Introduction: Create Your Own Washer Dryer Connections If None Exist in Your Dwelling

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About: I like to tinker and build things that seem fun to do.

Here is an instructibe for those who live in a dwelling without Washer and Dryer Connections.  I came up with this setup because I can't stand going to the laundry matt.  I hope this helps you.  KEEP IN MIND!!!!  This instructible setup is geared to a situation where you will not be interfering with any plumbing or electrical in the building.  I know there are other ways to obtain the same results.  So please think before you ask why I did things a certain way.  I have this setup at my current apartment and I love it.  The picture you see is how it is currently setup.  This would be really good with a stackable unit.  We will begin this setup with the Dryer electrical setup.

Step 1: Breaker Box Identification and Labeling

Needed Items:
-2 standard electrical plugs from Hardware store.
-2 Cut to length 12-3 electrical cord from Hardware Store. (You will determine length)
-3 Yellow crimp connectors with the washer type connector.

Determine where dryer will be setup.  Remember that you will need a spot close enough to a place to be able to vent the heat exhaust from dryer.

1.  Locate Breaker box in house.
2.  Look at panel labeling.
3  You need 240 volts to make this work.
4.  You will need to choose 2 house outlets that are fed by 2 different breakers that are touching each other in the breaker box. Example (The Regrigerator 14, and the Kitchen plugs 16) are touching each other according to labeling.  Clearly the labeling is wrong in my apt., but you should get the Idea. 2 breakers touching each other, or right below it will give you 240 volts.
4. Measure the distances from the back of dryer to the determined outlets.  This will be your 2 "cut to length electrical cords.


Here is a quick helper also.  Label the top left breaker "A" and the Next one down "B".   Then the third one down "A",  the fourth "B" and so on.  Do that for each side.  As long you find a house outlet with  a setup that has an "A" and a "B", this will give you 240 volts.


Step 2: Wiring the Plugs for Your Dryer

Preparing the cord.  Cut the insulation back to expose about 1/2 inch of the conductor in each the black, white, and green wire.

1. Prepare the electrical chords for one of the "Cut to Fit" electrical cords.
2. Take the prepared black wire and the green wire and twist the two copper leads together and insert them in the side of the plug that has the gold screw.
3. Take the prepared white wire and insert it in the side of the plug with the silver screw.
4.  Follow steps 1,2, and 3 again for the second "cut to fit" electricak cord.

<<<<<<< DO NOT PLUG IN YET>>>>>>>>>

5.  Go to the electrical pannel in back of dryer and remove plate to expose electrical connections.  Remove other installed plug if one exists.
6.  Pepare the ends where the two cords will come together for this connection.
7. Note the green and black from one cord goes to one side.  The green and black from the other cord goes to the other side, and the white wire from each cord comes together
to give you a double wire for the common connection in the middle.

ONCE YOU MAKE THE CONNECTION AT THE BACK OF THE DRYER!!!!!  YOU CAN THEN PLUG THE OTHER ENDS INTO THE WALL!!!!!   NOT BEFORE!!!!!!!!  YOU WILL LIGHT UP LIKE A TREE!!!!!!!

Step 3: Exhaust Placement From Dryer.

I used my window with two pieces of plexy glass I had on hand with a small towell to block any exhaust from comming back into the apt.

REMEMBER:  This is only temporary.  It does not stay like this.  Only when I do Laundry.

You may now test the dryer.  If you don't get any heat out of the exhaust.........  You didn't find the right plug combinations to give you 240 volts.  If you hear a click from the breaker box..... you might have tripped the breaker.  May need to find different plug for power source or unplug other devices utilizing the same breaker.

Step 4: Cold Water Washer Connections to Faucet

Needed Items
1 water hose cap to plug hot water connection in back of washer.
1 water hose with 1/2 inch inner diameter.  I used a 50 foot hose.  You will cut to length.




1.  Remove Hot Water Connection from back of washer and cap it with a plug cap from Hardware store.
2.  Use cold water hose that is connected to back of washer and connect the male end of the 1/2 inch water hose to it.  Secure it tight to prevent leaking.  (VERY IMPORTANT)
3.  Connect cut end of the cold water hose to the Kitchen faucet configuration.

Step 5: Water Fauced Contraption

Needed Items:  (ALL PVC IS 1/2" SCHEDULE 40)

 PVC Glue
Pipe tape for all pvd threaded connections
2  PVC 90 with one end threaded.
1 T
1 Plug
3 cut to fit pipes about 2 inches each.  Connects the 90's to the T
1 threaded to nipple connector. (This will connect the water hose from washer to faucet)
3 hose clamps
1 2 inch piece of rubber hose to make connection from faucet to pvc.  I picked this up at the Hardware store in the plumbing section where you can buy it by the foot.  I only needed to buy 6 inches.

1 Figure out the best configuration for yourself.  Look to the yellow picture description for better explanation.

Step 6: Washer Drain Connection

Needed Items.

PVC Glue
Pipe tape for all pvc threaded connections
1- 1/2 inch coupler
1-  cut to fit pipe about 2-3 inches long
1- 1/2 inch coupler to threaded connector
1- 1/2" threaded to 1/2" nipple connector
2 hose clamps

The picture should be self explanatory.

Build the piece according to picture and connect the ends.

Make sure it doesn't leak.

Step 7: Good Luck and Happy Washing.

All electrical is based off of the voltage configuration for North America.

 For my setup, I can only wash a load, then dry a load.  I can't use both machines at the same time or I trip a breaker.