More washer dryer cabinet shenanigans

As always, I post my odd questions here because you guys are really good at this stuff. A while ago I asked about getting a drain pan under my stacked laundry unit that's in a tiny cabinet with zero access. We ended up skipping the drain pan, and I bought this expensive safety valve that is supposed to shut off the water if there's even a tiny leak. In addition to that, my handyman installed a shower pan in the cabinet which I actually think is a good idea. I'm not sure how, but he was able to maneuver the unit in without ripping the shower pan.. but I ended up having to take out the washer myself, and now I don't know how to get it back in. I can't simply slide it because of the shower pan, and there's no way to lift it because there's no access on the left side, also as heavy as hell. Any ideas?

 

What I might try . . . slide the washer out far enough to try it on the bare floor before jumping in, make sure this neanderthal approach might work.

The shower pan has a lip on it you don't want to crush.

Have you tried a hand cart, with a ratchet strap around the washer? You won't be able to tip it back very far and might need an extra set of hands. If that's a no go, I'd try this.

Aquire two short pieces of pipe, thinking maybe 1 1/2" diameter, 6-8" in length, strong enough to hold the weight of the washer. The diameter needs to be slightly taller than the height of the lip. Some pieces of PVC pipe are pretty strong and could work.

Put two of them inside the lip of the pan, lined up with the edge of the frame of the washer.

Tip the washer towards you and finagle it slightly in so the back of the washer frame can sit on the pipes which have magically become rollers. I've found tipping it then pulling to one side to leverage on the front leg, walking one side, then the other, can inch heavy stuff along.

If it's just to heavy to move a few inches, use two more pieces of pipe on the outside of the pan to get it closer. The goal is to get the rear of the washer on the "back rollers" and let them be wheels to roll it in.

Once the back is sitting on the pipes AKA rollers, lift the front edge up and start rolling it back in. As you go, check that the "rollers" aren't going sideways and starting to roll off the frame. When the front of the frame is clear of the lip of the pan, the fun part will be removing the pipes. I would get one of those grabber thingies for taking jars off the high shelves (you probably already have one) and while someone tips the washer to one side, reach in and extract one pipe. Tip it the other way and extract the other.

 

I really appreciate that thorough response. This is what I have been thinking about for the last 2 hours or so, exactly what you described. I was also thinking of looking for a few pieces of stainless steel that are slightly taller than the bottom of the washing machine, in the center, and putting those underneath, lifting the machine like a half an inch and then just pushing it on the steel. I think your way is best and I will be trying that.

 

There's always a way. At my age, levers and wheels are my friend. Hope it works!

 

Perhaps just spraying something slippery into the liner would allow the feet to slide. Soapy water, winded, PAM cooking spray, Astro lube, or the like. I’ve done this with my washer on tile and it slides in very easily.