Domakihub How to Plumb In a Washing Machine Step by Step
Connect your machine to cold water and drainage in under two hours — no plumber needed.
Reviewed by Domakihub home & decor pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Plumbing in a washing machine is a straightforward DIY task that most homeowners in Greece can complete in an afternoon with basic tools. Whether you are setting up a laundry room in a villa, refreshing an apartment for short-term rental, or equipping a small hotel utility room, the connections are essentially the same. The video above walks through the full installation visually; the steps below give you the exact sequence to follow safely.
What you need before you start
You will need an adjustable spanner, PTFE thread-seal tape, a spirit level, a bucket, and a short length of hose (if the supplied hose does not reach your standpipe or tap). Most washing machines sold in Greece come with one cold-fill inlet hose; if your machine has a hot-fill port as well, you will need a red hose for that connection too.
Confirm that a nearby 230 V earthed socket is available and that the drain standpipe or sink trap outlet is within reach of the 1–2 m waste hose supplied with the machine. If neither is close enough, a plumber or electrician may be needed to add a connection point first — that is the only scenario where professional help is genuinely required.
Understanding Greek water supply conditions
Many Greek properties, particularly on islands or in rural areas, are supplied by a roof cistern rather than direct mains pressure. Cistern pressure is usually sufficient for a washing machine but can be lower than the machine expects, so check that the static head (height of water above the inlet valve) is at least 1 metre. If pressure is borderline, place the machine as low in the building as practical.
Hard water is common across much of Greece. Fitting an inline scale filter on the inlet hose prolongs the life of the heating element and drum bearings significantly, and a descaling wash every three months keeps performance consistent.
How to plumb in a washing machine
- 1
Remove the transit bolts
Before connecting anything, locate the transit (shipping) bolts on the rear panel — typically three or four large bolts with plastic spacers. Use the supplied spanner to remove them all and keep them stored; you will need them again if the machine is ever moved. Leaving transit bolts in place causes violent vibration and drum damage on first use.
- 2
Connect the cold-water inlet hose
Wrap three layers of PTFE tape clockwise around the threaded fitting on the machine's inlet valve. Hand-tighten the hose onto the valve, then give it a quarter-turn with a spanner — do not over-tighten or you risk cracking the valve body. Connect the other end to your cold-water isolation valve or hose bib, again using PTFE tape on the thread. Open the isolation valve a quarter-turn and check for drips before proceeding.
- 3
Position and route the drain hose
Feed the corrugated grey drain hose into a standpipe or over the rim of a utility sink. The open end of the hose must sit at a height of 60–100 cm above the floor to prevent siphoning — most machine manuals quote the exact range. Do not tape the hose into the standpipe; it should sit loosely so air can enter and break any siphon. Secure the hose with the plastic hook or clip usually supplied.
- 4
Level the machine
Slide the machine into its final position and place a spirit level on top, checking both front-to-back and side-to-side. Adjust the four feet by turning them clockwise (down) or anti-clockwise (up) until the bubble sits dead centre. A machine that is even slightly out of level will walk across the floor during the spin cycle and create excessive noise, particularly on tiled surfaces common in Greek homes.
- 5
Run a test cycle and check for leaks
Plug in the machine, select the shortest cotton cycle or a rinse-and-spin program, and start it while you watch every connection for the first few minutes. Check both ends of the inlet hose, the drain hose entry point, and the area beneath the machine. If you see drips, switch off the water supply, tighten the affected fitting by no more than a quarter-turn, and restart. Once you are confident there are no leaks, allow the full cycle to complete.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Get a vetted plumbing pro in your city — one number, booked in EN/EL/DE.
FAQ
- Do I need a plumber to install a washing machine in Greece?
- Not usually. If a cold-water isolation valve and a drain standpipe or trap outlet are already in place, the connection is a DIY job. You only need a licensed plumber if you need to add new pipework or if the existing supply is not compatible with the machine's inlet pressure requirements.
- Can I connect a washing machine to a shared kitchen sink drain?
- Yes, provided the trap beneath the sink has an integrated washing machine spigot (a small capped outlet). Remove the cap, clamp the drain hose onto the spigot, and make sure the hose arches above the trap level before dropping in — this prevents waste water from siphoning back into the drum.
- Why does my washing machine smell after plumbing it in?
- A sewer smell usually means the drain hose is submerged in standing water inside the standpipe, allowing gases to travel back up the hose, or that the hose was pushed too far into the standpipe creating a sealed connection. Raise the hose so the end sits freely inside the standpipe opening, and run a hot maintenance wash with a descaling tablet to clear any residue from the drum and hose.