Electrical and Systems
RV Washer and Dryer Installation, Venting and Service
Typical range
$400 to $2,500
Shop hours
2 to 10
Labor rate
$260/hr
The short answer
Washer and dryer work covers stacked and combo unit installation, plumbing and drain tie-ins, dedicated circuits, vent routing, and service on existing units. Work runs $400 to $2,500, or 2 to 10 hours at $260 per hour plus the appliance and materials.
01
What this work actually involves
Most large fifth wheels and Class A coaches come with a laundry closet that was prepped at the factory and never used, which means there is a stub for water, a drain tie-in, a 120V outlet, and sometimes a vent path. Whether that prep is actually adequate is the first thing we check. Factory drain tie-ins frequently dump into the gray tank without a proper vent or trap, which is why the coach smells like a holding tank the first time the washer discharges. Correcting that is part of a proper installation, not an extra.
Vented versus ventless is the decision that drives everything else. A vented dryer needs a real duct path to the exterior with a short run and minimal bends, and in most coaches that path does not exist without cutting a sidewall penetration. A ventless combo unit avoids that but condenses moisture and adds it to the gray tank, takes a great deal longer per load, and needs adequate electrical capacity. Neither is wrong. We size the choice to the coach and to how you actually travel.
The install detail owners underestimate is restraint and load. A washer full of water is heavy and it moves violently on spin, and a unit that is not properly secured to structure will walk out of its closet or crack a floor. Combined with the weight, the water supply and drain connections have to tolerate constant road vibration, so we use braided supply lines with proper strain relief rather than the rigid connections a house install would use. Freeze protection matters too if the coach stores in Victorville, Hesperia, or Big Bear, since a washer holds standing water in its pump.
Systems and brands we work on: Dometic, Furrion, Suburban.
Location: All work is performed at our Yorba Linda facility. We do not offer mobile, roadside, or fleet route service.
02
What the job includes
- Stacked, combo, and ventless washer dryer installation
- Factory laundry prep evaluation and correction of inadequate stubs
- Hot and cold water tie-in with braided lines and strain relief
- Drain tie-in to the gray tank with proper trap and vent
- Dedicated 120V circuit verification, upgrade, or new circuit run
- Exterior dryer vent penetration, ducting, and sealed wall termination
- Structural restraint and floor reinforcement for spin loads
- Closet modification, framing, and door fitting for a different footprint
- Winterization path so the unit can be drained for high desert storage
- Service and repair of existing units including drain and pump faults
03
When you need this service
- A laundry closet with factory prep that has never been used
- A washer that walks, bangs, or shifts during the spin cycle
- Holding tank odor entering the coach when the washer drains
- A dryer that takes several hours per load and never fully dries
- Breaker tripping when the washer heater or the dryer element runs
- Water pooling under the unit or at the supply connections
04
How we do it, step by step
- 01
Prep and capacity assessment
Existing water stubs, drain tie-in, circuit capacity, and vent options evaluated against the intended unit. Factory prep is often present but not adequate as built.
- 02
Vented or ventless decision
We walk through the tradeoff honestly. Vented dries far faster but needs a sidewall penetration and a short duct run. Ventless avoids the hole but adds water to the gray tank and doubles cycle time.
- 03
Plumbing and drain correction
Supply tied in with braided lines and strain relief, and the drain given a proper trap and vent so tank gas does not come back up into the coach.
- 04
Electrical
Circuit capacity verified against the actual appliance draw, and a dedicated circuit run where the existing outlet is shared with galley loads.
- 05
Structural mounting
Unit restrained to structure and the floor reinforced where required, because a loaded washer on spin generates loads a residential install never has to consider.
- 06
Vent, seal and test
Exterior vent penetration cut, ducted, and sealed to the sidewall, then a full wash and dry cycle run with every connection checked for leaks before delivery.
05
Pricing and posted rates
| Item | Rate or range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical job range | $400 to $2,500 | Varies with extent of damage and parts availability |
| Shop hours | 2 to 10 | Quoted after teardown, not before |
| Mechanical and electrical labor | $260 per hour | 2026 posted rate |
| Parts | 100% markup under $100, 35% over | Special order parts require a non refundable deposit at order |
| Deposit | 50% at authorization over $2,000 | Additional 25% when parts arrive on jobs over $10,000 |
| Sales tax | 7.75% on parts and materials | Labor is not taxed |
Insurance billed jobs may be billed at carrier negotiated labor rates that differ from the posted retail rates above. See all posted rates.
07
Vehicles we do this work on
Vehicle
Class A Diesel Pusher Motorhomes
A diesel pusher carries a rear-mounted diesel on a raised-rail air ride chassis, usually 34 to 45 feet with full-body paint and pa
Vehicle
Class A Gas Motorhomes
A Class A gas motorhome is a flat-front coach built on a Ford F53 or Workhorse front-engine chassis, typically 28 to 38 feet. Rear
Vehicle
Standard Fifth Wheels
A fifth wheel couples to a hitch in the truck bed through a kingpin and pin box, with a raised forward bedroom over the truck. The
Vehicle
Toy Hauler Fifth Wheels
A toy hauler fifth wheel carries a cargo garage behind the axles with a full-height rear ramp door. Load behind the axle centerlin
Vehicle
Super C Motorhomes
A Super C is a full coach body mounted on a medium duty truck chassis such as a Freightliner M2, International, or Kenworth, with
Vehicle
Park Model RVs
A park model is a towable unit up to roughly 400 square feet built with residential windows, roofing, and finishes, designed to si
Vehicle
Bus Conversions, Prevost and Marathon
A Prevost, MCI, or Van Hool conversion is a commercial motorcoach shell finished by a second-stage builder such as Marathon, Feath
08
Questions about washer and dryer installation and service
Frequently asked questions
How much does an RV washer dryer installation cost?
Work runs $400 to $2,500, or 2 to 10 hours at $260 per hour plus the appliance and materials. Dropping a combo unit into an adequate factory prepped closet is at the low end. A stacked pair with a new dedicated circuit, corrected drain and vent, a sidewall dryer vent penetration, and closet framing is at the high end.
Should I get a vented or a ventless unit?
Vented dries far faster and does not add water to your gray tank, but it requires a sidewall penetration with a short duct run, which not every coach can accommodate cleanly. Ventless avoids the hole and installs almost anywhere, but a full cycle can run three to four hours and the moisture ends up in the gray tank.
Why does my coach smell like the holding tank when the washer runs?
Because the drain was tied into the gray tank without a proper trap and vent, which is extremely common in factory laundry prep. When the pump discharges it pushes tank gas back up the line into the coach. The fix is correcting the drain with a real trap and vent, and it is a normal part of a proper installation.
Can my electrical system handle it?
On shore power almost always, though the unit usually needs its own circuit rather than sharing with galley loads. On battery and inverter power it is a different question. Heating elements in a washer and a vented dryer draw substantial current, so running laundry off a bank is not practical for most builds. We verify the capacity first.
What about freezing if I store in the high desert?
A washer holds standing water in its pump and hoses, and a night in Victorville, Hesperia, Lancaster, or Big Bear will freeze and split it. We set up the install so the unit can be drained and the lines blown out as part of your winterizing, and we show you the sequence. It is a common and entirely preventable failure.
09
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Ready to move on washer and dryer installation and service? Bring it to Yorba Linda.