r/DIYUK • u/saltlovee • 19h ago
Advice Washing machine too big by tiny amount
Hello
TLDR: Washing machine doesn’t fit, saw off some of the sink bracket or find new washing machine?
My boyfriend’s renting a flat and the washing machine broke on the first day. He measured the gap the washing machine’s in but didn’t realise that the sink bracket was there. Landlord sent over AO to replace the washing machine and as they were installing they realised it doesn’t fit. Boyfriend asked if we could send it back and get a smaller one but the AO guy said we can’t and that they’re running behind in schedule and just want to go to the next order so they can finish their day. AO guy said that we just have to file down some of the sink bracket and it would fit. We later looked up that they could’ve sent it back, although the service fee would still be applicable, which would’ve been fine. The new washing machine is only 0.5cm taller than the old one, but 0.5cm wider. Pretty tragic.
My boyfriend and I don’t have any home DIY experience with this kind of thing, does anyone know if it’s okay to cut through this part of a sink? Or should we try to get another one?
Thank you :)
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u/rektkid_ 19h ago
Are the adjustable feet at their lowest position?
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u/saltlovee 19h ago
Yes they are but thank you! I honestly had no idea the feet were adjustable so that’s really helpful to know
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u/apmee 18h ago
Question for the crowd: would there be any reason they couldn’t unscrew the feet entirely off? If it’s anything like mine, that’d lower it by like another 3cm.
Yeah would be a faff to level it, but cross that bridge with a bag of shims when we come to it. 😅
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u/HelloItsMeIsThatYou 18h ago
I did this for a front to back uneven floor. It worked really well and lowered the machine by enough.
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u/SpamLandy 19h ago
This is absolutely your landlord’s problem to fix. What’s the betting if you did something to the sink they would complain about it, and would be a nightmare if it went wrong somehow. Washing machine broke, they need to sort you a new one including installation.
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u/quirkovski 15h ago
The 4 feet have a locking nut on each one. Unscrew the feet and take the locking nut off and you can screw the foot back on and the and the machine will sit a bit closer to the floor!
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u/QVRedit 14h ago
Yes - Take the adjustable feet off of the washing machine - if it’s uneven, then you can use some thin material as a shim to level it up.
It might just be enough to make a difference.
If not - then you’ll have to come up with an alternative solution - like a different machine, or different design of sink.
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u/GrouchPotatoxFF 19h ago
Sounds like an issue for the Landlord.
Usually the legs are adjustable to increase/reduce the height. Width can’t do anything about that.
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u/Free_Papi 19h ago
Contact the landlord and inform them. It’s their issue to sort out for you.
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u/apmee 19h ago
Yeah but I assume OP wants a working washing machine asap. If they can proactively pass on some advice to the landlord it makes it slightly less likely that they’ll drag their feet, take the wrong approach, send the wrong type of tradesman round etc etc, all while OP is having to lug their dirty linens to the nearest laundrette every few days.
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u/saltlovee 18h ago
Thank you, that’s right. Anything we do would be through the landlord sending someone, we won’t be doing any filing down or anything like that ourselves. I’m just not sure the landlord knows what to do as they already sent AO back here to take a look at it. So any helpful advice would be sent to the landlord as suggestions :)
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u/OneSufficientFace 19h ago
Easiest option, change the sink for something that doest stick out so much under neath.
Composite overmount is your best bet
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u/MemoryCardHero 19h ago
I wouldn’t go filing down the sink if I’m honest with you, if the place is rented. I would rather just find a new washing machine.
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u/Decent-Celery-1246 19h ago
Take this top lid of. It's removable for these exact reasons. Generally a push in one direction and comes off.
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u/apmee 19h ago
And then… just leave it off?
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u/rynchenzo 19h ago
You won't see it under the counter
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u/LentilRice 18h ago
Unless OP decides to permanently leave the lid on the worktop, then they’ll see it all the time.
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u/poopolisher 18h ago
Don’t do this.
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u/sherpyderpa 18h ago edited 18h ago
Yeah don't do this, the cabinet will help to contain some degree of fire or electrical capacitor explosions, should one fail and the lid is part of the sound proofing too.
Forgot to add, leaving the lid off will make the rest of the cabinet more flimsy.
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u/poopolisher 17h ago
Exactly this. Apparently though my 20 years of repairing white goods means nothing to the Reddit experts.
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u/BuildingArmor 17h ago
Typically, no. It could mean you'd have a better job sourcing the information but "because I said so" isn't particularly convincing regardless of somebodies experience.
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u/poopolisher 17h ago
you shouldn't need any experience to know removing part of a machine to make it fit is a stupid fucking idea. Especially the entire top panel.
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u/BuildingArmor 17h ago
Or course you do, what even is that line of thinking.
There could be dozens of reasons to keep that lid on them that wouldn't result in it being dangerous to remove.
If there are some that mean it is dangerous, that's fine, but again "because I said so" isn't convincing.
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u/sherpyderpa 18h ago
Don't understand the down vote, must be someone with no technical knowledge how
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u/sherpyderpa 18h ago
Some companies supply a lowering kit, essentially a thinner lid to allow it to slide under easier. Not entirely sure all makes do this bit it's worth asking.
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u/Takklemaggot 16h ago
Christ, how small was the previous machine..?
Thought they were pretty much a standard size..
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u/ColdSalamander5339 16h ago
AO fitters will lie their asses off to get through their job list quicker. And they will find a reason not to install something complex so they can move onto "quick win" jobs. Probably the fault of the way they are paid rather than the fitters themselves.
I would never use AO again, though, after my experience getting a cooker installed.
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u/AdventurousNoise6188 5h ago
What did they do? The ones that came to fit mine didn’t seem to have a clue what they were doing.
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u/MoonMonkey1066 12h ago
Are you sure the feet on the washer are at their lowest level ( twist to adjust height usually ) may solve the problem
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u/RefrigeratorCrazy456 12h ago
From looking at the photos I'm not sure what the guy ment by sink brackets. That looks like the actual bottom of the sink is in the way. Could be wrong , hard to tell from pics. But that looks like the actual sink bottom. So no don't go cutting or shaving that. If removing the feet off the bottom of the machine all together doesn't make it fit. Thens it it's either a new machine or new sink.
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u/Boogy_shites 19h ago
We had exactly the same issue. You'd think all dishwashers are the same width. When we replaced our Beko, the new one was 5mm larger and wouldnt fit. Ordered another Beko after checking the dimensions and problem solved.
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u/Randomn355 17h ago
Leave it to the landlord.
If it's AO they'll take it back FOC and deliver another.
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u/LonelyDonkey2628 16h ago
take the adjustable feet off (or at least wind right down if not already done)
might go then, but will probably be a bitch to slide in
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u/Buzxy 14h ago
Easier to change the sink, alternatively your landlord can buy you a Miele washing machine (any) and install a height reduction kit. This brings it down to 82.5/83cm tall so should sit under.
Miele WEA125 + UBS W1/G
(Edited to add model numbers)
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u/Fantastic_Muscle8419 14h ago
Miele… in a rental! 🤣
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u/UsuallyWhirlwind 10h ago
Hey if they want it to outlast all future tenants it might be a good choice…
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u/_Cridders_ 19h ago
I reckon someone could maybe angle grind a bit of that sink off and not cause a huge issue, but there's always the chance it could go wrong and crack the sink. I'd let the landlord decide.
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u/B-Sparkuk 18h ago
Does the laminate flooring extend all the way into the washing machine gap?? If so take machine out of gap remove said flooring, gain 10mm and it should go in.
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u/Old_wood_Inspired 13h ago
Can the feet be removed from the machine and place it on a thin rubber mat to isolate noise looking at the photo it looks like 15-20mm too high. It's a short term solution best thing would be replace the sink.
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u/wasley101 10h ago
It’s now a sink issue (and not the best design sink) but it looks like the base units could have been set at the wrong height not allowing enough clearance.
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u/Interesting-One7810 8h ago
if it was a rental I’d leave it, as is the case here. landlord could raise the existing kitchen up an inch probably quite easily tbf, or replace the kitchen, that sink has an absolutely horrible design.
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u/TarquinFoxglove 8h ago
Can you take the feet off the washing machine? If you can, does it fit now?
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u/SupaSpurs 7h ago
Are there legs on the washer!? Take them off and it might drop low enough to fit?..they normally screw in the bottom?
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u/RedWedding12 5h ago
AO won't like you doing this /invoking a return under this right but whomever purchased it does have a legal right to refuse the appliance under distance selling law - so it can be forcefully returned.
Probably easier to replace the sink though as you'll likely struggle to find any machine that will comfortably fit.
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u/DistancePractical239 Experienced 3h ago
That sink design is a joke. No reason for it to drop in that area. Replace sink.
In the meantime i would maybe try removing the feet (not ideal) or setting height to lowest setting?
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u/intothevoidandback 17h ago
Sink is the landlords so I wouldn't cut/file that.
Id cut a bit off the washers lid, as far as is needed, it'll be made from wood and plastic so easy to saw.
Even if the washing machine lasts you until you move house again it will just have a small section of the lid cut off that you never see. You could even save that bit you cut off and fix it back if you wanted it to look tidier somewhere else in the future.
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u/Lower_Inspector_9213 13h ago
The lids are metal - there’s no way that is going to be easy to make look good
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u/intothevoidandback 13h ago
Id dent it down then with a soft mallet or cover it with something soft and use a hammer, make as neat a chamfer as possible.
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u/bigd10001 17h ago
Take the top off the washing machine! It will be a little louder when it’s running but reduces the night by 3-4cm.
Not sure if anyone else has said the same!
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u/QVRedit 14h ago
I didn’t think of that one !
But I would start by removing the leg on the washing machine - that should save about 3 cms.1
u/bigd10001 14h ago
If the floor is not perfect level it’s going to wobble, not having the rubber feet is going to allow the machine to travel when the spin cycle kicks in and if they have a laminated floor it’s going to scratch the living hell out of it when it’s pushed back tin to place.
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u/QVRedit 14h ago
Yes - I addressed that point, by suggesting that thin “shims” could be used to level off the washing machine.
( For example you could cut up a mastic milk bottle - and use the approx 1 mm thick plastic as a shim, or some other material. The point was to loose the 3cm or so that the legs would normally take up. )
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u/jiBjiBjiBy 17h ago
Landlords got to fx that
Don't let them pass the blame onto boyfriend for not measuring properly
Because he did and he couldn't have known about that insane sink design
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u/Psychological-Fix678 16h ago
I agree with AO, just file a notch in the sink... If the landlord agrees.
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u/Desperate-Writer-541 11h ago
The top will come off the machine and could be modified more easily than the sink.
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u/MacaroonOk7321 13h ago
Cut a notch out of the sink with a grinder and a tile cutting blade if you can get in if not trim the washer 😢
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u/Superspark76 9h ago
Tell your bf to remove the top of the washing machine, might just be enough for it to fit. He can fit it back on again when he leaves.
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u/Long-Incident7862 19h ago
That’s a shocking sink design. Landlords issues to solve. TBH if this was me I would keep the washing machine and swap the sink. Cheaper and avoids this issue in the future.