Washing machine drain backup

[2 cents]

Every so often I get water coming out of the drain when the washing machine empties (it's a newer model). I'm trying to avoid having to raise the drain and associated plumbing hence my work around of adding the additional pipe in parallel but the problem still persists. Any suggestions or blantant mistakes in my configuration?

Thanks

[oldslowchevy]

I AM NOT A PLUMBER!!! there that being said i do not see a vent i also have never seen anything like what you have(did your plumber get paid by the amount of fittings he could use or what?) i do not under stand the 2 45degree wyes like they are and what is that tank they go into? i know this does not answer your question but i hope the plumber here can enlight me as well

[freddy]

Try running snake down drain to unstop line. would be the easy way to start with. freddy

[plumberscrack]

I AM NOT A PLUMBER!!! there that being said i do not see a vent i also have never seen anything like what you have(did your plumber get paid by the amount of fittings he could use or what?) i do not under stand the 2 45degree wyes like they are and what is that tank they go into? i know this does not answer your question but i hope the plumber here can enlight me as well

I AM A PLUMBER!!! and I don't know WTF I'm looking at there. Is that suppose to be a loop vent above the trap? Or did you add that piping to contain the backup? That has to be a lint trap I see there. Where does the other 2" PVC line go? Does that line ever back up? Did it backup befor new washer? I would have done it differently not to say what you have is wrong. Try snaking it 1st (if you can get a snake to go through all those fittings) then we can discuss changing the piping. Do you get suds coming out or just water?

~Bill

[2 cents]

I AM A PLUMBER!!! and I don't know WTF I'm looking at there. Is that suppose to be a loop vent above the trap? Or did you add that piping to contain the backup? That has to be a lint trap I see there. Where does the other 2" PVC line go? Does that line ever back up? Did it backup befor new washer? I would have done it differently not to say what you have is wrong. Try snaking it 1st (if you can get a snake to go through all those fittings) then we can discuss changing the piping. Do you get suds coming out or just water?

~Bill
Bill

I added the piping to try and contain the backup. The other PVC line goes to a laundry sink and I only have a problem there if I'm running the sink and the washer is emptying at the same time. I will try snaking the pipe, I know it was snaked 3 years ago when we had a major backup (the upstairs kitchen sink contents were coming into the laundry tub). As far as I can tell it's just water coming out. It's a front load machine so we are using the HE detergent.

[plumberscrack]

Ah a front loader..NICE:cool: . Watch the amount of soap you use.

3 years in between stoppages is not bad at all.:rolleyes:

[Woussko]

Just for fun here's a picture of a real front loading clothes washer.:D I doubt anyone would really want one for home use though. :o

Bill and Rick are the guys that will help you. I know nothing about anything other than trashing forums.:eek:

[Hondahead]

Any suggestions or blantant mistakes in my configuration?

Your washer has no vent. Your configuration has created an S-trap. Your stand pipe (washer discharge pipe) is too short.

I suggest you remove everything from the wye that ties the washer to the sink on, including the 90 above the no hub coupling.

Starting from the no hub place a TY facing to the left to pick up the washer above that another TY facing right to pick up the sink and then above that (min 4")an auto air vent (Oatley or studor) Pipe your washer stand pipe as tall as possible but do not exceed 36".

That will solve your piping problem but you may still have a partial blockage in the under slab piping.

[Hondahead]

Note to potential flamers

I relize my suggested solution isn't ideal, but it will work a hell of a lot better than whats already there.:)

[drtyhands]

2 cents,

The 2" pipe that continues horizonally into the wall adjacent to the wm supply wall, what is it connected to?

[apf]

Holy Crap ..........

[drtyhands]

Holy Crap ..........
______CLASSIC______
_________:) ________

[PLUMBER RICK]

Every so often I get water coming out of the drain when the washing machine empties (it's a newer model). I'm trying to avoid having to raise the drain and associated plumbing hence my work around of adding the additional pipe in parallel but the problem still persists. Any suggestions or blantant mistakes in my configuration?

Thanks

2 cents, you don't have a vent and you have a trap that i'm not familiar with. without a vent, you will have issues of slow draining and possible siphoning of the trap seal. what is the line that you tie into the ground? looks like old cast iron? the 2 worst fixtures in a residential installation are kitchens and laundry:eek:

rework the vent and trap, and snake the line or jet it.

rick.

[2 cents]

It's connected to a laundry sink.

[Gene Bickford]

2 cents,
Roots or partial clog in you main line(pipe that exits home to town sewer) could also be your problem. You say that back up "happens every so often" not every time. This leads me to believe you have a main line problem.
Does it seem to happen after you have used lots of water elsewhere? Like taking a shower then doing laundry soon after.
When roots first start to cause problems water can still get through just not as fast. I.E.You take a shower and the water is starting to back up in the main line. Once you stop using water the back up will slowly go down and you will never notice it. But if you continue to add a large volume of water(washing machine) it will backup.
Are the back ups happening more often?
Roots are a common problem this time of year in Maine and living in Portland I assume you live in an older home that has an older main line sewer.
TO TEST:
Find the pipe that exits your home. Close by you should find a clean out cap. Remove this cap(slowly, it may be holding water. If it starts to leak water then close the cap) If the line is not holding water then run your bath tub for a while. If the line is already holding water or you start getting water coming back (a small amount is normal) when you run the tub then the problem is in the main line.

[FINER9998]

And shouldn't there be a P trap somewhere in the drain line within 2 feet of the riser into which the washer hose empties?

[westcoastplumber]

Every so often I get water coming out of the drain when the washing machine empties (it's a newer model). I'm trying to avoid having to raise the drain and associated plumbing hence my work around of adding the additional pipe in parallel but the problem still persists. Any suggestions or blantant mistakes in my configuration?

Thanks


Guys, that white thing is a drum trap, I am almost positive, look up illegal traps, and that will be in the list. All that needs to be cut out, so many better ways to do a washing machine stand pipe and laundry tie in. oh well, just wanted to give you the heads up on the trap:)

[Crappy days]

That is a swivel drum trap. They were used on tubs mostly, never seen one on a laundry. Unscrew the clean out on the bottom ,make sure there is no lint inside. Then when you get a chance rip it all out, and replace as previously stated.

[Crappy days]

The drum trap is great for catching rings and stuff, not so good for sand and lint. I saw these a few times , back east . They were usually made out brass or copper and used on claw foot tubs.

[Crappy days]

Next time anyone goes on a cruise or high end yacht. If the boat is made by the Germans or Swedes, you will probably see traps similar to this.

[BHD]

I was told when I first started working that Drum traps were put on bath tubs do to the larger water capacity in that they would not evaporate out, when bathing was done weekly or monthly, ("the Saturday night bath"). I can't fine any documentation on that tho.

Until a few years ago the old "wash house" was still standing on the farm here, it was a small building that the folks and the Grand parents had used for bathing and laundry before plumbing, it was near the windmill, windmill feed a over head tank in it that held about 50 gallons then over flowed in to the storage tank for the cattle, and a wood cook stove with reservoir, the bath tub was a steel galvanized, oblong tub, like a wash tub, see picture.
Mom had a gas powered washing machine with a foot pedal start on it, she could never get it started by her self, only with with dads help, but it was better than the wash tub and a scrub board, the water was dumped into a pipe and drained onto the garden. (similar to picture).
They had a gravity feed for water into the house from the tank in the wash house to the kitchen sink (no hot water in the house except for the kitchen wood stove reservoir), and the other plumbing fixture was a little white building about 75' north of the back door.

[2 cents]

Update on Washing machine drain backup

I ripped out all of the plumbing which was actually 1 1/2" pipe instead of the recommended 2" pipe.

While the wife was running water in the upstairs drain I was peering into the floor drain when I saw the water starting to rise. I went to my favorite big box store and rented a mini rooter. Good times! Now I know why a plumber would charge $200. After running it through the line a couple of times we were able to run water upstairs with no effects showing up in the downstairs drain. There definately was a partial blockage.

I'm currently redoing the plumbing with 2" pipe, more or less to Hondahead's suggestion.

I have a new respect and appreciation for the plumbers out there. You can't just glue a couple of pieces of pipe together and think you're a plumber! This forum has really proved to be a valuable tool and I thank everyone for their input.

[rafterq]

[QUOTE=2 cents;79238]Update on Washing machine drain backup



While the wife was running water in the upstairs drain I was peering into the floor drain when I saw the water starting to rise. I went to my favorite big box store and rented a mini rooter. Good times! Now I know why a plumber would charge $200. After running it through the line a couple of times we were able to run water upstairs with no effects showing up in the downstairs drain. There definately was a partial blockage.

QUOTE]

$200 to clear a secondary drain!? hmmm...I better update my price list. :eek:

[All Clear Sewer]

$200 to clear a secondary drain!? hmmm...I better update my price list. :eek:

Me Too! :D