The best utility sink can greatly enhance your laundry room or garage area, but you’ll need to know how to install a laundry room utility sink next to washer.
Using the same water hookups that your washing machine uses can not only save you water, it can save you time and energy down the line. Having all of the plumbing connecting in one area in your laundry room also makes the most of the space. That can be important if you are working with less square footage.
There are also everyday problems that a laundry room sink near your washer can solve. With these two fixtures side by side, you can reduce mess. Say goodbye to dripping or puddling when moving wet or soiled items from the sink to the washer, or when prepping clothing for a wash cycle. Fortunately, installing the sink next to the washer is fairly straightforward with patience and the right tools.
Also, read our unbiased guide about how to install a utility sink in garage.
Table of Contents
7 Steps to Install a Utility Sink Next to Washer:
Tools Needed
- PVC Y-fitting
- PVC hand saw
- De-burrer or small piece of sandpaper
- Two brass pipe splitters
- Wrench
- Pliers
- Threading tool (optional)
- Plumber’s glue
- Hot and cold flexible tubing
- Measuring stick
Step 1: Measure for Drain
Before you do anything, make sure you turn off the main water supply. On your utility sink, measure how far the drain pipe connection is from the ground. Locate your existing washer’s drain line, specifically where it goes down into the floor or wall.
Using your utility sink’s drain line measurement, measure up from the ground and make a mark on your washer’s drain line. This is where you will place the new Y-fitting that will separate the washer’s drain from the utility sink’s drain in the next step.
Step 2: Cut Existing Drain Pipe
Cut the existing drain pipe from the mark you made to anywhere on the venting pipe that connects above it. In doing so you will also need to cut the horizontal T-fitting where the water from the washer turns downward toward the exit drain pipe. After cutting, use a tool or piece of sandpaper to de-burr or smooth out the insides of the pipe where you cut it. This is to make sure there are no rough or uneven edges when you attach pipes in the next step.
Step 3: Attach Y-Fitting and Add Laundry Sink to Washer Drain
Attach the PVC Y-fitting to the existing drain pipe. One arm of the Y will attach to the horizontal flow of where your washer drain exits. The top of the Y-fitting will attach to the venting pipe above. The other arm of the Y-fitting will attach to a pipe that runs from your utility sink drain. Using plumber’s putty or glue, be sure all of these connections are tight, waterproof and secure.
Step 4: Locate Water Sources
Now that the drain is in place, it’s time to do something similar with the water lines. Locate the hot and cold water pipe connections near your washer. You will notice that these run to a single fitting on the water pipe. Disconnect the water pipe at the this point on each the hot and cold hookups.
If you cannot find this fitting, and the pipe is one long continuous pipe, you will need to cut the pipe. Have a bucket handy to catch any drips from water that may be standing in the lines.
Cut the pipe at an area that is midway between your washer and utility sink. If you need to thread the pipe at this point, go ahead and do so using a threading tool.
Step 5: Add Pipe Splitter to Hot and Cold Water Lines
Using a two-headed brass pipe splitter, screw the splitter onto the main water pipe for each the hot and cold lines. Make sure the seal is complete and that you screw this one tightly. Use a wrench to make sure the connection is secure. This splitter will now separate the water supply from the hot and cold pipes. One line will go to your washer and one to your sink.
Be sure to attach a splitter to both the hot and cold water pipes. After you secure this splitter onto the hot and cold water lines, reconnect the washer with the existing pipes, or you could purchase new lines if you wish. Be sure to reconnect the lines securely with a wrench or pliers.
Step 6: Connect Hoses to Sink
Taking the length of tubing necessary to reach to your sink, connect the flexible tubing from the pipe splitter to the sink’s hot and cold lines. You will want a red tube for hot water and a blue tube for cold. Be sure to hook these up to the appropriate pipe. With your wrench, tighten these connections using a nut.
Final Step
Connecting your new flexible hot and cold water tubes to utility sink faucet hookups is the last step. After this is complete and all connections are tight and sealed, you may turn on the main water supply. Check for leaks and make sure water runs smoothly and quickly. Always turn off water if you need to make further changes.
Assembling a Laundry or Garage Room Sink Faucet
Tools Required:
- Wrench
- Pliers
- Plumber’s putty and knife
- Foam or rubber gaskets
- Nuts and washers
- Flashlight (optional)
Step One: Turn Off Water
If you have not already done this, turn off the main water supply. This is extremely important to avoid flooding.
Step Two: Mount Faucet with Gaskets or Putty
In your sink there should be a pre-drilled hole. Slide your faucet into this hole from above. New faucets come with rubber gaskets and nuts to secure the faucet head onto the sink itself. However, you may want to use plumber’s putty to be sure you get a tight seal.
Step Three: Tighten Mounting Nuts
These nuts will tighten your faucet to the sink. Working from under the sink, be sure to tighten the nuts with a wrench so that they are secure. Sometimes tightening the faucet to your sink will cause excess putty or sealant to emerge at the sides. You can easily clean this off while it is still tacky with your putty knife and damp towel.
Step Four: Thread Hot and Cold Water Lines
Take the ends of the hot and cold water lines and attach them to the matching underside of the faucet handles. You can tighten these connections by hand, though using a wrench or pair of pliers is also a safe bet. Make sure the seal is complete.
Final Step
Turn on water and check for leaks. If you find any, start looking for any loose connections. Make sure everything fits tight, and that the area under the faucet is completely sealed. You can also shine a flashlight from above to see if there are any gaps or loose areas. Always turn off the water before making adjustments.
Conclusion
Hooking up a utility sink to the same water and drain lines as your washer is an easy and sometimes necessary job. Though it can look daunting, with some patience and follow-through it can be done well.
Making the most of the existing hookups in your wash area can make your laundry room or garage useful and efficient. You will probably see a difference on your energy and water bill, too, since doing so helps conserve both.
Don’t forget to turn off the main water supply when working on any plumbing. Forgetting to do so can end in disaster. Another key item to remember is to always be aware of where the hot and cold lines are.
Mixing them up can cause lots of headaches for both your sink and your washer. While a professional can always be called in, connecting a laundry sink & washing machine to the same drain can be a successful DIY job if you follow these steps.
