Laundry Room Question

[dalangdon]

Happy New Year Everybody!

My mom is having trouble getting up and down the basement stairs to do laundry. There is plenty of room on the main floor of the house for a laundry room, but being of the depression era, she hates to spend money on stuff. I think I have a cheap work-around, but I need your expert advice.

As it turns out, the clothes chute (which is metal lined) comes out right by the basement washer/dryer hookups. The chute runs through the wall between the main floor bathroom and a nice big bedroom closet. My thought is to run the supply lines and waste line up through the clothes chute, bust through to the closet, and have the washer in the closet.

The dryer can be in the closet as well, and be vented horizontally through the exterior wall.

My questions are this:

1.) Are supply lines this long (probably about 12') available? Would they lose too much heat on the hot water side?

2.) Is there anything to put under the washer to protect the floor in case of leaks? The machine does not leak now, but the floors in the bedroom and closet are good quality hardwood. (I'm not concerned about leaks in the clothes chute, as the floor below it is cement, and sloped towards the floor drain)

Any advice - including advice that I should go jump in a lake because this is either a stupid or dangerous idea - is welcome.

 

[58limited]

Never seen 12' supply lines,you might want to run actual plumbing up the chute and bolt a washroom faucet/drain panel to the wall. I'm not sure about this, but you might try an appliance repair shop for a plastic pan to set the washer on. They make these for hot water heaters - it has a drain to carry the water away in the event of a leak. you could tie this in with the washer drain pipe.

 

[58limited]

Alternatively

You can have your supply lines custom made at any hydralic hose shop. Shouldn't cost too much.

 

[frigilux]

I think it's a wonderful and somewhat daring idea! You can buy 'appliance pans' at places like Home Depot. They're flexible plastic and have a deep lip around the perimeter to catch spills/leaks. You set the pan on the floor, then put the washer over it.

I'll let someone with more experience answer the other parts of your question. Hope it works out---I think it sounds great.

 

[volvoguy87]

Dumbwaiter?

Can you have a dumbwaiter installed in the laundry chute? If it's large enough and can hold a laundry basket, it might be an easier solution.

Dave

 

[wiskybill]

Dan
I'm rooting for ya on this one. I'm fighting the same war with my parents. She's 85 and he's 87, still living in their own home and with good health. The laundry is in the basement and their bedroom is on the second floor. They keep talking about moving to the downstairs bedroom, but so far no action there. The main bath used to be my grandmother's room and has room for the washer/dryer, but she won't have it, so I know what you're up against.

Some good ideas above. I wish you luck!

Bill

 

[petek]

What about one of those chair lift things on the stairs. They aren't the luxury they used to be. Moms house is the same though she can still manage the stairs to the basement it's too bad she didn't have euro type washer/dryer installed in the kitchen when she had it remodelled about 10 years ago.

 

[danemodsandy]

I'd recommend extending the plumbing run instead of going with long hoses. At the VERY least, I'd look for braided stainless hoses instead of rubber. If you have long hoses made up, you're counting very heavily on the shop that makes them for reliability. I don't know if you've ever seen what happens when a washer hose bursts, but it ain't pretty and it ain't cheap to clean up and repair after. I've seen a house where flooring and subfloor had to come out, down to the bare joists, because of water damage.

My vote is Don't. Risk. It.

 

[exploder3211]

The appliance pans work wonderfully... Idea: What about nice extra heavy duty industrial strength garden hoses????
See link below, ones used for pressure washers?
There's one kind of house

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www.lowes.com

 

[exploder3211]

Same hose, 50 ft length

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www.lowes.com

 

[exploder3211]

Pressure Washer Hose-ALthough unsure if it could be adapted

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www.lowes.com

 

[sudsman]

hoses

Most of the hoses as the above cannot withstand hot water tempeatures and pressure too. Don't risk it take from someone that knows first hand I asssure you your awaiting a disaster. Its far better to have it done right.

 

[exploder3211]

I did not know that.. I used a hose similar to that for quite a while in my rental house so i didnot have to go into the crawl space to do laundry...

Ok, scratch my idea!

 

[gadgetgary]

What about one of those chair lift things on the stairs.

That is exactly what I got for an elderly neighbor. Here WD is in the basement, so, she goes down to do her laundry on a chair glide. The average cost is about $85 to rent with a $500 deposit.

I believe they are well over $3,000 to purchase.

Rental options give you some of your money towards purchase, it that is what you decide to do down the road.

On the link, click on 'Stairway Lifts'

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www.peltons.com

 

[maytagbear]

Depends on

where you buy it. At our last apartment together, we had a "Silver Glide" stairway lift for Ma, and it was only 1,500 installed!

I would go with a stairway lift rather than playing with hoses.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch]

I've sen the chair-lift and it's a good thing!

*HANDS ON HIPS*

I'm thinking playing with hoses has its advantages.

 

[maytagbear]

Depends on the

hose, Toggle.

After a certain length, hoses get problematical.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[toggleswitch]

Good point.

 

[volvoguy87]

Another few points.

I am trying to persuade my grandparents to put a residential elevator onto their house in an exterior shaft. There is a nice tax credit available if you get one because of limited mobility because of a medical condition. My grandmother has arthritis and it is affecting her mobility.
One point to ponder, if you do use the long hoses, think about how long the hot water run would be. By the time the tub filled, would there even be hot water that had made it up the hose to the machine? Also, if a hose were to burst, could someone quickly, and safely, get to the basement and shot off the valve?

Tough situation, but best of luck,
Dave