Either the washer has a leak or the floor drain is blocked. So basically under the machines I have 3/4" ply (floor drain installed in the ply) and the rest of the room has osb subfloor. If your laundry room is upstairs, a drain pan is recommended to protect against leaks that can seep into the rooms below. My basement drain is overflowing when I wash dishes in the sink on the ground level. Space Required While the minimum space required for a laundry room only has to be big enough to house the machines, there are reasons to think bigger. 5 Great Options for Laundry Room Flooring (and 3 to Skip) Use this guide to zero in on the best—and worst—flooring options for your laundry room. Wash the clothes near the place where the clothes live. An upstairs laundry room can save time and steps spent lugging heavy laundry baskets to and from a “ground zero” basement. It requires finding space for the trap and crossing a couple of 2x10 joists (12-OC) with 2 inch pipe. An automatic water shutoff valve prevents flooding by immediately turning off the hot and cold water supply as soon as water is detected under or near the washing machine. In the laundry room, there is a closet that also has the sump pump and ejector pit. To be properly, you will need to create a pan and drain for your new laundry room, relocate a vent on the outside of the home, and perhaps beef up the structure underneath. Most models sound an audible alarm to alert you if you’re around and some systems can be connected to a security system or auto-dialer so you’ll receive notifications when you’re out. But then again, there is some risk. Three level townhouse, basement, ground floor and upstairs. Cons: Laundry can pile up in cooking, eating, and foot-traffic areas. maybe an extractor fan if there is no window or you'll end up with damp problems. It could also be located under your wash basin or some type of laundry tub. Featured Image Source: BBG Construction If you are looking for small laundry room ideas, you have come to the right place. How Does a Washing Machine Pan Work? May be able to share kitchen or powder-room plumbing lines. I think putting a laundry room upstairs is a brilliant idea. Tom Trop. One of the most common causes of sewage smells in a laundry room is having a dry trap. I've had basement laundry, 1st floor laundry and 2nd floor laundry. Either the washer has a leak or the floor drain is blocked. The dirty clothing, sheets, and towels that make up 95% of our laundry are generated on the second floor so having the laundry room upstairs eliminates the lugging of laundry baskets up and down the stairs. emergency floor drain discharge. It’ll also seep under the drain and eventually rot out the subfloor underneath the finished floor. Some building codes do not require them, and older homes almost never have one. Did you know that a burst washing machine hose can discharge 500 gallons of water in one hour?  Think about what a mess that can make if your laundry room is located above your kitchen or family room!  Although a bit more expensive than other automatic water shutoff valves, an “intelligent” auto shutoff valve like the Watts IntelliFlow® uses an electronic control device that allows water to flow only when it senses that the washing machine is turned on. When I had a 2nd floor laundry I did like it, but I was always worried it would wake my daughter whose room was right next door. Our home also has an upstairs laundry room and we love it. In catastrophic events, water can issue from many different sources: an overflowing washing machine, a clogged drainpipe, or a cracked or severed water supply pipe.Even short of those emergencies, water is always present in laundry rooms; it is unavoidable. I am relocating my laundry to a room over my garage. In catastrophic events, water can issue from many different sources: an overflowing washing machine, a clogged drainpipe, or a cracked or severed water supply pipe.Even short of those emergencies, water is always present in laundry rooms; it is unavoidable. We have a lot of ideas for small laundry rooms to make them truly look gorgeous and functional.