Water · Closing
Disconnecting the Laundry
How to shut down the washer in the basement when the cabin closes for the season. Do this while the drains upstairs are open and the water is running out of the house.
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Before you start
- You're closing up and have opened the drains upstairs (see Shutting Off the Water).
You'll need
- A shallow pan
- A bucket
- Pliers or the wrench kept in the basement
Step by step
9 steps
Run a Rinse and Spin cycle
Turn the washer to Rinse and Spin. It's about a 20-minute cycle and pushes most of the water in the hoses out to the septic.
Unplug the washer
Unplug the washer's power cord. You can just lay it on top.
Pull out the emergency drain tube and remove the cap
Open the small cover at the bottom front of the washer. Pull out the emergency drain tube and unscrew its cap (counterclockwise).
Drain the rest of the water into a pan
Let the remaining water run out into a pan.
Re-cap the tube and tuck it back in
When it's fully drained, put the cap back on, tuck the tube back into the machine and close the cover.
Remove the two water hoses
Behind the washer are the two water hoses. Use the pliers or wrench kept in the basement to get them started, then unscrew them.
Drain the hoses into a bucket
Set both hoses in the bucket so the leftover water drains out.
Flip the water valve UP to OFF
Flip the washer's water valve up into the OFF position. This matters: if it's left on, water will spray out of the open hoses when the water gets turned back on.
Prop the washer doors open
Keep the washer door ajar (a basket works to hold it) and the dryer door open too, so air can move and nothing gets moldy.
