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Connect garden tap to washing machine

Hi, so I live in a small apartment with zero space for a washing machine, but tbh going to the laundromat is not working out, I hate it there.. So I want to get a washing machine and put it in my garage.

There is a tap located just outside the garage door I could use, but I just want to know if this is going to work out before I spend 2k on a washer/dryer.

The tap is a standard garden tap so I presume a hose will attach to it, idk, I have never gardened here as there is a lack of a garden to bother with. I put pics of said tap.

If this will work, I am wondering what other things I will be needing, like adaptors and such, I tried to look for youtube tutorials but I don't feel confident that I understood what they meant.

And is it okay to just have a cold water connection and leave the hot unconnected or will it not work? And when I'm not using the machine can I just disconnect the hose from the tap, as the tap is for other people too so I can't have it connected all the time.

Thanks for the help.

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Comments

TedBear

Yes you can connect to that tap (although it could do with a wire brushing, or replacing. They aren't expensive to buy). I recommend that you fit a two-way outlet first (eg https://www.bunnings.com.au/holman-2-way-y-tap-outlet_p3120268) so you don't have to keep disconnecting it to use other hoses. Modern machines heat the water to the right temperature, so it is best not to connect them to your hot water supply anyway. (The machine supplier will explain why.) Be sure to get a burst sensing hose fitting if you are likely to leave the machine unattended. If you are buying new machine, it should come with one anyway. The other thing to consider is where the machine's water outlet will go. Assuming there is no sink in the garage, you will need to provide a standpipe attached to a wall, to drop the outlet hose into and run it away to a drain. I hope that helps to add to the plan.

redracer01

Hello @laura2989

Welcome to Bunnings Workshop and thank you for sharing your query with the community. Yes you can attach your washer to the tap. I've attached a sketch on how to go about it. Just a few reminders before doing this.

All fittings must be secure and firm before turning on water.

Some machines make their own hot water like LG. So choose your machine wisely.

I suggest getting a stand alone washer and dryer. Why? When one breaks down it won't take the whole unit with it. Place the dryer on top of the washer if you are tight on space. Use thick vibration pads from Bunnings to protect the washer.

Make sure your exit hose is at the correct height or at the same height as the washing machine. This prevents auto siphoning and overheating the motor.

The water from your washer can go directly to the grass so as not to waste it.

Questions? Show the picture to the Bunnings plumbing specialist to confirm your purchase or post them here and we will try to answer as best we can. Please post your progress so that others who are in a similar situation can see what you've done.

Cheers

Red

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/13305#Comment_13305

Welcome to the bunnings Workshop community @laura2989. It's fantastic to have you join us, and many thanks for your question.

It's great to see you've already received helpful and detailed responses from our knowledgeable members @TedBear and @redracer01.

If you combine @TedBear's suggestion of adding the two-way adaptor and @redracers01's of the snap-on connectors, you'll have yourself a very easy to use setup. It will also make sure there are no complaints about the garden tap being occupied if you provide the additional outlet.

We look forward to hearing about you successfully connecting your washing machine and doing away with the laundromat. Please let us know if you need further assistance or have questions.

Mitchell

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/13304#Comment_13304

@TedBear Thanks for the help. The two-way outlet is a great idea, but I need to disconnect the hose, I'm sure the other tenants wouldn't mind, but I would like to just pop the hose back in the garage and close the door, not sure the landlord would like hoses running everywhere - I'm not even sure I'm allowed to do this, so I need it to look like it's just being stored when I'm not washing anything.

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/13305#Comment_13305

@redracer01 Wow, thanks so much for the detailed picture, really appreciate it.

Yes I was looking at washer/dryer combos but have decided to go separate as I have plenty of space in the garage and the dryer performance in those seems to not be great, takes a long time to dry anything - I mostly use a clothesline anyway. I did notice some of them only have a cold water inlet so that will probably be the go here.

As for the exit hose, there's no garden anywhere near the garage, all concrete, and there's only a very small drain that's kind of raised off the ground like a dome about 10 meters away, and also no sink. So my plan was to have a 120lt wheelie bin next to the washer to drain it into, most of the machines I've looked at use between 65-75lts of water, and then wheel it to the grass at the front of the property and tip it out. Is that stupid? I know it will be heavy, but I'm a garbo so I'm used to moving heavy bins and I can pinch one from work for free, it should be tall enough so that the hose is at the height of the machine too.

I'm going to go to Bunnings this week and get all the other things in your picture and try to set it up so I can see if I'm smart enough, and then order a washer and dryer.

End goal is that after I do my washing I just disconnect the hose from the outside tap, throw that end in the garage, empty my bin of water and be on my way! No more sitting at a laundromat wasting my day off anymore, then I can waste it at my house instead, like a normal person.

Once I have it all set up (hopefully) I will post the end result.

Again, thanks for taking the time to draw me a picture, so helpful!

Laura.

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69162#Comment_69162

Looks like you have a good plan to suit the circumstances.

Perhaps the garage has a roof beam nearby to tie up the machine's water outlet at the correct height so that it doesn't siphon the water out (will do that if it's upper curve hangs lower than the machine's normal water level) and you can put your big container below that to catch it.

(And if the others find out, you can always rent out machine useage to them ... 😀 or not.)

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/97562#Comment_97562

Ahh good idea for the hose, hopefully the bin will be tall enough, but yes there is something I could tie it to 👌

Thanks!

Peejay2

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69161#Comment_69161

All the other advice you have received is sound. If you are able to put your wastewater on a garden or lawn in the vicinity, make sure that you use a phosphate free washing powder that won’t kill the lawn.

plumb

Hi I would suggest using a licensed plumber if you want it done correctly. Do not use garden hose as it could blow apart when unattended as garden hose is used for the garden this is why it is called garden hose . As for capping off the hot supply that is not in use this is not true you do not need to cap it off.

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/97564#Comment_97564

@Peejay2 Thanks, that's a good tip

StevieB

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/115456#Comment_115456

Fantastic to see you jumping into this discussion @Peejay2.

It sounds like you've got plenty of great advice to share, and it's wonderful to have you join us. We're excited about hearing all your helpful suggestions, as well as your own projects and plans around the house and garden.

Stevie

StevieB

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/115456#Comment_115456

Thanks for contributing to this discussion @plumb. Let me tag @laura2989 so they are alerted to your comment.

It's great to see you sharing your helpful suggestions so quickly after joining us.

I trust that you're getting plenty of inspiration from our wonderful community, and please let us know if we can help with any projects at your place.

Stevie

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/13318#Comment_13318

Hi, thanks for the advice, I feel that I can tackle attaching a hose to a tap myself, should be pretty standard - the worst thing that can happen is water going everywhere, and its all on a concrete floor with concrete outside as well, so it wont really be a big deal if that happens.

What makes a garden hose blow apart? I'm only asking it to transport water from a tap to somewhere else, that's the only purpose a hose has, if it can't do that then it really has no business being a hose right?

I'm not worried about the capping thing, I'm going to get a machine with cold water only inlet.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/69168#Comment_69168

Hi @laura2989,

A garden hose is capable of withstanding mains water pressure which is quite high. However, their fittings can have a tendency to burst apart, and they are not considered hard plumbing. In my experience, when dealing with quality garden hose fittings that are new and properly secured together, I've never had an issue with them coming apart.

The main concern with soft connections like these is that if you were to run this setup and a connection came apart inside your home, you could risk flooding portions of it if you were not there to intervene. This might have insurance consequences, and @plumb is likely just looking out for your best interests.

Mitchell

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/97568#Comment_97568

Okay so here's an update on the situation.

I have purchased a washer and dryer, just waiting on delivery in 10 or so days.

I have purchased the tap fitting, hose with connectors, and sprinkler adaptor as suggested by @redracer01

Now, when I was sweeping out my garage of a years worth of leaves and spiders, I realised that one of the previous tenants must have done this before, as I found 2 small holes along the garage wall (I promise I didn't make them!), one is below the tap on the other side of the wall, and the other comes out above a small drain, so with the 1.5 meter inlet hose I probably wont even need the garden hose anymore, just the tap fitting and adaptor.

Now that I can have the drain hose come out of the wall to above a little drain I will need to purchase the drain hose extension, this one you suggested looks good

https://www.bunnings.com.au/kinetic-4-1m-grey-pvc-washing-machine-and-dishwasher-outlet-drain-expandable-hose_p4920263

So I need to get hose clamps and a 19mm barbed joiner? But how do you know that it's 19mm because it doesn't say how wide the end is, and how do I know my washing machine one will be 19mm.. I just ask because I don't want to buy the wrong things and I saw some other drain hoses on bunnings that said they were 21.5mm or 29mm.

Also, the dryer has an outlet drain hose also because it's a heat pump one, is there some fitting I can attach to the extension hose so I can connect both the washer and dryer outlet hoses to that one and then run it outside. It's not a big deal as the dryer has a small catchment that is easy to empty, but if its possible then I will do it.

Thanks!

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/115473#Comment_115473

Hi @laura2989,

The extension hose and your washing machine's hose will either be 19mm or 25mm, so you might like to pick up a Pope 25mm Barbed Joiner as well to be on the safe side. I've never come across a hose that wasn't 19mm or 25mm off a washing machine. The extension hose has a rubberised end on it that might slip over your washing machine's hose, and a clamp will hold it in position. However, if your washing machine's hose also has a rubber end on it, this is where you'll need the barb joiner. The hose ends are fairly stretchy, so although they might be labelled a specific size, they'll accommodate others as well.

Mitchell

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/125614#Comment_125614

Ohhhh it's stretchy, makes sense, looking at the picture it seems to have two different sized ends so at least one will work. Thankyou!

redracer01

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132425#Comment_132425

Hello @laura2989

I was wondering if you've had any success and have finally hooked up your temporary washing machine? I'm looking forward to your first load of washing and telling us it was a success!

Cheers,

Red

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136581#Comment_136581

@redracer01 not yet, the washer I wanted wasn't in stock, but it's getting delivered this Thursday! So excited. I will post about how it turns out 😃

laura2989

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136581#Comment_136581

Okay I did it! And I have done a load of washing/drying and it turned out okay, but I had to make some changes today.

Initially I had the appliances too far away from the hole in the wall for the drain hose. It seemed to struggle a bit, and then the hole was too small for the drain hose so when I pulled it through it got damaged and was a bit leaky, it was also too flimsy to hold itself over the drain properly when it drained. But those were yesterdays problems.

This arvo, I moved them right next to the drain hole, but I have no drill, and lockdown means no Bunnings for me,

so I just spent around 4 hours making the hole bigger, this involved wetting the bricks a lot, and then using a flathead screwdriver and a mallet thing to smash into it, it was very slow going but I got there in the end and managed to squeeze the hose through with no damage, so it shouldn't leak anymore. I got that white cover thing to hold it in place over the drain so hopefully all the water goes in there now, I will cable tie them together once I get some ties.

The tap, hose fittings and sprinkler adapter all worked as you suggested and that was no trouble to connect to the machine, as you can see, I have the hose just poking out of the wall so I can pull it up and connect it when needed, easy.

And in other news, the landlord was here yesterday to deal with some faulty electricity stuff and I asked if it would be okay for me to do this and he okay'd it as long as all the water goes down the drain, so I wont even get in trouble, yay.

I'm happy to not have to go to the laundromat ever again, and I would like to say thankyou to everyone who gave me advice, particularly @redracer01

🙂

TedBear

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139454#Comment_139454

Thanks for showing us the outcome. It's good to see how problems are actually solved. It often takes a bit of tweaking to get it all flowing, as you've done, literally in this case.

redracer01

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139454#Comment_139454

Hello @laura2989

I'm so glad you got it to work. Now you will have peace of mind that you no longer have to go to the public laundry. Just a reminder to always check your fittings for tightness and firmness whenever you use it. If there is anything else we can help you with or you have other questions please post it here on workshop.

Cheers!

Red

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139454#Comment_139454

Awesome work @laura2989! I'm really pleased that this has all worked out for you.

Many thanks for updating us on successfully completing the project. Please remember we are always here to help with any of your projects around the house and garden, so reach out anytime you need assistance.

Mitchell

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