Hey folks. If you’ve seen my other GQ questions you’ll know that I’m not all that handy around the house, so I’d really appreciate some input from those of you who are. Here’s the deal:
I have a detached garage with a garage apartment above it, and I’m renting out the garage apartment. In the garage is a washer and a dryer (two stand-alone full-size units, the dryer is electric not gas) that the tenant will use. Right now the washer and dryer are hooked up in a very inconvenient place; the tenant would have to go around both of our cars, and it may not even be possible (and it definitely wouldn’t be comfortable) for the tenant to do laundry while both of our cars are in the garage.
If the washer and dryer were on the other side of the garage (about twenty feet away, I’d guess), however, then everything would be fine and dandy. So, I want to move the washer and dryer.
Here’s the question: do I need to call a plumber and an electrician to get a new water and electrical hookup on that side of the garage (option 1) or can I just run a long hose and a long cord about twenty feet (on the floor along the wall) to the existing hookups (option 2)?
If I do option 1 do you have any idea how much it would cost (roughly, like closer to $100 or closer to $1000)? The new location for the washer and dryer would be right between the junction box and the hot water heater, so I’m guessing that water and electricity are both pretty close.
If I can do option 2, will Lowe’s/Home Depot have hoses and cords long enough or should I contact the manufacturer of the washer and dryer or what? Will there be any long-term problems with doing this so that I should do option 1 even if option 2 is possible?
Definitely option 1. The electricity and water supplies could conceivably be run with hoses and cords as you suggest (not sure about the building codes in your area), but the bigger problem would be the drain for the washer, which needs to have a sewer drain pipe at the rear of the washing machine to discharge into. This may or may not be possible without major reconstruction, depending on the location of water/sewer pipes in your garage.
These are the things you will need to provide for hookups:
Washer
110 V. Outlet
Hot and cold water taps
Drain pipe
Dryer
220 V. Outlet
Hot-air vent to outside of garage
Unless you are really handy, it’s definitely a job for a professional.
Biggest problem is the drain for the washer. There might be some plumbing code issues about how far from a vent it can be.
I wouldn’t be too happy with running hoses and extension cords across my garage – too much chance of inadvertant floods/accidental damage to the cord. I’m guessing it’s probably only $150.00 or so for each of the hookups, plumbing and electrical. Maybe a bit more for the plumbing if they have to run the PVC for the drain. Not sure if the plumber would punch a new vent hole for the dryer or not – you could run a hose to the existing vent but you’d have to be sure to check it for lint frequently, as you’d get quite a buildup in a run that long.
The dryer outlet will be a little tricky. I would call an electrician for that. The vent you should be able to tackle yourself - relocate it to the nearest outside wall by the new location.
The washer connections … If youre going to run any lines across the garage you should use PVC pipe to protect them. Run the hot and cold water and the drain line in a 3 inch PVC conduit to keep them out of harms way (fastened to the floor in the corner where the floor meets the outside wall). I dont know if your washer is designed to pump water through 20+ feet of hose either. Auto radiator hose will work for extending the washer drain line (can buy this in any length at the hardware store). Standard yard hose will work for extending the fill lines.
I believe code requires the standpipe for the drain to be next to the washer. An alternative to the drain problem would be to jackhammer a small trench in the garage floor and run a drain line to your floor drain (assuming you have one). This is not as much work as you may think, and may resolve the distance problem. Garage floor drains are notorious for not draining well, so you would want to have it snaked out.
Dryer vents are subject to code as well. Generally, without a fan to assist, you can’t exceed 18 feet in distance and three elbows.
For those of you who didn’t say anything about cost, do you agree with Finagle’s estimate of about $150 for the electrician and maybe a little more than $150 for the plumber?
Okay, my bad. Here’s the actual code requirement: “…exhaust ducts shall not exceed a total combined horizontal and vertical length of fourteen feet, including two ninety degree elbows. Two feet shall be deducted for each ninety degree elbow in excess of two.” Uniform Mechanical Code 504.3.2.2