Washing machine plumbing in Fulham kitchens and flats
A new washing machine arrives, and the delivery firm will not connect it because the valve is seized, the waste pipe is in the wrong place, or the old machine was never plumbed in properly. That is the most common reason people ask us for a washing machine plumber in Fulham. We connect the cold supply hose to an isolating valve (a small tap on the pipe that lets you turn the water off to the machine alone), fit the drain hose to a standpipe or sink trap, and run a test wash to check for leaks.
Space is usually tight. In a Victorian terrace the washing machine often lives in the back addition kitchen under a short worktop, and in a converted flat it may be squeezed into a hallway cupboard or the bathroom. We check the depth of the gap, the hoses and the plug before we start, so the machine can sit back flat to the wall without kinking a hose.
New valves and waste connections
If there is no supply point where the machine needs to go, we tee into the nearest cold pipe and fit a new valve. Older valves can be stiff or drip once turned, so we often replace them while the water is off anyway. For the waste, the drain hose either goes into a standpipe with its own trap, or onto a spare outlet on the sink trap. A waste that sits too low lets dirty water siphon back out of the machine, which is a common cause of a smell or a drum that never quite drains.
In a flat above neighbours, a poor joint on a washing machine valve can leak for days behind the machine before anyone sees it. We check every connection with the water on and the machine running before we push it back.
Jobs we cover
- Plumbing in washing machines and washer dryers
- Dishwasher installation, freestanding and integrated
- Fitting new isolating valves on supply pipes
- New standpipes and sink trap waste connections
- Fixing kitchen doors to integrated appliances
- Cold water feeds for fridge freezers with ice makers
- Swapping cooker hoods on existing cabling
- Levelling appliances and testing for leaks
Dishwasher installation and integrated appliances
Dishwasher installation works much like a washing machine: a supply valve, a waste connection and a socket within reach of the plug. Integrated appliances take more time. The appliance slides into a cabinet space, and a kitchen door is fixed to the front of it with the maker's template so it lines up with the doors either side. Getting that door straight takes patience, and it is where a rushed install shows.
We level every appliance on its adjustable feet. An unlevel washing machine walks across the floor on a fast spin, and an unlevel dishwasher may not drain fully. Old floors in Fulham terraces often slope, so this step matters more here than in a new build.
- Freestanding and integrated washing machines
- Freestanding, slimline and integrated dishwashers
- Washer dryers and tumble dryer vent kits
- Kitchen door fitting on integrated appliances
- Levelling and securing appliances in their space
Fridge freezers with plumbed water and cooker hoods
Some fridge freezers have a water dispenser or ice maker that needs a cold water feed. We run a small pipe from the nearest cold supply, fit a valve so it can be turned off on its own, and connect the filter if the maker supplies one. Large fridge freezers are wide and heavy, so check the measurements of your doorways and hall before you order. Narrow hallways in terraced houses and mansion blocks catch many people out.
We also swap cooker hoods. Approved Document F, the government guidance on ventilation, says replacing an extractor fan or cooker hood using the existing cabling does not need to be notified to building control. If the new hood needs new wiring or a new duct through an outside wall, we will tell you what is involved before we start.
Gas and electric cookers
Gas cookers and gas hobs are gas appliances. Any gas work is done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. We will arrange this for you. Gas Safe Register advises people never to fit or move a cooker themselves, and it says anyone doing work on gas appliances as part of their business must be registered.
Electric cookers are covered by Part P of the Building Regulations. Approved Document P says installing a built in cooker is not notifiable unless a new cooker circuit is needed. If your new cooker or induction hob needs a new circuit from the fuse box, that is notifiable. This is done by a registered electrician who can self certify the work. We arrange it.
What we do not do: appliance repairs
We install appliances. We do not repair faults inside them. If your washing machine will not spin, shows an error code or has stopped heating, that is a job for the manufacturer or an appliance repair engineer, and it may be covered by the warranty. What we can help with is the plumbing around the machine: a leaking valve, a blocked or badly placed waste, or a kinked hose.
Taking away an old appliance is something to ask us about when you request a quote. Many retailers offer to collect the old one when they deliver the new one, so it is worth checking that first.
Get a free quote for appliance installation in Fulham
Tell us which appliance you have, where it is going and what is there now, with a photo of the space and the pipes under the sink if you can. We are a local handyman based in Fulham, and we also cover Fulham Broadway, Sands End and Earl's Court. We will come back to you with a free quote.
Who this suits
- Anyone whose new appliance was delivered but not connected
- Flat owners worried about leaks reaching the flat below
- Landlords replacing a machine between tenants
- Homeowners with integrated appliances after a kitchen refit
- People moving the washing machine to a new spot in the kitchen
Common questions
Can you plumb in a washing machine where there was not one before?
Usually, yes. We tee into the nearest cold pipe, fit a new valve and add a waste connection. You also need a socket within reach of the plug. If a new circuit is needed for that socket, a registered electrician does it, and we arrange it.
Do you repair washing machines and dishwashers?
No. We install appliances and fix the plumbing around them, such as valves, hoses and wastes. Faults inside the machine, like a broken pump or an error code, need the manufacturer or an appliance repair engineer.
Why does my washing machine smell or not drain properly?
One common cause is a waste connection set too low, which lets dirty water siphon back out of the machine. Another is a blocked sink trap or standpipe. We can check the waste set up and correct it.
Can you install an integrated dishwasher behind a kitchen door?
Yes. We fit the dishwasher into the cabinet space, connect the water and waste, and fix the kitchen door to the front using the maker's template so it lines up with the doors either side.
Can you connect my gas cooker?
Not ourselves. Gas cookers and hobs must be connected by a Gas Safe registered engineer. We will arrange this for you.
Does a new electric cooker need an electrician?
It depends on the circuit. Approved Document P says fitting a built in cooker is not notifiable unless a new cooker circuit is needed. If it needs a new circuit, a registered electrician who can self certify the work does it, and we arrange it.
Will you take my old washing machine away?
Ask us when you request a quote. Many retailers collect the old appliance when they deliver the new one, so check with them first.