Installing a washing machine on a carpet isn't the most ideal situation, but it can be done if that's all you have available. The main objectives in this kind of set-up are to keep the washing machine as level as possible, and protect the carpet from possible leaks. The machine can be kept level with the addition of a thick piece of plywood as a base and the carpet protected by the addition of a washing machine drain pan.

Take the washing machine dripping pan and place it over the plywood. Trace around the dripping pan. Attach the cutting blade to your saw and cut out the plywood to the traced silhouette of the drain pan.

Place the plywood on the carpet. Set the dripping pan on top of the plywood. Have an assistant help you lift the washer and set it in the dripping pan.

  • Installing a washing machine on a carpet isn't the most ideal situation, but it can be done if that's all you have available.
  • Set the dripping pan on top of the plywood.

Wrap the threads on both the washing machine inlets and the water supply outlets with plumber's tape. Connect a washer hose from the hot water inlet on the washer to the hot water supply outlet. The inlets on the back of the machine will be labelled. The water supply faucets may be colour coded (red as hot, blue as cold) or you can touch the pipe to feel which one is hot. Attach the cold water hose in the same way. Tighten the couplings with the pliers.

  • Wrap the threads on both the washing machine inlets and the water supply outlets with plumber's tape.

Slip the end of the gooseneck from the washer drain hose into the drain pipe. Secure with a plastic cable tie or bit of wire. Some washing machines include a fastener pre-attached to the hose.

Connect the outlet in the drain pan to a floor drain, if possible. If the washing machine leaks, it will spill into the drain pan. This, however, will still fill up quickly and won't be able to protect your carpet for long. Run a hose from the outlet on the drain pan to a another drain.

  • Connect the outlet in the drain pan to a floor drain, if possible.

Set the washing machine in its final location. Plug it into the AC socket.

Set the spirit level on the front of the washer. Use the shims, or the adjustable feet on the machine, to bring the washing machine level on the carpet.

Run a test load of laundry. Watch the machine and hoses. Tighten any couplings, if necessary. Adjust the shims or feet as needed so the machine stays level.

TIP

Plug your washer into a GFCI (Ground Faulet Circuit Interrupt) AC outlet, if possible. These types of outlets will automatically shut off power if they detect a fault in the appliance plugged into them.

WARNING

Although it's possible to install a washing machine on a carpet, it's not the most ideal location. Move the machine to a non-carpeted area as soon as possible.