Laundry Room Inspection

You throw a load of laundry in, press start, and... nothing. Or worse, you smell smoke coming from the dryer vent. These are just a couple of nightmares that can happen when you neglect your laundry room. But it doesn't have to be this way. Regular laundry room inspection is the key to smooth, safe, and efficient laundry days. 

In today’s post, we'll review the focus areas of a laundry room inspection checklist, and how to prepare your space for this process. Let's get started.

How to Prepare Laundry Room for Inspection

We’ve covered how to prepare for a home inspection in another blog post. But here, we’ll see how to prepare this specific room for inspection.

Start by clearing the laundry room space. Organize or remove any items that may hinder access to appliances, walls, and plumbing. Clean up the floor to remove dirt and debris. Wipe down surfaces (especially those near appliances), dispose of expired/unused items, and clear the storage temporarily for smoother inspection.

After ensuring that the inspector can easily access all areas of the room, gather any available appliance manuals. If required, they may provide useful information for the inspector

Other tips on how to prepare laundry room for inspection include:

• Informing the inspector if you've recently had any plumbing or electrical work done.
• Note any concerns you have about the laundry room, such as leaks, noises, or unusual smells.
• It is better to ensure fire extinguishers are readily accessible and in working order.

Laundry Room Inspection Checklist

KeyInspectionServices suggests that the inspector will be primarily looking at plumbing and electrical issues.

However, the complete laundry room inspection checklist often includes other focus areas like appliances, ventilation, and safety concerns. Let’s take a closer look at each area:

Appliances

The process mainly starts with a visual inspection of the washing machine. The inspector will look for signs of wear and tear, rust, dents, cracks, or leaks. Proper leveling, hose connections, and drain hose will be checked too.

The next step is functional testing. The inspector will test the water inlet, agitation, and spin cycles, noise levels, and whether the machine drains water properly and doesn't leak.

After that, the dryer condition is observed to make sure the lint trap is clean; the venting isn’t blocked or damaged; and the exhaust vent is cleared and properly sealed. The inspector will also make sure that the heating elements, drum, timer, and controls function correctly.

For appliances, the laundry room inspection checklist may have additional considerations as well:

• The inspector will check for features like automatic shut-off in case of overheating and ensure they're functional.
• The appliances’ age and manufacturer can play a role in the assessment too, as older machines may require more frequent maintenance.
• The inspector will ensure the appliances are installed according to local building codes and regulations.

Plumbing

Plumbing inspection is a crucial part of the laundry room inspection checklist, covering water supply and drain lines.

For water supply lines, they'll check for leaks or signs of water damage around the washing machine's water supply connections and hoses (the hoses themselves should be in good condition). They'll make sure the supply lines are securely connected to the washing machine and the water shut-off valves. For drain lines, they should be clear of any clogs or leaks and have proper drainage.

The inspector will ensure that the plumbing meets local codes and standards. They may consider the age and type of materials used in the plumbing system too. Because if they’re old or outdated, they could lead to problems and even costly repairs. 

(Image Source)

Electrical Requirements

Electrical rules and regulations are at the heart of laundry room inspection. First and foremost, your space should have at least two dedicated outlets of the correct type (GFCI protected), that are properly grounded to prevent shock hazards.

The wiring must’ve been done correctly (especially near appliances) and show no signs of damage or loose connections. The inspector will assess if there's any overloading of electrical circuits too, by checking if multiple appliances are plugged into the same circuit.

The condition of the electrical panel is also considered through laundry room inspection. The circuit breakers in the panel should be working correctly, labeled appropriately, and sized for the circuits supplying your laundry room. The panel itself shouldn’t be damaged or corroded as well.

Ventilation

A comprehensive laundry room inspection checklist can’t ignore proper ventilation, as it is vital for a safe and functional laundry space.

The inspector will check the length of the dryer vent hose and its material. Metal or rigid is preferred over flexible. Since long, flexible hoses can increase the risk of lint buildup and fire hazards.

The entire system (hose, wall vent, exterior vent termination) must ensure easy airflow, without restricting it due to blockages, kinks, or bends. All connections should be gap-free and leak-free too.

The room itself should have adequate natural ventilation through a window or door that can be opened and exhaust fans. There may not be an in-depth mold inspection, but the inspector might check for signs of excessive moisture or condensation, which indicates a ventilation issue.

How Often Do I Need Laundry Room Inspection?

Monthly inspections are a good baseline for a quick visual check. Look for obvious issues like leaks, debris build-up, or unusual noises. More thorough inspections should happen at least quarterly. This includes examining hoses, vents, and appliances for wear and tear.

Also, don’t forget to clean the dryer vent every 3-6 months; check washing machine hoses for leaks, cracks, and wear every 6-12 months (replace them if needed); and have maintenance schedules for appliances based on their manufacturer's recommendations.

However, if you do laundry several times a week or use older machines, you might need to increase the frequency of your checks.

Tip: Some insurance companies might require a laundry room inspection before providing coverage. Consult your insurance policy for details.

Conclusion

A laundry room inspection helps identify and address any potential issues that could lead to safety hazards, malfunctions, or costly repairs. Essentially, it's a proactive way to ensure your laundry room is operating efficiently, safely, and reliably.

This process can be performed by the homeowner, or a handyman or contractor for a comprehensive inspection. For specific areas, you can hire a licensed plumber, electrician, gas or HVAC technician as well.