Washing Machine disconnection problem

Purpleee

Hi all,

Managed to get a great deal for a new washing machine from Costco, and added on installation of the new washer and disposal of the old washer…

Trouble is, I failed to read the fine print which doesn’t include disconnection of the old washer…

It’s for a rented property, and neither the tenants nor I trust ourselves to disconnect the old washer. I’ve called my home cover, and disconnection isn’t included in the policy. I’ve also been quoted £90.00 (NB, it’s just disconnection and emptying, not installation etc)

My questions are.. What should I do?! Is £90 reasonable? Any advice would be much appreciated!

TadleyBaggie

Way over the odds. It’s a two minute easy DIY job. 

DullGreyGuy

TadleyBaggie said:

Way over the odds. It’s a two minute easy DIY job. 

Its an easy 2 minute job, assuming the isolators are working properly, but the person has to factor in their time there and back, they have to build in time in case its not a 2 minute job. Presumably the OP needs it fairly quickly as they've booked the delivery date so can't wait until the plumber/handyman happen to be nearby. 

I'd say you should be able to get it cheaper but it will also depend somewhat on how you've found the person... if your using a tradesman finding app its likely they have a fee to the app/website to cover too so you aren't going to get it for £20. 


It really is a very easy job to do though... normally one isolator/tap to turn off, unscrew the connector, at most one screw to loosen to release the waste pipe but many dont even have that and one plug to unplug. Even my mother managed to do it herself and she's previously called out people to change lightbulbs. 

LinLui

I'm 66 and disabled. And I could do it in 2 minutes! You don't even need instructions. Just take a look - couldn't be more obvious what you need to do. 

Eldi_Dos

Reading between the lines you are a landlord?
There are basic DIY courses to be had, £250 for two day weekend course which may be of benefit to you in the long term.

ThisIsWeird

Purpleee said:

Hi all,
Managed to get a great deal for a new washing machine from Costco, and added on installation of the new washer and disposal of the old washer…
Trouble is, I failed to read the fine print which doesn’t include disconnection of the old washer…
It’s for a rented property, and neither the tenants nor I trust ourselves to disconnect the old washer. I’ve called my home cover, and disconnection isn’t included in the policy. I’ve also been quoted £90.00 (NB, it’s just disconnection and emptying, not installation etc)
My questions are.. What should I do?! Is £90 reasonable? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Hi Purpleee.

Perfectly understandable that your tenant doesn't want to do this, even if they could - they won't want any responsibility for leaks.

The same applies to you.

The good news, tho', is that the installation of the new WM is Costco's responsibility, and that's the part you need to be 100% certain of; it has to remain leak free for years.

Your job - and I mean 'yours' - is to simply disconnect the old one, following a few simple steps that we can guide you through, and you do this on the morning that the replacement is going to appear. In fact, if you familiarise yourself now with the process, then you can literally leave the actual task to an hour before the new one turns up. Everything from that moment on will be Costco's responsibility.

Is the WM easy to get to? Is it in a tight space? Is there a sink unit bedside it? Can you see the hoses going to it?

£90 is not 'unreasonable' as such, given the time and journey involved for a plumber, but it's crazy money for something that is so DIYable. If the tenant helps you to just pull the WM out, you could give them a £wenty and still be quids-in :-)

Green_hopeful

Can you be there when they deliver. I suspect they disconnect in reality. 

Normally the disconnection is unplug the washing machine, turn one tap off and unscrew the connector and pull out the waste pipe. Have a bucket ready for the water in both pipes. The hardest thing is normally moving the washing machine out of the space and accessing the plug and pipes. 

Lots of explanations on the internet. https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/how-to-disconnect-a-washing-machine

But as I say I think they will help with disconnecting and if not you should be able to do it. Next door type apps might have local handymen that could do it for less than £90. 

Purpleee

Thanks for the helpful responses this far.

To clarify, yes I am the landlord. It’s understandable for the tenants not to want to disconnect the washer. Due to physical limitations I am not able to do it myself, but appreciate the suggestions.

Costco definitely won’t help with the disconnection (they’ve already refused delivery due to the old washer not being disconnected)

housebuyer143

Purpleee said:

Thanks for the helpful responses this far.

To clarify, yes I am the landlord. It’s understandable for the tenants not to want to disconnect the washer. Due to physical limitations I am not able to do it myself, but appreciate the suggestions.

Costco definitely won’t help with the disconnection (they’ve already refused delivery due to the old washer not being disconnected)

Why don't you go there with the tenants present and ask them to do it? Relieve them of any responsibility if it goes wrong.
It's literally, pull out machine, flick lever, unscrew. Watch a YouTube video. Moving it out is harder than disconnecting. 

Alternatively, call a handy man and it should be a darn sight cheaper than £90.

TELLIT01

If neither party is confident in doing the work themselves then paying somebody is the only option.  Although £90 is high, the only other option would be to shop around in the hope of finding somebody cheaper.  Disconnection is straightforward IF there are no problems.  However, if there are any problems with a leak when disconnecting, for example, the cost of DIY could be much higher.  Bite the bullet and get the job done by somebody else.

The isolator on the water supply on our washing machine is solid and won't fully open or close, but I'm aware of that and will turn off at the stop tap if I need to replace the washing machine.  I would get a plumber in to fit a new isolator valve.

Ganga

Do you not have a neighbour/friend who will pop round and do it ? i am in my 70,s and have installed a washing machine ,cleaned gutters ,located a blockage in a drain etc all for my neighbours and at no charge ,thats what friends are for.