Back Porch washer

[fltcoils]

What is the best setup for a back porch washer?
Northern Indiana, Goatfarmer territory.

"My brother just put a light under it to keep it warm. It sat out on the back porch and worked fine all winter." Unheated. So says my 85 yr old mom, who wants a "no stairs" setup. "Just put a washer on the back porch" Is her solution. I'm starting to agree with her. But what works best?

I have a friend, 50 like me, whose has used a whirlpool on the back porch for 10 yrs as her machine, lightbulb underneath. Worst problem was those -10 days in Jan/Feb when the discharge hose froze and had to be defrosted in the bathtub. So I know it works with those whirlpool DD machines.

I'm imagining getting 2 12V sprinkler system valves to install inside, then run the washer hoses to those. When water is off, it drains out, when washer valves are triggered, so are the sprinker valves, via their xformer etc....

I also have this crazy idea about a barrel and a 3/4" hose to drain it. Let the washer discharge into the barrel, and let the barrel drain slowly into the yard, or downstairs drain, via the 3/4" hose.

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What have any of you done? It gets cold in Minnesota, or on back porches in Fort Wayne, eh?

 

[fltcoils]

Oh, and Kenny

I'm looking for a '88 or so DD whirlpool with some life left in it. My mom's DD from then is still going strong - so that's a natural for the porch installation, something she knows, and we know lasts/runs for years without a failure. Keep your eyes open. Thanks.

 

[dynaflow]

wish u were closer

i have a 2000 something id give u if u lived closer
any pix of the I-18
id kill for a poppy have a harvest gold and a white with the window in the lid

 

[fltcoils]

The poppy windowlid is pretty.

I got it from Captain Moody, thanks again!

 

[fltcoils]

Ice-Loc, protects pipes from freezing damage

I'd forgotten all about this, it is a much easier solution.

"When water freezes, it expands to a larger volume than it occupied in the liquid state. This expansion change can form ice plugs which exert several thousand pounds of pressure per square inch. This pressure could rupture a pipe wall if there is no place for the new volume to occupy.

When ICE-LOC® core is placed in a pipe, ICE-LOC® will occupy a known volume and compress, allowing the expansion of the ice to occupy the space needed. This will prevent rupture of the pipe, even if all the water freezes. The spongy core will return to it's initial working diameter. When the ice thaws, thereby having protected the pipe from rupturing. The water can now continue to flow with no damage to the pipe. ICE-LOC® is now ready to protect the pipe again. "

Comments?

http://www.iceloc.com

 

[iheartmaytag]

We had a washer on a screened in back porch for several years in a rental we lived in. We had a small bathroom heater we put next to the washer during the cold months. The worst thing that ever happpened was the trap in the drain froze and sprayed water everywhere when the washer drained.

I too wanted to divert the rinse water to barrels and use them to water the garden. "Mother Earth News" had the plans for this set up many year ago, I think it was 1988 or so.

BTW--We had a GE Filter Flo as our back porch dweller.

 

[gyrafoam]

An old "thrift-store" electric blanket should do the job. Just wrap it around the cabinet,tie it on. Wrap the hoses and tie it on there, too.

 

[whirlaway]

Warm in the Winter

Whats wrong with heat-tape.My mother has used this in her laundryroom before and it worked just fine.I also know of people that use it under their houses to prevent pipes from freezing,Bobby