How to Plumb a Laundry Room

One of the rooms that most important in the house is the laundry room. It is also one of the rooms that requires some planning, thanks to the constant supply of water that's required. This article will cover important aspects of plumbing a laundry room.

Instructions

1. Make sure that the waste water is properly drained so that you do not have odors infiltrating the room. Draining a washer into a tub is not a good idea, because you run the risk of having the tub overflow. Use a 2 inch pipe that's made of cast iron, or a copper "standpipe" or a PVC pipe that's 3 inches. Include a "clean out" access as well.

2. Install copper pipe that has a ¾ inch diameter for each washer, and include a ¾ inch draw cock for the hot and cold water per washer. You should also include a check valve according to the code specifications in your area.

3. Put in controls that ensures that the temperature of the hot water stays around 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature for the cold water should not be less than 35 degrees.

4. Keep the pressure of the water in between 20 and 120 psi for the washing machine when you plumb a laundry room. Make sure also that the flow of the water does not go below 4 ½ gallons/minute.

5. Provide a 60 to 80 gallon "quick recovery water heater" for one to two washers. If you have more than two machines, add 20 gallons more. If you have enough hot water from a source that's central, you are OK.

6. Place a 2 inch or more floor drain in the middle of the laundry room, and make sure the floor is pitched toward it, so it can drain easily.