Short Answer
Failing to remove the heavy steel transit bolts from the rear of a new washing machine prior to operation will cause catastrophic structural damage to your appliance and the surrounding pipes.
You must secure specialized Y-connectors and siphon attachments to align the hoses correctly with the building's drainage infrastructure.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You connected the water lines yourself and turned on a heavy spin cycle without removing the rear shipping safety bolts from the machine casing. The appliance shook violently, detached itself from the wall valve, and flooded the ceiling of the apartment directly below you during the night. Because you bypassed an official technical installation setup, your personal liability policy rejected the claim, forcing you to pay €3,500 out of pocket for structural water damage remediation.
What To Do
- Call a certified local plumber to install the machine if the existing kitchen pipe configuration does not match standard modern sizes.
- Open the rear panel of the appliance with a wrench to physically pull out the factory transport bolts before plugging it in.
- "Können Sie die Waschmaschine fachgerecht anschließen?" (Can you connect the washing machine professionally?) — ask a technician this question to secure an official service invoice for your insurance records.
The Truth
Germany’s property framework places the absolute financial liability for water damage onto the resident who performs uncertified appliance installations. The system enforces immediate cost recovery through civil claims, treating amateur plumbing mistakes as instances of gross negligence.