CJ You need to vent the dryer to outside. The problem is not heat, it is moisture. You need a plumber to come and give you an estimate, the drain in the bathroom might be able to be used, but you have to have a certain size for the washer and it has to be vented. If the bathroom sink is on the same wall that the washer will go, it is likely that it can be used. The drain for the pan is an emergency drain and code in your area may not require that it be connected to the drain. It has the purpose of draining in the rare occasion that your washer leaks or overflows. This prevents damage to the structure. Again, you need the advice of someone who is knowledgeable about the local codes. If you are rebuilding the room, pay attention to the floor and how supported it is. A springy floor is going to be problems for a washer because they all depend on placement on the floor for part of the damping of the machine. Front Loading machines use a shock absorber type of damping and the could be problematic with old floors and joists. Top loading washers normally use some form of floating damping system that may have quite a bit of vibration. Anything that can be done to reduce vibration and spongy floors during the build will serve you well.

I still say ignore Consumer Reports and you'll be far better off. They're way too biased. If you try to use a FL on a non-basement floor, make sure you get it in writing that you have a full-credit return option if there's any problem. And now there's options for heaters on TL models too. Harmony has one, Oasis has one and if rumors are true, Bravos will soon have one which would mean the Cabrio wouldn't be far behind. Speed Queen and Fisher & Paykal TLs would also be good options. With both you can have deep rinses. SQ gives a decent spin speed and the F&P is a high spin speed. I was skeptical so I decided to do a quick search on the comment that everyone says you must have a FL with a heater. I looked at the first five links and not one made that requirement! One of the first sites on the list, along with a lot more, had this to say: Washing Machines A simple, inexpensive top loader cleans best. Some families actually buy a second washing machine, and love having 2 machines for their growing families long after the diapering years are over. That's not an option for everyone, but if you do find yourself in a position to purchase a new washer, do NOT buy a low water machine, unless you have a very real need to conserve water. A standard, simple top-loader cleans best. Super-heated cycles on expensive washers are not recommended for diapers since they will destroy the cotton, and the super-heating is not necessary. From our experience, very expensive front loading washers and automatic water level top loading machines make diaper washing more difficult than a simple, inexpensive top loader. More expensive does not mean "better at cleaning" when it comes to the price of washers. Except however, if you can get a warm rinse that is nice to have, because warm water helps rinse detergent residue easier than cold water. So, if you were about to buy a $1,300.00 washer, buy a nice $300 or $400.00 top loader instead and you just came up with $900.00 to spend on a very fancy cloth diaper wardrobe! It went on to say that FL will work fine too. Interesting comments. Many here admit that cotton diapers are best, and many here also concur that high heat damages cotton. Therefore it lends credibility that the heater might NOT be nirvana when it comes to washing diapers. The warm rinse comment was interesting too since Consumer Reports maintains that there is no difference in rinsing at cold or warm temps. But, considering CR.... I maintain there is no one best machine for everyone. Any of these mentioned will do a fine job IMO. Learning to use it properly is normally the key.

[Information first posted in the Appliances Forum by Alice (Alice_61) on 13 October 2002 - thanks, Alice!]: ------------------------------ Most front loading washing machines include an internal water heater, for good reason. It has many advantages: 1. A front loading washer uses much less water (~5 gallons) for wash portion of the cycle than a conventional top loader (~20 gallons). Consequently, heat loss in the pipes and by conduction to the washing machine become a larger fraction of the total heat available in this smaller amount of water. For instance, with a water heater set to 117F and the hot wash setting for the unheated FriGEmore [see FAQ article, "What is a FriGEmore ??"], the wash water after filling is 95F. With a water heater set to 110F, the wash water is 85F. Wash times in front loaders tend to be longer, which also increases heat loss. A clothes washer with an internal heater allows one to keep the water heater set at a safe and economical temperature (under 120F) without scald protectors and still have sufficiently hot water for thorough cleaning. 2. An internal water heater allows the washer to do a profile wash. The washer fills with cold water and then heats it as the wash tumbles. This gradual raising of the temperature allows protein stains to be removed at a low temperature, avoiding setting by higher heat. Then as the water continues to warm, detergent enzymes work at their optimal temperature and color safe bleach becomes more effective. At high tempertures, odors and oily stains are most completely removed. 3. Front loaders with internal heaters allow a maximum temperature of 130-205F (figures for Neptune and Asko respectively). These high temperatures are very effective at removing tough stains and whitening laundry without chlorine bleach. 4. Detergent is more effective at a higher temperature. The use of sufficient heat reduces the quantity of detergent needed. This reduces detergent cost and also reduces the amount of detergent that needs to be removed from the laundry during the rinse cycles. This will reduce the final amount of detergent residue in the laundry. 5. Soaking is also very effective and economical with an internal heater. The laundry can be allowed to soak or stand for an extended period, then the soak water can be heated for the main wash, if desired. 6. It can eliminate the heat loss in the hot water pipe to the washer. It also can reduce the water heater burden (although the much smaller volume of water used by a front loader makes this much less of an issue than with a top loader). ------------------------------ [first added to Appliances FAQ: 21 October 2002] [added to Laundry FAQ: 21 May 2003]

sjhockeyfan, sorry, just got back to this post. Well, when I had mine in a basement, there was a floor drain right next. When my son got locked out, and came in the basement window, he accidently knocked the drain hose loose. I didnt notice, and started a load of laundry. I went back down when it was finished, and saw what had happened. Very minor cleanup, that took about 3 or 4 minutes, because, all the water had run down the floor drain. Forward, several years, and we moved to Kentucky, not many basements here, so had a main floor laundry. I started a load of clothes, and was unpacking boxes, and getting settled, when a grandchild came down the hall and wanted to know why everything was wet. I went running, and the drain hose hadnt been fastened correctly apparently by the installers. End result, in house for 1 wk, had to replace laundry room vinyl, where water ran under it, had to replace, hall carpet and padding, and that led to replacement of dining room, which had the same carpet. Fast forward a few years, and I started laundry, and went outside to do some gardening, and came in to flooding all the way to the kitchen. The valve on back of the machine had failed to close, and water kept on running. We were able to save the kitchen floor, but, dining room, and hallway, and one bathroom, needed several weeks of work, to get them done again. In 2009, we sold that house, and bought another. We looked really hard for one with a basement, but, couldnt find anything, so I still have a main floor laundry. Hubby has since passed away, and I have kind of thought about the idea of moving back north, and if I should decide to do that in the future, you can bet, there will be a basement laundry. :-)