Washing Machine Drain Pan Installation

Installing a washing machine drain pan is a great way to prevent your washer from leaking water onto your laundry room floor. Also, lest you shy away from this job because of its perceived difficulty, you'll be pleased to learn that installing a washing machine drain pan can be a piece of cake, especially if you tackle the job with a thorough set of instructions and the right tools. So if you're looking to bid a long-overdue farewell to leaks in your laundry room, simply read on to learn everything you'll need to know.

Step 1 - Prep Your Washing Machine

Before you can begin installing your new drain pan, you must first unplug your washing machine and disconnect all of the hoses attached to it. When working with electronics, especially those that use water, safety should always be your number one priority. Once all the necessary disconnections have been made, carefully move your washing machine a small distance from its original spot in order to uncover your laundry room's floor drain.

For this task, you may want to incorporate the aid of a second person to help you lift your washing machine onto a dolly so that it can be easily moved. After you've successfully moved your washer and uncovered your floor drain, you'll be free to move on to the next step.

Step 2 - Install Your Washing Machine Drain Pan

Now that you've uncovered your laundry room's floor drain, place your new washing machine drain pan directly over it. You may need to cut down the pipe if it protrudes from the ground and install the drain if you don't have one. Make sure that your new drain pan is securely in place before proceeding any further.

Next, carefully move your washing machine back into its original spot, taking care to place it over your newly installed drain pan. Again, heavy lifting of this sort should always be done with the help, or at the very least, the supervision of another person. The pan's placement will ensure that leaks emanating from your washing machine flow into the drain pan and subsequently get washed away through your laundry room's floor drain.

Step 3 - Apply Your Finishing Touches

Having successfully installed your new drain pan, you're almost finished. Before reconnecting your washing machine's hoses and plugging it back in, place your level on top of your washing machine. If the level tilts, you may need to adjust the position of your drain pan. If the level remains in place, however, you're all finished. Before making all the necessary reconnections, make sure that your laundry room floor is completely dry. Enjoy your handy new drain pan.

There you have it. With these three easy-to-follow steps and a few easily obtainable tools, installing a washing machine drain pan in your laundry room can be as easy as 1-2-3.