the history for the front-load washers, but with top-load machines the timer can go bad and not know when to stop filling.
I think the Flood stop for washers and water heaters would be a good investment.
Also, replace the rubber hoses with stainless steel. The manufacturers should include them with the new machines.
Pete
Top loaders also have something called oddly enough a "fill valve". (I assume the front loaders do too) I had one that would turn on but not turn off. Luckily the washer was in an unfinished basement at the time. After several floods, I finally figured out the problem. A $25 valve sure caused a lot of headaches.
Don't buy a pan. Just install a wood threshold (hump) with linoleum coved up the walls. It is a lot easier to slide a washer or dryer with pieces of carpeting under it feet, than to lift a washer over the lip of a drip pan.
I had to replace my vinyl kitchen floor after a slow leak on the dishwasher pump got into the particle board underlayment. After that I built a drip pan for the dishwasher out of sheet PVC - easy to cut and glue yourself.
I was thinking of installing a shower pan as a drain pan. How much more expensive could one of these be when you consider the labor bill? FKA Blue (eyeddevil)