Installing a washing machine drain pan, you guys are always good at this stuff

I feel like I can always find a good answer to my stupid questions here, since you guys know your shit. I'm installing one of those drain hands underneath my washing machine, but it's a stacked unit that is built into a tiny cabinet. There is pretty much only a few inches on each side, in about 3 in on top. Zero access to the rear of the machine. It looks like the only way, is to remove the entire unit from the cabinet, lifted onto the drain pan somehow, and then put it back in the cabinet. That sounds good in theory, but the machine is heavy as hell so it will be difficult to lift, And I don't think I'll be able to slide the pan back in place with the washer on it. You guys got any ideas to make this a bit easier?

 

Oof! That is a tight space. How did it get in there in the first place - especially over that lower lip of the cabinet?

I'd take the doors off the cabinet first and probably use an oscillating tool to remove that lower threshold, but then find a way to put it back later so it is easily "removable" for service.

Then, pull the unit forward just enough to tip it back so the pan can start to go underneath and then do some shimmy shimmy wiggle wiggle to get it under and in place.

Good luck.

 

did one for my parents (not a stacked unit) put a layer of felt on the bottom of the pan so it would slide better and not scratch the floor

 

you could always build up a false floor
so that you just slide it in the pan straight back. doesn't help for getting it out, though.

 

Tbis doesn’t help answer how to install it but I’m curious where are you routing the drain to in such a tight space? If the pan doesn’t have a drain all you’re doing with that pan is delaying the inevitable flood if something does fail.

 

I’d assume there’s an access panel at the side of the fridge.

 

I am curious just what is the reason for a pan below the washer?

What will the pan drain into or just run onto the floor?

A drain Hand ?? New Term to me.

 

Man, the doors have been off so long that I totally forgot they were even on there. I pulled off the doors a while ago, and that little wooden curb was a giant pain in the ass. It was screwed and glued to the floor and the sides and was a real bitch to get out, but I finally got it. I think they put the washing machine in first, and then built the cabinet around it. My plan was to do pretty much exactly like you said, but the damn machine is super heavy.

 

That's another issue. There is actually a floor drain underneath the washer in the back corner. I do have a handyman helping me out a bit, and he thinks that he can cut a new hole into the drain pan that will fit over the floor drain. There is pretty much zero room to run a new drain hose.

 

We thought so too, but nope. It's pretty much impossible to shut the water off behind the machine.

 

Stupid voice text.....
The pan is just a cheap insurance policy in case the washer ever leaks, And they come with a hose that is supposed to connect to a floor drain. It just so happens that the way this thing was installed, there's almost no way to even get to the drain.

 

What is below the washer and dryer?

is running a new drain hose an option?

 

Well it's just a hardwood floor, but there is a floor drain in the rear left corner. And I think I have to run a new drain anyway, otherwise it makes the pan useless.

 

I meant basement or your on the second floor above more living space?

What is behind this can you go out the back through a wall and down?

 

Oh....duh. it's a tiny house that I think is post and beam, so it just goes directly to the dirt. On the opposite side of the wall would be the bathroom, but that's where the vanity and sink and everything is.

 

If there's already a drain in the back corner and if it works, there's no reason to put a pan in.

The reason for a pan is if the washer leaks the pan is supposed to contain it before it runs all over the house.

Other than that the laundry center is behind the unit, tipping the unit forward you should be able to reach the water shut off.

To reinstall with a pan if you go that way, install the pan and tip the machine forward pick up the bottom and put in the front of the pan, hook up the water & drain to the laundry center then tip the machine into place.


RE; I delivered appliances for several yrs.

 

Horrible install design, if you ever need to get into the dryer for a belt, bearings [rear], tensioner pulley, and the like, you need to access the top of the dryer to remove it and get to more screws. I'd rather contemplate shoehorning a Detroit diesel 11.1 liter engine into a chevette then figure out a way to get into that thing.

 

There is a drain in the corner, and the installers tried to put silicone around the bottom cabinet, so they thought about it at least a little bit. But... If the washer were too leak, that silicone would last maybe 30 seconds and then the entire kitchen would be flooded. I feel like the plastic pan is just a safety net. Thanks for the "tips". I figured I would have to tip the unit into place, but there's pretty much zero room to do any of that And there's absolutely no way to get to the rear of the unit.

 

Like I said (per the pic in first post) you have to tip the mach. forward rite up to the counter and crawl over to get to the hoses for service.

Back in the day I installed more than a few of those stackable's some in places tighter than your's.

 

i would cut that upper cabinet "shelf" and leave like a "U"-shaped portion about 3/4" wide, where the opening of the U is big enough to clear the dryer part when tipped, then cut a new "shelf piece that fits in there, resting on the "U" for your storage stuff above.

heck, you could even screw it in, if you want more stability.