How to Connect Washing Machine Water Supply Lines

Connecting your washing machine water supply lines correctly will save you a lot of problems in the future. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to properly connect the water lines from your washing machine.

Step 1 - Shut off the Power

Shut of the power of the washing machine and to turn of the main water valve. This is to prevent any water from entering the hose that you will install as well as preventing the washing machine from turning on while working on it.

Step 2 - Measuring the Fill Hoses

Before you connect the water supply hose to the plumbing, it is advisable to measure the distance from the tip of the washing machine’s hose to the plumbing. This is to ensure that the existing fill hose has the correct length to reach the plumbing.

Step 2a - Extending the Hose (if it is too short)

Washing machines often come with their own fill hoses. However, most fill hoses are just long enough to connect to the plumbing that will be right next to the washing machine. If the location of the washing machine is a little too far from the plumbing then you just have to either exchange the hose with a much longer one or extend the existing fill hose.

To extend the length of the hose, purchase a hose that has the same diameter as the existing hose then connect it using a connector.

To entirely change the existing hose, unscrew the gasket from the washing machine and then replace the existing hose with the new hose. Screw the gasket back in place.

Step 3 - Preparing the Hose

If the hose is just the right length, spread some plumbers grease on to the threads of the connectors to ensure that the hose will slip in easily to your plumbing. Also, spread some of the grease onto the threads on the wall plumbing and the connections on the washing machine.

You then need to take out the gaskets. Use waterproof grease to coat all sides of the ring gasket. After you are done, put the gaskets back making sure that they are placed properly.

Step 4 - Identifying the Valves for Water Supply

Most washing machines require cold and hot water so most have hot and cold water valves. It is important then that you can correctly identify which valve is which. The valves in the washing machine will be clearly marked so identifying them will not be difficult.

For your water supply, the water connector for hot water will often be labeled with “H” or a red mark. It is also often located on the left side of the water supply wall.

Step 5 - Connecting the Hoses

Once you have clearly identified the cold and hot water valves, you can now carefully connect the hoses to the water supply. The water hose for hot water should be connected to the hot water valve and the cold connector should be connected to the valve for cold water on the water supply wall.

Just twist the thread connection to the threads at the water valve and then tighten the hose connectors. Use adjustable pliers to ensure that the connectors are tight. With the other end, you then need to connect it to the intake valve for hot water on the washing machine using the same method. Repeat the procedure for the connectors, hose and valves for cold water.