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View Full Version : Is there a building code that mandates the height of a washing machine hot/cold feed?


shuels
Dec 27, 2009, 05:47 PM
I am looking to add a countertop over my washer and dryer - however the current hot/cold water feed and drain for the washing machine would be directly in the way of the counter (~41 inches).

Is there a code that mandates the height of those lines or can I drop them down 12 inches or so to get the clearance I need?

Milo Dolezal
Dec 27, 2009, 09:28 PM
Code doesn't mandate height of h/c water supplies. However, Code mandates the drain height.

The height of the stand pipe should be between 30 to 36" from the trap. Bottom of the trap should be 6" above the mud plate. So the 41" you have is just about right.

If you lower the stand pipe chances are you will get water overflow during drainage.

shuels
Dec 28, 2009, 06:59 AM
Thank you for the prompt response. How do people achieve this type of look with those height requirements - http://fhillc.com/otherprojects.html. I cannot see the drain hookup and the washer is a standard height - so it must be hidden behind the washer below the counter - which is probably about 39 inches off the ground to to the bottom of the counter top.

Can you drop the trap below the plate into a crawl space?

speedball1
Dec 28, 2009, 07:35 AM
We set our washer boxes a few inches over the washers flood rim.
We like to give the stand pipe as much height as we can so we keep the trapas low as we can. Yes, you can drop the trap into the crawl space in you need more height on the stand pipe. Good luck, tom

Milo Dolezal
Dec 28, 2009, 09:10 AM
Suels, that counter top in the photo provided is about 42" high - if not higher. ( washer machine itself is about 39" high ). That's enough to install drain within the required measurements and still achieve the same effect as in the posted link.

massplumber2008
Dec 28, 2009, 04:18 PM
Hi all...

Susan, there is more than one code book out there. In my area we hook up washing machines much like Speedball with the washer standpipe or washer box set a few inches or more above the top of the washing machine. My code also allows for a standpipe that is just between 18 to 36" from the PTRAP and all our washing machines seem to work just fine... ;)

Like Tom said, if you want to drop the ptrap below the floor you can do that, but if you can pull it off with the shorter standpipe I'd try it first! To be real clear, however, when I can, I install a 30" standpipe.

MARK