Washer / Dryer for Mar Vista homes
Mar Vista is largely 1940s-50s ranch homes occupied by long-term family owners. Most homes have a side-by-side laundry room or a converted garage corner with full-size hookups. Original cast iron drain standpipes and copper supply pipe are common in untouched homes. Shut-off valves from the 1960s-70s are often overdue for replacement, and vent hoses become brittle after 15 to 20 years. The renovation pace in Mar Vista is moderate — many homes have had partial laundry-area updates during prior projects, but plenty still carry original hardware.
Family-oriented homeowners often replace washer-dryer pairs as a single project rather than swapping one at a time. Budget $150 to $280 for side-by-side on existing hookups, $200 to $320 if shut-off valve replacement or vent hose swap is needed. The standard upgrade is a mid-range Whirlpool, LG, or Samsung pair ($800 to $1,800). Garage laundry conversions are common — original 1940s detached garages often have a corner plumbed for laundry, and the family-owner pattern means the same units have been there for a decade or two before replacement. Sloped garage floors require extra leveling time on the washer. Pedestal additions are popular in homes where the primary laundry is used daily. Earthquake straps are mandatory on any stacked install. Gas dryer install on an existing valve runs $180 to $280.
About washer / dryer
Washer and dryer installation is the work of placing two heavy appliances into a laundry space, connecting them to water, drain, electrical, and (for gas dryers) gas, and verifying that the first cycle runs without leaks, vibration, or vent issues. A washer alone weighs 200 to 300 pounds out of the box, a dryer adds another 100 to 150 pounds, and the connections behind them are the part that fails most often when the work is rushed. A proper install covers positioning the units in the laundry niche, hooking up the hot and cold water supply lines on the washer, securing the drain hose into the standpipe or laundry sink, plugging the washer into a 120-volt outlet, plugging an electric dryer into a 240-volt outlet (or connecting a gas dryer to an existing gas valve), attaching a 4-inch flexible vent duct from the dryer to the outdoor exhaust, leveling both units so the washer does not walk during spin, and running a short test cycle to confirm everything holds.
Read the full Washer / Dryer guide →Pricing in Mar Vista
$140–380 typical range for Mar Vista jobs.
Side-by-side install on existing electric hookups in Los Angeles runs $140 to $240 for the labor alone. This covers positioning the washer and dryer in the laundry niche, connecting hot and cold supply lines, attaching the drain hose, plugging in the 120-volt washer cord and the 240-volt dryer cord, attaching a flexible vent duct, leveling both units, and running a short test cycle. Most jobs in this range take 60 to 90 minutes from arrival to clean exit.
Mar Vista washer / dryer FAQ
My 1948 Mar Vista ranch has the laundry in the garage. Will the install be more involved?+
Slightly. Garage floors are usually sloped for drainage, which means extra leveling work on the washer. The hookups themselves are usually fine if they were installed properly, though the shut-off valves and vent hoses may be original — plan for $40 to $80 in valve work or vent hose replacement on top of the standard install.
How do I know if my supply lines need replacing?+
If they are under 8 years old and visibly clean (no white crusting, no rust spots, flexible braid intact), keep them. If they are over 12 years old, replace during the install. $15 to $25 for a pair, trivial insurance against laundry-room flooding from a burst line.
Is pedestal addition worth it in a Mar Vista family home?+
If you use the laundry daily and bend over to load it, yes. Pedestals raise the unit 13 inches for ergonomics and add $80 to $140 in labor each. The pedestal itself is $200 to $400 from the manufacturer.
How long does a Mar Vista install with valve and vent work take?+
Side-by-side electric on existing hookups: 90 to 120 minutes including the likely add-ons. Stacked: 120 to 150 minutes including the kit lift, leveling, and earthquake straps. Plan a 2-hour window to be safe.
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