Ask Me Help Desk - 3rd floor laundry room

Here's my problem: I moved into a new townhouse where the laundry room is on 3rd floor. My washer/dryer are stacked, one above the other. About 2 feet above ground behind the machines, is my electrical outlet for the washer. A foot above that is the electrical outlet for the dryer. Two feet above that (approx 5 feet off the ground), are the cold/hot water taps and the drain for the dirty water, all aligned. In order to accommodate the plumbing I've had to purchase an extender tube for the drain tube. I bought it directly from the manufacturer, so it's not generic.

I was having trouble with my washing machine as it appeared to be leaking from the drain just out of the machine. I called the manufacturer and got an appliance technical to come out. He advised that a) the taps, etc. are plumbed too high, and b) that the extender tube (drain tube) was not installed properly; and after having tested the washer advised that this was why it was leaking. When I look at the set up I can concede that it does appear too long (it snakes) and I will get someone out to install it properly. Although I understand that the longer the tube the more pressure is required to expel the water, if it wasn't doable, why would the manufacturer produce an extender? When I look at the appliance's manual it clearly shows this extender tube going straight up

That being said I enquired if it had been plumbed to code, and the response I got from the plumbing association is that where the taps are situated are at the plumber's discretion. I can all the same, ask the builder to try to reconfigure the plumbing, but as it is to code, I cannot demand that they do so.

So, my question is how difficult would it be for me to have the plumbing reconfigured after the warranty period? I could chose to purchase a pedestal(which would serve no purpose, other than to decrease the length of the drain hose, as the door would be blocked by the lip of the laundry room). But I am open to suggestions, if you have any.

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Two feet above that (approx 5 feet off the ground)

I assume you mean 5 feet off the floor. That is only slightly higher (perhaps 1 foot) than the usual height of a washer stand pipe. Any washer will pump the water that high. The height of the top of the washer stand pipe is only limited by the ability of the washer to pump the water up to it. Your washer probably won't pump the water 12 feet but 5 is certainly not a problem.

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trouble with my washing machine as it appeared to be leaking from the drain just out of the machine

Then the leak should be repaired. The height of the stand pipe is not a factor.

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that the extender tube (drain tube) was not installed properly;

Unless the original hose was removed, the extension was attached washer but not properly attached, and the original hose was attached to the extension that is not logical. If the extension was not properly installed why didn't he correct it. If the extension was connected and not leaking it was installed properly

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it does appear too long (it snakes)

If it is to long, I suggest that you cut some of it off. This ain't rocket science. There are two types of washer hose. The older type which was just a black rubber hose with one end formed into a bend so that it would hang in the stand pipe (the house drain pipe), and a ribbed plastic type that can be bent into the shape needed without kinking.

Both types are attached with hose clamps. Either spring type clamps or the type that tighten with a screw. The extension should have come with a short piece of pipe that you use to connect with clamps.

Your washer leaks because the hose is not properly attached to the washer, that is it not on the discharge port of the washer pump or the clamp is not tight;
Or the hose is defective, split, busted or damaged at or close to that connection point;
Or the pump discharge port is cracked or otherwise defective.

Being a stacked unit it won't be convenient but get a plumber (or handyman)
To pull the unit out from the wall, run it and see where the leak is occurring. I am assuming that the leak is inside the washer. It could be where the hose is attached or somewhere else. It could be the pump itself. You did not specify whether or not this a new washer.

As said earlier, this isn't rocket science. Find the leak first and then figure why it is leaking and what must be done to stop it.

The height of the stand pipe and the length of the hose are not factors. You should be able to plug the hose completely and not have a leak.

Thank you very much for putting the pieces together for me. The machine is brand new. The problem I have is that the appliance technician (that the manufacturer sent out as it's in its first year of warranty) "tested" the machine and said it wasn't leaking (even though both myself and my daughter had the same experience). He blamed it squarely (as I described) on a) the plumbing and b) the improper way it the extender was installed. I just finished chatting with the manufacturer, who advised they "don't recommend" the extender for front loaders, and when I complained that the instruction book clearly shows the ability to use one, they said that the instructions specifically say up until 58 inches (for the machine I have). Well, it is 57 inches... But what it means is that I won't be able to have it fixed gratis because that's the only technician the manufacturer employs in my area. All I know is he ran a fast cycle and it did not leak... bone dry as he put it. I thank you all the same for taking the time out to answer my question.

Do you rent or own the townhouse?

I own. It's a brand new machine, not part of the package by the builder.

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The machine is brand new.

Return it as defective. If the replacement leaks get another brand.

Sometimes we can have a problem and in the process of looking for the problem we change something. Something we don't know we changed. The problem appears to go away, only to return later. These are the most difficult problems to solve.

Chances are that the positioning of the hose affects the leak. Moving the washer out to look for the leak would change the positioning of the hose.

An extension on a washer hose might cause a problem, but that problem wouldn't be a leak. The washer or the hose is defective.

Show us a picture of the hose and extension and how it is connected.