Washing Machine Sets

Washing machine sets buying guide

A washing machine tap set is a pair of wall taps, or a single stop tap, that supplies water to the machine through its hoses. This page holds washing machine tap sets and stops from Nero, Phoenix, Caroma, Modern National, Clark, Indigo and Fienza, in chrome, black, brushed nickel, gunmetal, gold, bronze and brass. The guide below explains what a washing machine tap is, how it differs from an ordinary tap, how to check the connections and the position, which handle styles are offered, and how to look after the fittings.

What a washing machine tap is

A washing machine tap is a stop tap with an outlet made for a machine hose. It is not a normal tap. A normal tap has a spout and is made to fill a basin or a bucket. A washing machine tap has a threaded outlet, and it sits on the wall between the water supply and the hose, where it opens and closes the supply to the machine. Its job is to let you turn the water off to the machine without turning off the water to the house.

That is useful for two reasons. The first is that a hose is under mains pressure whenever the tap is open, so being able to close it is a safeguard. The second is that the hose can be changed, or the machine moved or repaired, with the tap shut and the rest of the laundry still running. For the other taps in the laundry, see laundry taps.

Sets, pairs and single stops

A set is usually a pair, with one tap for the hot supply and one for the cold. Many washing machines only need cold, and a pair gives you a place for the hot hose if your machine or your next machine takes one. A single stop is one tap for a cold only machine. Check the manual for your machine, and do not assume. The pair also helps with a tub or a utility sink next to the machine, where the hot and cold supplies are already on the wall.

The pairs and sets come with the two taps, the wall plates or flanges, and the fittings, and some sets add a flat or a double outlet for a second hose. Check the product for what is included before you order, so that the plumber has everything on the day.

Quarter turn, lever and cross handle

A quarter turn stop opens and closes with a short turn of the handle. It is quick to use, and the position of the handle shows at a glance whether the tap is on or off. It suits a laundry where the tap is used often and has to be easy to reach. The Modern National Cadence stops are made this way, and so are many of the Nero sets.

A lever tap has a handle that you lift or push, and it gives a modern look that matches the lever taps in the room. The Caroma Luna and Phoenix Vivid and Rhapsody sets are lever styles. A cross handle is a traditional style, with a four armed handle that you turn through several turns, and it suits a classic or heritage laundry. The Caroma Coolibah Classic and the Clark Cross sets are cross handle styles. Choose the handle to match the other taps in the laundry, and to suit the hands of the people who use them.

Check the connections

The hose has to fit the tap. Washing machine taps in Australia are usually made with a half inch female inlet on the wall side, which connects to the pipe, and a threaded outlet on the hose side. The outlet is larger than the inlet, because it is made for the hose coupling. Check the outlet thread on the tap against the thread on the hose of your machine before you order, and check it for each model, since a thread that does not match will not seal.

The wall pipe also has to suit the tap. The plumber will want to know the position and the spacing of the supply pipes, and the pipes behind the wall have to come out in the right place. If you are replacing old taps, take a photo of the wall, and measure the gap between the pipes. A set that is made for a different spacing needs the pipes moved, which is a bigger job than a simple swap.

Position and reach

Think about where the machine sits and where the hoses run. The hoses have to reach the taps without a tight bend, and the taps have to be accessible once the machine is in place. A tap hidden behind a front loader that is pushed hard against the wall is a tap you cannot reach, so choose a position to one side or above the machine, where your hand can reach it without moving the machine.

If the hose is too short, move the tap or the machine so the hose is not stretched. A hose that is pulled tight can kink, or pull on the coupling and the thread. If you are extending a hose, use a hose made for the job, and have it fitted properly, since the joint is under mains pressure. A longer, correctly made hose is a safer fix than a stretched short one. A plumber can also reposition the taps during a renovation.

Wall mounted taps

Most of the sets here are wall mounted, and the pipes sit behind the wall, with the taps in front of a flange that covers the hole in the plasterboard or the tile. Positioning is set before the wall is finished if you can, and it is part of the plumbing rough in. A wall box or a mixing valve can also be used behind the machine, and a plumber can advise on those for a new laundry, where the pipes and the machine are planned together.

The flange has to cover the hole around the pipe. Check the diameter of the plate, since a tile cut that is larger than the plate shows a gap. A plate made for a tile surface sits flat, and a plate made for a plasterboard wall can be a little shallower. The plumber will fit the plate flat and seal it against the wall.

Brands and ranges on this page

Nero has the largest group, as washing machine tap sets in several finishes. See Nero taps. Phoenix has Vivid MKII sets, Rhapsody lever sets and a Vivid pin lever, and see Phoenix taps. Caroma has the Luna lever, the Elegance lever and the Coolibah Classic cross handle in lead free brass, and see Caroma taps. Modern National has the Cadence quarter turn stops, and see Modern National tapware. Clark has cross handle sets, and see Clark taps.

Materials and finishes

Most of the sets are brass, and a smaller group is lead free brass. A washing machine tap does not supply drinking water, but the hot and cold supply is shared with the rest of the house, so check the material and the compliance marks on the model you choose. Lead free brass is a sensible choice where it is offered, and it is the standard on the Caroma sets here.

Chrome is the most common finish, and it is easy to match to other laundry fittings and simple to wipe clean. Black is a strong choice against a white wall or a tiled laundry, and it needs a wipe now and then. Brushed nickel and gunmetal are softer, and they suit a modern laundry. Gold, bronze and brass are warm metals, and they match a laundry with brass handles and a brass tub tap. Match the finish to the laundry taps and the other metal in the room.

Installation

The taps are fixed to the wall pipes with a thread, and they are sealed so they do not leak. That is plumbing work, and it has to be done by a licensed plumber, who will isolate the supply, fit the taps, check that they close fully and test for leaks. The installation sheet supplied with the set is the reference for the connection. Give the plumber the details of the set before the day, so the pipes and the position are checked in advance.

When the taps are in, fit the hoses by hand, and check the washers inside the couplings. Open the tap slowly and look for drips at each joint, and check again after the first wash. A joint that weeps is a small fault to fix when it is found early.

Care and checks

Wipe the taps with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap, and dry them. Do not use abrasive pads, bleach or strong cleaners, because they can damage a brushed, black or coloured finish. Laundry products can splash onto the wall and the taps, so rinse them off with water when you see them. Check the hoses from time to time for cracks, bulges and leaks at the couplings, and replace a hose that shows wear.

It is a good habit to close the taps when the machine is not in use, and a quarter turn tap makes that easy. If a tap drips when it is shut, if the handle has become stiff or if water seeps around the stem, the washer or the cartridge inside needs attention. A plumber can replace it, and will match it to the model.

Questions to settle before you order

• Does the machine need cold only, or hot and cold?
• Do you want a quarter turn, a lever or a cross handle?
• Does the outlet thread suit the hose on the machine?
• Are the wall pipes at the right spacing for the set?
• Can you reach the taps once the machine is in place?
• Which finish matches the other laundry fittings?

Related pages

For the other fittings in the laundry, see laundry taps, laundry sinks and kitchen and laundry sets. For a tap from any brand, start at taps.