New Washer and Dryer: Delivery, Installation, and Flooring Update

Our new washer and dryer have arrived, and we wanted to share how the installation went, what we did with the floors beneath them, and how the machines are performing so far. Over the years we’ve lived with a variety of laundry setups — front-loaders with a counter, stacked front-loaders with cubbies, and top-loaders with cabinetry above — so we’ve learned the pros and cons of each arrangement.

In our first house we had front-loaders with a counter across the top, which looked great and provided a folding surface, but the counter often turned into a catch-all for random items. Our second house had stacked front-loaders with cubbies beside them, which kept things out of sight and organized but still required bending and lifting. In our current house we have top-loaders with cabinets above, which we like because the cabinet storage hides clutter while keeping essentials easy to reach. The top of the dryer also doubles as a staging area for baskets or items that need to air dry.

Before delivery we decided to replace the worn floor and the old plastic pan under the washer. Because the laundry nook sits on a particle-board subfloor, we installed thick 3/4″ plywood pieces cut to match the depth of our hardwoods. The goal was both functional (a reinforced base can extend appliance life) and aesthetic — we stained and sealed the plywood to blend with the existing hardwood floor.

We pre-stained the plywood with one coat of Dark Walnut and sealed it with three coats of SafeCoat Acrylacq, so the boards were ready to slide into place as soon as the old appliances were carried out and the new ones were brought in. When the delivery team arrived they wore protective shoe covers, but some drips from the old machines warranted an extra drop cloth to protect the hallway runner. With booties and drop cloths in place things looked a little like a slip-and-slide, but the crew moved carefully and everything stayed intact.

We pulled up the old carpeting and underlayment, and John scraped out the stubborn staples so the plywood could sit flush. The first board slid in without issue, then the second. There remains a small gap where trim juts out too far; we’ll cut one more piece of plywood to fill that space and stain it to match so the finish looks continuous with the rest of the hardwood.

From a short distance the patched flooring blends seamlessly with the surrounding hardwood. We also plan to replace the current blue folding doors with white ones, so keeping the flooring subtle and consistent felt like the right choice for resale appeal and everyday appearance.

Because the laundry room is on the second floor, leak protection was a priority. We installed a sturdy plastic washer pan to catch any drainage and upgraded to reinforced stainless steel water supply lines instead of the flexible plastic hoses. During install we actually caught a small leak where the supply line connected; the installer tightened the fitting and the leak stopped. The takeaway: always check your connections during or immediately after delivery.

First Impressions: Washer and Dryer Performance

We’re very happy with the dryer. It runs quieter, holds a larger capacity, and has a heat sensor that prevents over-drying and shrinking. The finish and digital controls make it easy to see cycle time remaining, and the gentle chime at the end of a cycle is a pleasant upgrade from the loud buzz of our old machine.

The washer’s digital interface is clear and helpful, and its drum capacity is noticeably larger than previous models, which means fewer loads and more efficient laundry days.

Unfortunately, our new washer developed a loud grinding noise during the agitator cycle on the very first full load. The delivery team had only run a brief fill-and-check for leaks, not a full cycle, so this behavior appeared after they left. We contacted the retailer and the manufacturer; the manufacturer’s scheduling pushed a service visit a week out, which wasn’t acceptable given our laundry backlog. The retailer arranged to pick up the first washer and deliver a replacement a few days later, which was a big relief. This experience underscores the importance of checking new appliances as soon as possible and understanding warranty and service timelines.

Overall, we love the dryer and the upgraded washer’s features, and we’re pleased with the improved flooring and leak protection in our laundry nook. Fingers crossed the replacement washer arrives and runs as quietly and efficiently as we’d hoped.

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Sidenote: We’ll be appearing at the Richmond Home & Garden Show this weekend — speaking at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday, with a book signing after Saturday’s presentation. We were also surprised (and a little terrified) to see our faces on a giant billboard while driving — it was exciting and completely surreal.

Seeing your own mug that big makes you scream like a lunatic. It was an unforgettable moment.