Washing machine on the balcony

The decision to install washing equipment on the balcony is quite non-standard. Such a bold accommodation option is chosen by people who are not afraid to face difficulties. And the problems, when translating the idea into reality, will be for sure: how to bring communications to the loggia, how to insulate the balcony, how to drag a washer on it? This is only part of the issues to be resolved. If such prospects are not scary, then the option of installing a washing machine on the balcony is for you. Let’s figure out where to start the implementation of the plan.

Is it possible to mount on the balcony?

At the initial stage of planning the front of work, decide whether it is realistic to put the machine on the loggia in your case. The main condition is that the balcony should be insulated, this will provide the possibility of operating washing equipment in the winter.

If the loggia is not heated, at minus temperatures the water in the hoses can freeze, and this, in turn, will lead to a complete failure of the equipment.

The average weight of the automatic machine is 60 kg. Such a load will not be critical for the slab, you can not worry about this. You should consider how to minimize the vibrations emanating from a working washer. For these purposes, it is necessary to put the device in level and put a special anti-vibration sheet under the legs.

To bring the machine to the loggia is not difficult. The width of the balcony door is approximately 650 mm or more. So, a machine whose body width does not exceed 60 cm calmly "crawls" into the sash.

The biggest problems are connected with the need to supply communications to the loggia of the washing machine. An excessively long drain hose will put a strain on the pump, as a result of which the pump will more often fail. However, you can replace it yourself, the repair will not take much time, money and effort. Therefore, here weigh the pros and cons of this method of installing the washer.

Organization of communications and installation

In general terms, we will discuss how the connection to communications takes place. For a washing machine on the balcony, it is necessary to provide a socket, a cold water supply and a waste liquid outlet. Here are some tips for properly organizing the process.

All communications are recommended to run through the wall of the kitchen / loggia.

1. From the kitchen sink to the balcony, gates are planned for laying cold water pipes and sewers.
2. Sleeves for pipes are laid in the holes drilled in the wall, where the conclusions of the water supply and sewerage are subsequently placed.
3. The washing machine is installed strictly according to the level.
4. The drain hose is connected via an adapter to the sewer pipe.
5. The water supply tap is fixed on the water pipe, the inlet hose is connected to it.
6. A special tee is installed under the sink, where additional communication taps are included.

As for the organization of the power point, the outlet can be removed from the nearest electrical source. It is important that the battery can withstand the additional load produced by the automatic machine. Ideally - it is better to bring the wire to the balcony outlet from the shield and plug it into the network RCD machine.

If the length of the inlet and outlet hoses allows, you can withdraw them directly through the walls, abandoning the pipes, but always through the sleeves.

We store equipment on the balcony

If it is not about using the washing machine on the loggia, but just about storing it there, then everything is much simpler. Before you drag equipment to the balcony, you should carefully prepare the device for the upcoming wintering. Water remains in the washing system, which, under the influence of subzero temperatures, will turn into ice and lead to rupture of the hoses.

How is the conservation of the machine to place it on an unheated balcony? Storage of the washing machine on the loggia in winter involves the following preparatory measures:

• disconnect the machine from the water supply and pour about 50 ml of non-freezing fluid used for washing car windows into the inlet hose;
• Flatten the drain hose to the maximum to remove all accumulated fluid from the cavity;
• pour another 1 cup of “non-freezing” directly into the washer drum (approximately 250 ml);
• start a standard wash cycle;
• after an unsuccessful attempt of the machine to fill the drum with water, blow out the inlet hose and valve;
• select the spin function. So non-freezing liquid will penetrate deep into the elements of the system.

Thus, the machine quickly prepares for storage on the loggia. If the balcony is not glazed, it is better to cover the body with cellophane to protect it from rain and snow. "Preserving" the machine, you can not worry about its safety.