Calling all integrated washing machine installation experts!

cheekylu

Hi all

Following on from my previous post, I have now managed to borrow some money to buy a new integrated machine, but I need some more advice.

I am about to buy a new integrated machine to replace my old integrated machine which is ancient around 12+ years old I think, my question is, how easy is it to fit an integrated machine? Is it the same installation as a freestanding machine with the difference only being you have to fix the door onto an integrated one or is there something different with the connecting of the pipes etc?

I ask because I cannot afford to pay £85 installation, as it is I've had to borrow £300 for the machine and so I am going to ask a friend if they can install it for me and I need to know if its easy or not for them to do it, as I don't want anything going wrong or being messed up especially as this is a rented flat and I don't want any damage caused.

I also read that old machines usually have a hot fill also and the new modern machines are cold fill, if when I remove the old machine I find it is a hot fill, will it still have a cold fill to fit the new machine to? Or will this cause big problems. Sorry I know absolutely nothing about these kind of things.

Thanks

Lucy

phill99

The old machine is likely to be hot AND cold fill. The new one will be cold fill only.

Ensure that the hot fill valve is capped off in case it 'lets by' later on.

The waste will be the same.

You may struggle with the door though. Not all doors have holes for the hinge plates in the same place and they may need to be drilled out. (Not really a DIY job. Once thats done the machine will need to be levelled so that the door is aligned with the rest of the doors.

pimento

I had a integrated dishwasher installed by John Lewis on Thursday and while they were here I was chatting to them. They said that integrated washing machines were their least favourite job.

cheekylu

pimento wrote: »

I had a integrated dishwasher installed by John Lewis on Thursday and while they were here I was chatting to them. They said that integrated washing machines were their least favourite job.

Oh great lol

cheekylu

phill99 wrote: »

The old machine is likely to be hot AND cold fill. The new one will be cold fill only.

Ensure that the hot fill valve is capped off in case it 'lets by' later on.

The waste will be the same.

You may struggle with the door though. Not all doors have holes for the hinge plates in the same place and they may need to be drilled out. (Not really a DIY job. Once thats done the machine will need to be levelled so that the door is aligned with the rest of the doors.

Thanks for your reply, is capping a pipe off easy? Would a normal person be able to do it lol? Or is it going to need a professional?

CKdesigner

Hi Cheekylu

Sorry you probably covered this on your previous post, but why are you replacing the machine if I assume you are the tenant in a rental flat? As it is an integrated machine you would have rented the flat with it, so it wouldn't normally be the tenants responsibility.

However, you may be renting the flat with an agreement with the landlord where you can put your own machine in if the old existing machine went wrong. If this is the case don't put in an integrated one, put in a free standing one as this will be your property when you move on you take it with you.

As I say you have probably already covered this but to me it would be the landlords responsibility not yours.

Good luck

CK

cheekylu

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi Cheekylu

Sorry you probably covered this on your previous post, but why are you replacing the machine if I assume you are the tenant in a rental flat? As it is an integrated machine you would have rented the flat with it, so it wouldn't normally be the tenants responsibility.

However, you may be renting the flat with an agreement with the landlord where you can put your own machine in if the old existing machine went wrong. If this is the case don't put in an integrated one, put in a free standing one as this will be your property when you move on you take it with you.

As I say you have probably already covered this but to me it would be the landlords responsibility not yours.

Good luck

CK

Hi

Thank you for your reply. In the tenancy it states the landlord isn't obligated to repair or replace the washing machine etc.

Also I can only buy integrated as the space isn't big enough for a freestanding machine and the plinth would be in the way.

Avoriaz

cheekylu wrote: »

Hi all

Following on from my previous post, I have now managed to borrow some money to buy a new integrated machine, but I need some more advice.

I am about to buy a new integrated machine to replace my old integrated machine which is ancient around 12+ years old I think,.....

Is it working or not working?

If it is working, why replace it?

If not working, can it be repaired at a reasonable cost?

cheekylu

Avoriaz wrote: »

Is it working or not working?

If it is working, why replace it?

If not working, can it be repaired at a reasonable cost?

No it is not working otherwise I wouldn't have borrowed all this money if it was lol, I'm in a very bad financial situation at the moment so I wouldn't replace it if it didn't need it.

No it cannot be repaired, someone has already come out and looked at it and the machine is that old that they don't even make parts for it anymore the guy said.

So bottom line is I have to buy a new one. But I need a professional to install it and I cannot afford it so I'm stuck lol.

CKdesigner

Hi Cheekylu

Right OK so if its in the contract that its not the landlords responsibility (which I think is ridiculous BTW) then speak to them and say you need a washing machine that works and therefore as it will be your washing machine you are going to buy a free standing one. The problem is if you buy a built in one then you are paying a huge premium for this and then when you eventually leave the flat it won't really be any good for you.

A free standing one will fit, they all fit into a 600 mm wide gap, yes the plinth will need to be cut down but that is easy and I think quite right for you to do so, after all if the washing machine is ancient then the kitchen will be, so a slight modification to fit in a free standing machine is perfectly acceptable.

If money is very tight as you say, then the last thing you need to do is go out and buy a new integrated machine to improve a kitchen that's not yours!

Good luck

CK

cheekylu

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi Cheekylu

Right OK so if its in the contract that its not the landlords responsibility (which I think is ridiculous BTW) then speak to them and say you need a washing machine that works and therefore as it will be your washing machine you are going to buy a free standing one. The problem is if you buy a built in one then you are paying a huge premium for this and then when you eventually leave the flat it won't really be any good for you.

A free standing one will fit, they all fit into a 600 mm wide gap, yes the plinth will need to be cut down but that is easy and I think quite right for you to do so, after all if the washing machine is ancient then the kitchen will be, so a slight modification to fit in a free standing machine is perfectly acceptable.

If money is very tight as you say, then the last thing you need to do is go out and buy a new integrated machine to improve a kitchen that's not yours!

Good luck

CK

I am almost certain a freestanding machine won't fit, I have measured the space and a freestanding machine is 3cm higher and so the worktop is in the way, also to modify the kickboard running under the cupboards would mean it would stick it too far forward in order to get a normal machine in. I've explored every possibility to try and get a freestanding machine but I've had no luck.

I've now borrowed another £85 to buy it with the installation felt like I had no choice. But its my machine and when I move I shall take it with me lol.