Most od these appliances are connected in this manner, because the appliance has an access panel between the washer and dryer that allows you to reach the valves, drain and power connections.

So I am not understanding your answer snoonyb. If I leave the valves at the back of the washer, they can be reached through the access panel? I'm assuming my washer/dryer will have that access panel. If that is the case, I can leave them where they are placed now, which would relieve me.

In my experience an appliance dolly is required to move the stackable unit out of the nook, just in order to reach the hoses. I haven't encountered an access panel. My suggestion would be to use flood safe hoses. They have a integral valve that stops the flow if a leak is sensed.

Correct.

The appliance PDF will show this, if it's the case.

Also, have the plumber put in a single handle cutoff valve that controls both the hot and cold.

Here is a link that might be useful: washer valve

Renov8r,

If your machines are a frontloader pair that can be installed either as stacked or not, then there is no access panel to reach through/behind the machines.

Snoonyb is referring to a unitary stacked set manufactured as stacked and only usable that way (NOT "stackable" in that they can be used as non-stacked), which typically consists of a toploader washer on the bottom section with a dryer mounted atop and a spacer panel between.

Flood-Safe hoses can cause problems with some washers nowadays that fill using a series of brief spurts ... the safety valve in the hose may erroneously detect the fill pattern as a leak/failure.

That's good to know about the flood safe hoses.

I had an issue installing a set of those on a stackable unit. After I left, the client called to report that the washer would not fill with hot water but the rinse cycle was working. It turns out that when I initially turned on the water, I did so too abruptly and it triggered the check valve in the flood safe hose.

I had to bring back the appliance dolly and move the unit back out of the closet, remove, check, and replace the hoses. Then we tested the wash cycles BEFORE rolling the unit back into the closet. The real PITA was the client lives in a 30th floor condo in downtown San Francisco. The building did not have extra parking for maintenance guys. I really could have avoided the second trip.

I got my problem fixed I hope. We are moving the box with the water valves into the back of the coat closet directly beside the washer/dryer cabinet. Thanks for your help.