Pros and Cons

Before deciding to install a sink, you should carefully consider this option, weighing all the pros and cons – perhaps you will have to abandon it at the concept stage.

First, let’s look at the advantages:

  • Rational use of the area of a cramped bathroom. A washing machine installed under the sink makes it possible to place it in the bathroom, rather than taking the device out into the room, hallway or kitchen. At the same time, you can place shelves or a wall cabinet with a mirror above the mixer – then the space will be used as ergonomically as possible.
  • Original bathroom design. A properly installed sink will attract attention and surprise guests: a wide range of plumbing on the modern market will allow you to choose any suitable shape that will look stylish and harmonious. This placement will tell about your taste and concern for the environment around you.
  • A sink above a washing machine installed in the bathroom has a huge advantage over the same design in the kitchen, since washing takes less time than washing dishes. In addition, a device located in the toilet looks more appropriate.

Look at examples of the design of a small bathroom in a Khrushchev building.

This solution also has many disadvantages:

  • This design requires a special siphon and drain. When buying in a store, you may be unable to buy everything in one place, so experts recommend looking for a fully equipped sink.
  • In case of breakdown, spare parts will be difficult to find.
  • Inability to get close to the sink. If you are used to the empty space under the sink, it will be inconvenient at first. It will be easier for those who have previously installed a bowl on a cabinet with hinged doors or drawers to get the hang of it.
  • A horizontal drain mechanism threatens frequent blockages that will have to be cleaned. The fact is that the drain hole is located at the back, and the bowl has a flat and shallow shape – and water always remains on its surface. The remaining moisture will have to be removed independently with a sponge, otherwise the sink will quickly turn yellow and become covered with stains.
  • An electrical appliance installed near water sources is always a risk. The slightest leak due to improper installation of a sink or washing machine threatens a short circuit, breakdown of the device, electric shock, damage to the wiring.

How to choose a sink?

You cannot install an ordinary washbasin over a washing machine: this is impractical and dangerous. Large companies producing household appliances and sanitary ware produce sets that harmonize perfectly with each other, do not cause difficulties during installation, do not waste the user’s time searching for all the necessary parts. If you cannot find such a set, you will have to form a “pair” manually.

Sinks released for installation above the washing machine are called water lilies, since their shape resembles flat round leaves.

And if the drain hole of a standard bowl is located strictly at the bottom and in the center, then in the “water lily” it is located near the back. This protects the washing machine from moisture even in the event of an unexpected accident with pipes. The hole for the mixer can be in the center or in the corner of the sink, or completely absent.

Unfortunately, shallow bowls create abundant splashes, so when buying a design, it is important to find the most convenient height.

Water lily sink Stone sink over a washing machine

It is ideal if the sink is slightly larger than the washing machine, so that it can be slightly covered with a “visor”. The drain pipes must be located behind the electrical appliance, not on the body – in case of damage to the hoses and leakage, this placement will protect the equipment from water.

  • As a material, experts advise choosing a product made of polymer concrete (artificial stone), which can boast wear resistance and strength.
  • Cast marble is considered the most optimal option, since in terms of aesthetic characteristics it is not inferior to natural marble, and in terms of performance – it surpasses it.
  • A more budget solution is sinks made of sanitary ceramics; they are also resistant to mechanical impacts, but weigh much more.
  • If you want an inexpensive and lightweight sink, choose a porcelain product.

If you study the market more carefully, it is not difficult to find a washbasin from a reliable manufacturer for every taste and budget.

Water Lily Sink

The photo shows a figured sink with a drain near the far wall. The hole for the mixer is located at the top in the center, and to the left of it there is a built-in soap dish.

Which machines are suitable?

Not all devices are suitable for mounting a washing machine under the sink: the most desirable option is to use a device that comes with a bowl. If you choose the equipment separately, you need to focus on the following parameters:

  • The machine must have a front hatch (that is, with a door that opens from the front). When installing, it is important to consider how convenient it will be to use the bathroom when airing the device after each wash.
  • The recommended height of the device is 60 cm. When calculating the full height of the structure, you should add the dimensions of the sink and the distance between it and the equipment. The less free space between the two products, the more attractive and harmonious the design looks.
  • The total depth of the washing machine should not be more than 47 cm. The capacity of such products often does not exceed 3.5 kg, so a compact model may not be suitable for large families: you will have to wash quite often. It is also worth considering the gap between the wall and the machine for placing utility lines. Sometimes, to fit the pipes, they make a small recess in the wall itself.

A good example of bathroom design in a P-44 house.

It is noteworthy that small-sized washing machines are more expensive than standard-sized products.

Washing machine under the sink Washbasin over the washing machine Dimensions

The photo shows the approximate parameters that should be used when choosing a sink and washing machine for a compact bathroom.

Step-by-step installation instructions

To correctly install the bowl over the washing machine, it is important to adhere to the following procedure:

  1. Check the integrity of the kit in accordance with the list in the instructions. We recommend doing this before purchasing. If parts are missing, the product must be replaced.
  2. Assemble the structure, starting with the installation of the sink. To do this, attach the tap to the hole for the mixer, and to it – the supply line for cold and hot water supply..
  3. After installing the mixer, make markings on the wall according to preliminary measurements. Use a drill to make holes for the dowels and fix the brackets with self-tapping screws. Coat the section of the sink that touches the back wall with sealant. Connect the mixer to the water pipe.
  4. Assemble a flat siphon and connect it to the drain, placing seals underneath.
  5. Fix the pipe, connecting one end to the branch pipe, and the other to the sewer outlet. Coat the threads and all seals with sealant.
  6. We fix the flexible hose to the washing machine in such a way, making a loop, which will act as a water seal.
  7. We connect the hose to the sewer next to the connected sink pipe. If desired, the drain hose can be led into the bathtub.
  8. We carefully inspect the connection points of all pipes and connections. We check the tightness of the sink by pouring water into it. If the installation was successful, we install the washing machine and start a test wash.

Set

  • We assemble the structure, starting with the installation of the sink. To do this, we attach the tap to the hole for the mixer, and to it – the cold and hot water supply lines..
  • Assembling the sink

  • After installing the mixer, we mark the wall using preliminary measurements. We make holes for the dowels with a drill and fix the brackets with self-tapping screws. We coat the section of the sink that is in contact with the back wall with sealant. Connect the mixer to the water pipe.
  • Hanging the sink

  • Assemble the flat siphon and connect it to the drain, placing seals underneath.
  • Install the siphon

  • Secure the pipe, connecting one end to the branch pipe, and the other to the sewer outlet. Coat the threads and all seals with sealant.
  • Connecting the corrugated pipe

  • Fix the flexible hose on the washing machine in such a way, making a loop that will act as a water seal.
  • Fix the hose

  • Connect the hose to the sewer next to the connected sink pipe. If desired, the drain hose can be routed into the bathtub.
  • Connecting the hose to the outlet

  • Carefully inspect the connection points of all pipes and connections. Check the tightness of the sink by pouring water into it. If the installation is successful, we install the washing machine and run a test wash.
  • Installing the machine

    Installing the sink will be easier if you use a rotary tap that will supply water to both the bathtub and the sink. In this case, you will not need to look for a place for additional communications behind the machine. It is important that water from the tap does not get on the electrical appliance when turning.

    Professionals tell in great detail about assembling the mixer tap, washbasin and washing machine in this video:

    What does it look like in the interior?

    The sink above the washing machine looks great in a bathroom designed in a modern style. If the decor requires conciseness, the equipment can be hidden behind the cabinet facades.

    And if saving space is not a priority, the washing machine can be installed under a solid overhead bowl with a wide wing that flows into the countertop (as in the third photo). This solution will not cause any difficulties and will definitely look impressive!

    Sink over a washing machine

    The photo shows a sink placed over a washing machine in a small bathroom. Thanks to the well-thought-out organization of space and light design, the bathroom looks more spacious.

    Washing machine in a cabinet Sink with a wing above the washing machine

    Sink designs are varied: today they produce round, oval and rectangular models, as well as figured products with asymmetrical, beveled or semicircular corners.

    The design should be consistent with the overall style of the interior: for small bathrooms or combined bathrooms, it is preferable to use minimalism, which means that a rectangular sink the width of the machine will look more harmonious than a rounded one.

    A washing machine under a wooden countertop looks luxurious and at the same time environmentally friendly. This solution requires more costs and time to connect utilities, but a sink that is located just above a wooden countertop is more stable and looks very presentable, softening the corners of household appliances.

    Some products are made to order: usually these are sinks made of cast stone, which can take any shape. In the last photo, the sink above the washing machine smoothly turns into a support, creating a kind of partition. The equipment is hidden in this niche, becoming less noticeable.

    Rectangular sink

    The photo shows a rectangular sink above a washing machine in the interior of a combined bathroom. The product is equipped with a removable soap dish.

    Sink with a countertop Sink with a niche

    A sink over a washing machine is a bold and controversial, but at the same time practical and stylish solution. At first glance, such a design may cause doubts, but a properly selected set for a small bathroom will delight you with its functionality and aesthetics for a long time.

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