Many people today live in small apartments, therefore, creating conditions suitable for themselves, they come up with a variety of moves. The question arises: where and how to place a washing machine if space is limited? There are enough ideas, you just have to turn them into reality.
A washing machine above the toilet in the toilet (photos of examples are in our article) is original, convenient, and does not take up space. But before deciding on such a project, it is worth understanding this issue in its entirety. It will be necessary not only to prepare the equipment itself, but also a place where everything will work fully.
How to prepare everything?
A washing machine above the toilet is a forced decision. Therefore, if there really is no room, then this will work. If you have free space, you should not experiment for various reasons:
- Installation is not as easy as it seems at first glance due to limited space.
- Before installation, you will need to mount a reliable structure, since the device is heavy.
- When doing laundry, it is not always convenient to use the toilet for its intended purpose.
- The machine can break down, so even a minor malfunction will require removal and diagnostics. Well, then you have to put it back. This is not an easy procedure.
But these are only minor points. Once the decision is made, the installation process begins. The first is the choice of location. You need to find out what size the machine is. The back wall of the toilet is also measured, and the passage of all pipes and hoses should be taken into account. When installing a washing machine above a toilet, you should give preference to narrow models, otherwise the device will simply stick out and get in the way. Although sometimes they just take the toilet out forward. But this is an additional expense of time and money.
Selecting a layout
The bathroom, which has an area of 4 square meters, is often combined with a toilet. In addition to the bathtub, washbasin and washing machine, it is necessary to place a toilet. Ideally, it is better to separate these zones with a light partition. You can use an installation or shower wall as zoning.
Sometimes, for convenience, the toilet is installed in a corner. In particularly tight cases, this helps avoid touching the walls. Having a square room area, you can place a bathtub to the right of the door (it will take up the entire wall), and install a washing machine to the left of the entrance. A toilet is installed in the far left part of the room. A washbasin with a small cabinet and a mirror will occupy the wall opposite the door.
An example of an unsuccessful bathroom layout is a narrow rectangle with an entrance on the short side. Opposite the door you can place a small bathtub. To create a passage, the rest of the plumbing will have to be placed in one line. Such an environment will not add coziness to the room, but will make it look like a warehouse. A niche in the far left corner resolved the situation; a washbasin was installed in it, and a washing machine was placed opposite under the right wall. This layout option is not compatible with the bathroom.
The left wall from the door is occupied by a bathtub. On the right is a washbasin with a spacious cabinet, behind which there is a light plasterboard partition that zones the bathroom. There was no room for a washing machine in this layout.
The bathroom has the shape of a classic rectangle. The entrance splits the wall almost in half. On the left is a corner bathtub with a glass partition. The washing machine took its place on the right, and a sink and toilet were located against the wall opposite the door. All plumbing fixtures have a conventionally unified smooth line, which improves the appearance of the room.
A room with complex geometry: two walls make an angle of 90 degrees, and the third goes to the side at a large angle. A varied selection of bathtubs on the plumbing markets allows you to choose any non-standard model. This will not only solve the problem of the room’s layout, but will also make it possible to purchase a bathtub with a larger volume. The wall opposite the door is occupied by a sink with a spacious cabinet.
Narrow rectangular bathroom with shower. Opposite the door, against the long wall, there is a washbasin with a countertop and a washing machine.
How to create a reliable design?
Once the basic measurements are completed (width, depth and height), it's time to build a secure shelf. To ensure maximum reliability, craftsmen recommend using a metal corner of 40 as a basis. During the spin process, vibration will occur, and not every design will withstand this. And there are several nuances here:
- You need to cut several pieces depending on the size of the washing machine.
- The first section is mounted to the wall just above the toilet cistern. The second one is also against the wall, but parallel to the first one and slightly lower.
- Next you need to create the frame. To do this, two small corners are welded to the first one in a perpendicular position. After which they are connected by another piece, this will be the frame.
- To increase endurance, the same supports are welded at the bottom.
As a result, thanks to minor manipulations, you get a shelf that can withstand maximum loads. Everyone understands that in the process they will have to purchase iron corners. Fasteners must be no less reliable. If you don’t have a welding machine or experience working with it, then the help of a specialist is a must. It’s simply not worth creating any other shelf. If the machine falls, a lot of things will break.
After the shelf is created, it is allowed to place the washing machine above the toilet. This procedure is not easy - it will be difficult or even impossible for one person to do. Already at the planning stage, it is better to find yourself an assistant so as not to waste time.
Communications supply
Installing and creating a shelf is just the first stage. When the first step is taken, you need to think through the entire process of water entering and draining. In addition, electricity supply is not the last thing. To prevent short circuits, the toilet must have a moisture-resistant socket. Few people have it, so you have to make it. Installing a washing machine over a toilet is a multi-step process, and you don't want to miss anything.
A high-quality wire protected from moisture is laid from the shield. The socket itself is mounted in the right place, the wires go into the cable channel. Already through the machine the current is supplied to the socket. Be sure to check the functionality of the outlet. To check, you can use special equipment or simply turn on something. Not everyone has electrician skills, even minimal ones; when there is not enough experience, it is better to call a specialist. The cost of this type of service is small, but the quality will be good.
Installation of the installation system
Naturally, I preliminarily carried out wiring, sewerage and water supply for all main points of consumption, taking into account slopes and connections, but this is a separate topic. I ran a separate socket through an ouzo machine to protect against current. I calculated the size of the shelf above the washing machine in advance and began installing the legs of the installation system on anchors. Since I have one wall already enclosed by a niche made of plywood for the refrigerator, which is already in the bathroom to save space in a small kitchen. Additionally, a row of bricks was laid so that the entire main load would fall on it.
Water connection
The main thing is to supply the water correctly. The article contains a photo of a washing machine above the toilet - they more clearly show what the main work looks like. Water is supplied as follows:
- The water supply in the apartment is turned off. There is a special tap for this. In its absence, the entire house will have to be dehydrated.
- The pipe is cut. It is convenient if it is metal-plastic. When it is metal, you have to perform welding work. A tee tap must be installed in the cut.
- Afterwards, a hose is fixed into it to run water to the machine. While nothing is done, it is left as is.
Next you need to create a drain of dirty water into the sewer. It is important here that a siphon effect does not occur. To do this, the pipe must be at the required height. What it is? If this situation occurs, then all the dirty water from the sewer will begin to flow into the machine. Therefore, everything must be done with special care.
Once this is done, the machine is lifted onto the shelf. To prevent it from moving forward during the spin process, an iron bar is fixed in front of it. Many people believe that the external appearance of such a structure is unattractive, but everyone has the right to make it more suitable, cover it with available materials or paint it. Do not be afraid that any fasteners may fall off during work. When everything is done according to the recommendations, the structure is strong and rigid.
Features of operation
Manufacturers of household appliances produce two types of washing machines:
Wall-mounted washing machine.
Vertical instrument panels do not tolerate moisture well. When installing them near a sink, the service life is automatically reduced, and there is a risk of electronic failure. A built-in washing machine with standard fasteners for decorative doors lasts the longest.
On the other hand, washing machines contain consumables, the quality of tap water in the Russian Federation leaves much to be desired, and voltage drops are observed in the 220 V network. Therefore, the owner of a household appliance will inevitably have to call a technician more than once as the gaskets, hoses and their fastening units wear out.
During repairs, the machine moves out.
The machine will have to be pulled out for partial disassembly. Therefore, during installation it is better to take care of the maintainability of the structure.
People's opinions
Often the washing machine is placed above the toilet. Reviews are both positive and negative. The advantages are:
- Space saving.
- You can't hear the work as the washing is happening in the toilet.
But that, unfortunately, is where it all ends. Therefore, such work should be performed only in extreme cases. Because there are more negative sides:
- Labor intensive installation process.
- Probability of falling.
- It is inconvenient to combine washing and visiting the restroom, etc.
And people implement such projects only in the saddest cases, when there is no place at all. Today there are many old apartments with poor layout and limited space, so such ideas are adopted by skilled craftsmen.
