Where can you put sockets in a Utility Room

Rednblack · Mar 24, 2022

Hi everyone,
I have recently had an extension built with a new Utility room. The electrician has put the sockets for the washing machine and tumble dryer in the cupboard under the sink.
This is fine, except the tumble dryer lead does not reach and is currently plugged in via an extension lead.
I asked the electrician to move the sockets, but he says he is unable to because of legislation and the extension lead will be fine as it has a cut out on it.
In my kitchen, which was done 10 years ago, a single socket was put behind the washing machine and isolation switch above the worktop, which would work perfectly.
Is there any reason why my electrician cannot do this? I am a little worried plugging a tumble dryer into an extension lead plus the possiblilty of water from leaks finding its way to the plug.

Thanks in advance

Dustydazzler · Mar 24, 2022

You sure can put a single socket behind the TD and put a swi spur above the worktop to turn it on/off

Some of the purest will say you have 2 fuses in series but in reality that doesn't make a jot of difference in this instance

Am extension lead is a bit DIY but again it will work and is cheaper than paying to have a new socket installed

Intoelectrics · Mar 24, 2022

Did you ask what legislation he/she was referring to? There are guidelines and standards that have to be adhered to and special locations, things like bath rooms etc require extra measures and have more restrictions for electrical services, though a utility room doesn't generally come under this category.

There maybe other reasons why the electrician refused to move/add sockets. You could get a second opinion from another spark?

telectrix · Mar 24, 2022

sockets can't sometimes be behind these appliances as space may be limited, and then you can't push the bloody dryer into position. under trhe sink is fine. a waterleak can come from anywhere. however, the use of an extension lead is bad pracrtice. cheap imports usually burn out with anything more power hungry than a phone charger.

Rednblack · Mar 24, 2022

Thanks for your replies, which generally confirm what I was thinking. I haven't actually had chance to speak to him yet, but he told my partner this and she didn't argue as she wasn't to know.
Ok, so to minimise work and cutting out already plastered walls, if I asked him to put a socket behind the washing machine (there is plenty of room) could he then locate the isolation switch in the cupboard rather than above the worktop?

Dustydazzler · Mar 24, 2022

Rednblack said:
Thanks for your replies, which generally confirm what I was thinking. I haven't actually had chance to speak to him yet, but he told my partner this and she didn't argue as she wasn't to know.
Ok, so to minimise work and cutting out already plastered walls, if I asked him to put a socket behind the washing machine (there is plenty of room) could he then locate the isolation switch in the cupboard rather than above the worktop?

Yes you could pop a swi spur in the cupboard and run some mini trunking to a new single socket behind the TD

mattg4321 · Mar 24, 2022

I wouldn’t locate sockets behind washing machines/dryers if I can help it. They are a pain to get at when needed and seen a few melted into the back of the appliances!

That’s if there is actually enough space to push the appliance back once they are fitted.

Wherever they are fitted is usually a bit of a compromise imo.

Rednblack · Mar 24, 2022

mattg4321 said:
I wouldn’t locate sockets behind washing machines/dryers if I can help it. They are a pain to get at when needed and seen a few melted into the back of the appliances!

That’s if there is actually enough space to push the appliance back once they are fitted.

Wherever they are fitted is usually a bit of a compromise imo.

I think there is enough room, if you look at the picture....it's got to be a better solution than an extension lead, wouldn't you agree?

diditrain · Mar 24, 2022

Rednblack said:
I think there is enough room, if you look at the picture....it's got to be a better solution than an extension lead, wouldn't you agree?

Loads of room

mattg4321 · Mar 24, 2022

Rednblack said:
I think there is enough room, if you look at the picture....it's got to be a better solution than an extension lead, wouldn't you agree?

It would be better than that lead for sure. I still don’t like doing it unless absolutely necessary though (which it might be in this case to be fair)

philectrical · Mar 24, 2022

Rednblack said:
I think there is enough room, if you look at the picture....it's got to be a better solution than an extension lead, wouldn't you agree?

If space is limited i've seen appliances wired into unswitched fused spurs to save the space that a plugtop would take up, meaning the appliance can go back further and/or won't burn out the plug.

Alan-N · May 28, 2022

Only legislation I can think of is zoning, the new position would need to be at same height on same wall, or above or below an existing socket, what he can't do is go diagonally from one socket to the new socket

telectrix · Oct 17, 2022

Alan-N said:
Only legislation I can think of is zoning, the new position would need to be at same height on same wall, or above or below an existing socket, what he can't do is go diagonally from one socket to the new socket

Can be outside zones if surface wired.

mainline · Oct 17, 2022

Rednblack said:
I think there is enough room, if you look at the picture....it's got to be a better solution than an extension lead, wouldn't you agree?

Why not just lengthen the dryer cable ?

littlespark · Oct 17, 2022

7 months old thread, guys. Might be done by now.

mainline · Oct 17, 2022

telectrix said:
Can be outside zones if surface wired.

littlespark said:
7 months old thread, guys. Might be done by now.

Telectrix fault

littlespark · Oct 17, 2022

mainline said:
Telectrix fault

That’s twice he’s done it this week.

Getting close to Halloween, the old boy is trying to raise the dead.

telectrix · Oct 17, 2022

littlespark said:
That’s twice he’s done it this week.

Getting close to Halloween, the old boy is trying to raise the dead.

Stuck in this hospital bed, bored ,what do you expect, apart from raising Jocks from their peat bogs and single malts??_

littlespark · Oct 18, 2022

telectrix said:
Stuck in this hospital bed, bored ,what do you expect, apart from raising Jocks from their peat bogs and single malts??_

Just had to ask…. What’s you doing in hospital? Bit old to be having the snippity-snip snip?

telectrix · Oct 18, 2022

Rednblack said:
Thanks for yo

littlespark said:

Just had to ask…. What’s you doing in hospital? Bit old to be having the snippity-snip snip?

Click to expand...

ur replies, which generally confirm what I was thinking. I haven't actually had chance to speak to him yet, but he told my partner this and she didn't argue as she wasn't to know.
Ok, so to minimise work and cutting out already plastered walls, if I asked him to put a socket behind the washing machine (there is plenty of room) could he then locate the isolation switch in the cupboard rather than above the worktop?

littlespark said:
Just had to ask…. What’s you doing in hospital? Bit old to be having the snippity-snip snip? more than 1 issue. Been leg pains worsening over past few years till I not been able to walk .. 2 different sources. .1.knee joint .onset of osteoarthritis.

2.horrendous pain from foot meeting up with #1
Then to top that. A hernia I've had for several years as just a nuisance decides to swell up to size of a melon and adds to the other pains. Also had fluid build up causing legs to swell.might be this that,s causing the hernia to swell. Both responding to treatment with some IV drippy but the £64,000 question is whether the benefit of hernia Op outweighs the risks of anasthtic .got to have heart scans and ecg in next few days. Surgeons checking golf course availability and weather

.
.

littlespark · Oct 18, 2022

Sorry to hear that, Tel.

Looks like your typing finger needs looked at as well.
Last time I was in hospital, they were trying to surgically remove a five pound note from my hand….

(Not true, but I thought I’d get in with the tight Scots joke before Tel does)

mainline · Oct 18, 2022

littlespark said:
Last time I was in hospital, they were trying to surgically remove a five pound note from my hand….

(Not true, but I thought I’d get in with the tight Scots joke before Tel does)

Pound coin was it