A washing machine without a drainage tray installed beneath the unit is a problem waiting to happen. If the washing machine or the seams connecting the washer to the pipes spring a leak, then the consequent water damage could prove quite costly. A washing machine drainage tray can easily be installed and plumbed to drain any overflow to a nearby floor drain, splitting any water spillage away from where it can cause damage. It is possible to fasten a washing machine drainage tray to keep it in position and stop leaks from the tray.
Disconnect the washing machine from the power outlet and slip it away from the wall. Turn off the hot and cold water valves and remove the feed seams in the valves using a pair of slip-joint pliers. Pull the drain hose out of the drain line from the wall, and move the washing machine out of the way.
Sweep the region beneath the where the washing machine has been installed and scrape away any things that have stuck to the floor with a 3-inch putty knife.
Drill a 1/8-inch pilot hole 3 inches toward the center of the pan from each of the four corners. Then position the drainage tray to the region where the washing machine will reside. Mark the hole locations on the floor beneath the tray using a pencil. If the floor beneath the tray is tile, remove the tray and drill a pilot hole to the floor for every screw using a 1/4-inch tile drill bit, then tap on a plastic anchor into each hole. If the floor beneath the tile is masonry, use a masonry bit to drill the same four holes before inserting the anchors. For wood floors, no anchor is essential.
Insert a tube of silicone caulk into a caulk gun. Cut the end of the nozzle using a utility knife, and run a thick continuous bead of caulk around the perimeter of the washing machine drainage tray.
Place the tray into position, and push a 2-inch sheet metal roof screw with a rubber washer through each of the four corner holes to the wood or anchor below. Drive each screw before the washer begins to make contact with the tray, but not so far that the washer bulges out from beneath the metal backer.
Boost the washing machine on the tray with the aid of an associate. Then reconnect the water lines, drain line and electrical plug to the outlet.
Connect a threaded PVC coupler to the drain hole in the side of the tray. In case a hole is not currently punched from the tray to adapt the coupler, either tap the perforated knockout for the hole using a screwdriver or drill a 3/4-inch hole using a hole saw and a power drill. Then attach parts of 3/4-inch PVC as required to direct any water from the tray to the nearest floor drain.