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Moving a laundry room, adding a second washer hookup, or renovating a bathroom into a laundry space are common projects in Atlanta homes — particularly in intown neighborhoods where older homes are being updated and finished attic spaces or second floors are being converted. The plumbing side of washer and dryer installation is often underestimated until the project is underway.
Here’s what the work actually involves, what can go wrong with existing hookups, and when to call a plumber versus handle it yourself.
What a Washer Hookup Requires
A washing machine needs three things from the plumbing side:
- Hot and cold supply connections: Standard 3/4-inch threaded hose bib connections, shut off independently with valves. These should be single-lever shutoff valves (sometimes called “washing machine valves”) that can be closed quickly in an emergency. The supply lines to the machine should be braided stainless steel — not rubber — for safety and longevity.
- A standpipe drain: The washing machine drain hose connects to a standpipe — a vertical pipe that connects to the drain system. The standpipe needs to be the right height (typically 30 to 48 inches) and have an air gap built in (the drain hose hooks over the standpipe edge rather than being inserted and sealed) to prevent siphoning and sewer gas backup.
- Proper venting: The standpipe connects to a drain that needs to be vented for proper drainage. This is the part that often requires a plumber when installing a washer hookup in a new location — running a vent to the exterior or adding an air admittance valve requires knowledge of the drain/vent system layout.
Common Problems With Existing Washer Hookups
Old Rubber Supply Hoses
Washing machine supply hose failures are one of the most common causes of significant water damage in Atlanta homes. A rubber hose that develops a pinhole or connection failure while the machine is running can deliver 15 gallons per minute directly onto your floor. If your current hoses are rubber or are more than five years old, replacement with braided stainless steel hoses ($20 to $30 for a pair) is simple, fast, and extremely worthwhile. This is the single most impactful preventive maintenance step for laundry rooms.
Standpipe Drain Overflow
If water backs up out of the standpipe during the drain cycle, the problem is usually one of two things: the standpipe drain line is clogged with lint and soap buildup, or the drain hose is inserted too deeply into the standpipe, creating a siphon effect. Make sure the drain hose hooks over the standpipe edge with a few inches of clearance — it should not be taped or tied in, which creates a sealed siphon.
Missing or Inadequate Shutoff Valves
In older Atlanta homes, the washing machine hot and cold supply lines sometimes connect directly to the main supply without dedicated shutoff valves near the machine. This is both an inconvenience and a safety issue — if a hose fails, you’re running to shut off the main water supply for the whole house. Adding single-lever shutoff valves is a minor plumbing job worth doing.
Moving a Laundry Room to a New Location
This is where the real plumbing complexity comes in. Moving laundry from a basement to the first floor, from a hallway closet to a master bathroom, or adding a laundry connection to a new addition requires:
- Running new hot and cold supply lines to the new location
- Installing a properly sized drain with the correct standpipe height
- Venting the new drain line — either to an exterior vent or using an air admittance valve where code permits
- Possibly obtaining a permit depending on the scope of work and local jurisdiction
In Atlanta, moving a laundry connection typically requires a permit when it involves new drain and vent work. This is plumber work — not because the individual tasks are impossible to learn, but because the drain and vent system design has to be right or you’ll have drainage and odor problems for as long as you own the home.
Gas Dryer Connections
If you’re converting from electric to gas dryer — or installing a gas dryer for the first time — this requires a licensed plumber or gas fitter to run the gas supply line, install the shutoff valve, and connect the flexible gas connector. In Atlanta, this requires a permit and inspection. The work is straightforward for a licensed contractor; it’s not something to DIY given the safety implications of gas work.
Fix and Flow Can Handle the Plumbing Side
Whether you’re adding shutoff valves to an existing hookup, moving a laundry connection to a new room, or handling the plumbing for a full laundry room renovation, Fix and Flow does appliance hookup work throughout Atlanta. Visit our appliance water and drain services page or call (404) 800-FLOW.