To disconnect your washing machine, begin by pulling the washing machine away from the wall so you can reach the water supply hoses. Then, close the valves on the hot and cold water lines, to stop the flow of water to the machine. Run your machine on a warm wash for 1 minute, followed by a 1-minute spin cycle. This will purge trapped water from the hoses. Once you’ve completed this step, unplug your machine. Use a wrench to detach the hot and cold water lines. Finally, detach the washing machine drain hose. Your machine is now fully disconnected and ready for removal.
7 Steps to Easily Disconnect Your Washing Machine
Disconnecting a washing machine properly results in a safe, no-mess removal process. In order to prevent excess water from spilling onto the floor, it’s essential to drain a washing machine for moving. Disconnect the machine by following these steps:
Pull the Washing Machine Away From the Wall
Begin by pulling the washing machine out from the wall. This allows essential access to the hoses and valves behind the machine. Take care not to stretch the water hoses or the power cord when moving your washer. There should still be a little slack in every line running from the machine to the wall.
Turn Off the Hot and Cold Water
Locate the hot and cold water valves on the wall behind your washing machine. These valves are connected to two hoses that run to the back of your washer. To stop the flow of water to your washing machine, turn the valve handles to the right (clockwise) until they are hand-tight. Make sure to close both the hot and cold water valves.
Briefly Run a Warm Wash
Turn on the washing machine. Then, begin a warm wash cycle. Allow the wash cycle to run for 1 minute. This will drain any trapped water in the hoses into your washing machine drum. This eliminates leaking water in later steps.
Run a Quick Spin Cycle
After 1 minute on a warm wash, switch your washing machine to a spin cycle. Allow the spin cycle to run for at least 1 minute. During this time, the spin cycle will drain any water out of the washing machine drum and out through the drain hose. It’s essential that you do not disconnect the drain hose before this step, or else you will drain water onto the floor.
Unplug the Machine
Power off the machine after it has run on a spin cycle for 1 minute. Then, unplug your washer from the wall. By unplugging the power supply before you disconnect any hoses, you eliminate the risk of splashing water on live electrical connections.
Disconnect the Water Supply Lines
Detach the water supply hoses from the valves in your wall. Grip the metal fitting at the end of the hose with these channel locks and turn to the left to loosen it. Then, continue unscrewing the fitting until the hose is free from the valve. Repeat for the second hose. It is essential to unhook the hoses from the wall valves. Do not detach the hoses from the back of the washing machine itself.
Detach the Drain Hose
Locate the drain hose coming from the rear of the washing machine. On most models, it is a corrugated, flexible hose larger in diameter than the water supply hoses. Find where the drain hose connects to the washing machine drain pipe. Then, remove the drain hose from the end of the pipe. At this point, your washer is fully disconnected and drained. Now, you can use an appliance dolly to move the washing machine wherever you wish.
Can You Disconnect a Washing Machine Yourself?
You can easily disconnect a washing machine yourself by following these steps:
- Move the washing machine away from the wall so you can access components on the wall behind the machine.
- Turn off the 2 water valves on the wall behind the machine. There will be 2 hoses running to these valves from the back of your washer.
- Run the washer on “warm wash” for 1 minute to purge excess water from the hoses into the machine.
- Change the washer to “spin cycle” for 1 minute to drain water out of the machine.
- Turn off the washing machine and unplug it from the wall.
- Use a wrench to disconnect the water supply hoses from the water valves on the wall behind the machine.
- Disconnect the drain hose from the drain line in your laundry room.
These steps are very quick to perform, and do not require any prior knowledge of plumbing. If you need to disconnect a washing machine, you can tackle it yourself.