Getting it in the house

[RoJoHen]

I bought a new dryer today and struggled to get it in the house. We had to take it out of the box in order to get it in the front door. My house is 100+ years old, so things like doorways and stairs are a little more narrow than you might find in a more modern house.

Now that it's in the house, I have no way to get it into the basement where it belongs. The stairs are too narrow, and they turn 90s degrees halfway down. I have no idea how I'm going to do this.

The only thing that confuses me about this is that there's already a washer and dryer down there, not to mention a furnace that was only installed a few years ago! How did they get there? The house wasn't built around them!

This house is tricky. We had to dismantle the other stairway just to get our beds upstairs when we first moved in.

 

[Venardhi]

Take it apart and rebuild it downstairs. Simple solution.

 

[RoJoHen]

I could. I have considered it. I'm just not sure I trust myself to do that.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

 

[RoJoHen]

I seriously do not miss moving. I've been in this house 2.5 years, which is the longest I've been anywhere since I still lived at home.

 

[trekkiedane]

When I moved into the place where I'm still living (~8 years), there was a not entirely dissimilar problem with the cellar-stairs and a washing machine...

Apparently the washer that was in place, had not worked as long as the other occupants of the building had been living here... it's still down there - and now there are even two more


ETA:

I do however miss moving: I usually got rid of a lot of useless stuff in every move, by staying put for a few years I've managed to fill up about as much of the cellar as I have room in my apartment

 

[Pingfah]

Are the stairs boxed in on either side, or is it possible to lower the machine over the edge, instead of carrying it down the stairs?

 

[J.T.B.]

I could. I have considered it. I'm just not sure I trust myself to do that.

Most washers and dryers have a fairly easy process to remove the door and the metal cabinet, leaving a frame and the innards. Whether that will get you enough maneuvering room, only one way to find out. Disassembling further than that I wouldn't try unless you have a good idea of what you're doing.

 

[Lindley]

Many older houses have a "storm door" to the basement. If you have one, it might be easier to get things in that way.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

If you can see the main floor from the basement (ie: no ceiling in the basement), look for a section that might have been cut & removed.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Oh God, I thought you were talking about getting "it" in the house.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Oh God, I thought you were talking about getting "it" in the house.

Through the backdoor?

 

[RJDiogenes]

In our old house, we always had to take stuff into the basement through the outside bulkhead. The stairs were removable for the really big and awkward stuff.

 

[RoJoHen]

If you can see the main floor from the basement (ie: no ceiling in the basement), look for a section that might have been cut & removed.

I don't think I've ever even seen a basement that didn't have a ceiling.

 

[RoJoHen]

Oh God, I thought you were talking about getting "it" in the house.

Through the backdoor?

Incidentally, my college roommates and I lived in a house that we nicknamed "The Butt Sex House," specifically because you had to enter through the rear....

In our old house, we always had to take stuff into the basement through the outside bulkhead. The stairs were removable for the really big and awkward stuff.

It would have fit fine through the outside cellar door except that at some point in this house's life somebody built a second door in between the cellar and the basement, and the door frame was too narrow for the dryer to fit inside.

We ended up having to dismantle the dryer, and even then it barely fit. But it's in, and it works, and now I'm going to do some laundry!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

If you can see the main floor from the basement (ie: no ceiling in the basement), look for a section that might have been cut & removed.

I don't think I've ever even seen a basement that didn't have a ceiling.

OK, "no suspended or other finished ceiling"....smart-arse

 

[RoJoHen]

If you can see the main floor from the basement (ie: no ceiling in the basement), look for a section that might have been cut & removed.

I don't think I've ever even seen a basement that didn't have a ceiling.

OK, "no suspended or other finished ceiling"....smart-arse

Even then, I've never seen a basement that wasn't completely enclosed...because the rest of house sits on top of it.

 

[Captrek]

If you can see the main floor from the basement (ie: no ceiling in the basement), look for a section that might have been cut & removed.

I don't think I've ever even seen a basement that didn't have a ceiling.

I once saw a photograph of a basement with no ceiling. It was in Oklahoma after a tornado.

 

[RoJoHen]

If you can see the main floor from the basement (ie: no ceiling in the basement), look for a section that might have been cut & removed.

I don't think I've ever even seen a basement that didn't have a ceiling.

I once saw a photograph of a basement with no ceiling. It was in Oklahoma after a tornado.

I built homes with Habitat for Humanity in Oklahoma once, and was amazed that none of them even had basements! I couldn't wrap my head around that. Where are you supposed to take cover?!

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Oh God, I thought you were talking about getting "it" in the house.

Me too!!

That would have been more interesting. OR rather, it would have been interesting