Converting hot press into washer/dryer press.

troyzer

Hi all.

My partner and I just bought a flat and we're determined to not put the washer/dryer into the kitchen.

We have two options:

1) In the main bathroom, take the bath out. Replace it with a shower tray and use the new space for a double decker washer/dryer shelving unit like this. This would also mean messing around with the plumbing a bit to connect it to the washing machine but I'm hoping nothing major although the sink is on the other side of the bathroom so there's no obvious point to plumb in the washing machine. I don't mind if it's a bit of a hack job, we'll be doing a full bathroom renovation in a few years when we can do it again properly.

2) Use the hot press. Currently the hot press includes an enormous hot water tank and a pump. It's a first floor apartment so I'm assuming the pump is non-negotiable but surely we can take the hot water tank out? We're not going to use the bath so we don't need anything close to that much hot water storage. We can always swap the showers out for electric and put a really small hot water tank in the kitchen for hot water I would have thought?

As you can probably tell, I know nothing about plumbing. What do people think? The hot press option would be much neater and a better use of space but it could be quite complicated. The bathroom is more straightforward but still complicated.

Sleeper12

There are wiring regulations with everything to do with the bathroom. Washer & dryer can go in the bathroom but the socket has to be X far from basin & shower. The electric form will be able to help with advice on this option

The hot press option has many complications. It currently meets the building regulations. Removing the tank will change this. If you have a modern apartment then what you are looking at isn't just a hot water cylinder. If it goes more or less ceiling to floor & is totally covered in foam then it's most likely a combo cylinder. Bottom part is hot water cylinder. Top part is cold water storage. If you remove the combo unit then you will need to put in a cold water tank in the hot press. You will only be freeing up the bottom 3 or 4 feet of the hotpress

troyzer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118720469#Comment_118720469

Yeah, the cylinder is huge. Must be the best part of 2m tall. Sounds like the hot press is totally out then.

Just reading there and apparently sockets are not allowed in bathrooms across the board other than for shavers and toothbrushes.

Well, that seriously scuppers our plan. Unless we pop a hole in the plasterboard and run the plugs into the hall. I don't know if this would be allowed?

It's bog-standard in continental Europe to have your washer/dryer in the bathroom. There has to be a way of doing it here without resorting to cowboys.

We had also considered converting the en-suite bathroom into a walk-in wardrobe/laundry room. Couple of our friends think this is a mistake as removing the en-suite would de-value the place. But to be honest, it's a 70 square metre apartment and having two bathrooms is overkill to begin with.

Sleeper12

Ask in electrical forum about sockets.

If removing the an suite you can leave in the plumbing. It would be easy to install a cheap toilet & basin if you sell in the future

troyzer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118720593#Comment_118720593

Yeah, was thinking this.

We can still use the plumbing for the washing machine and it'll be there if another owner wants to convert it back later on.

I'll ask in the forum, cheers.