Plumbing problem at home.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by chorne

Hi Guys,

Mark, is the washer new? I had the same problem after installing a new
washer. The plumber told me that the new washers force the water out
at a faster rate. He heightend the drain pipe to about 5' and the problem
stopped.

Carla

This is a very true statement newer washing machine pumps produce a larger volume of water than the older ones did and many times I have had problems with an old 1-1/2 diameter stand pipe backing up with new washer installed. Most plumbers in new construction use 2 inch diameter stand pipes to accommodate the newer washers.

My guess would be it is time for replacement of the drain line. Grab hold of your wallet itsa gona cost
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[mnahrgang]

It's about 5 or 6 yrs old.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

It's about 5 or 6 yrs old.

The washing machine or the drain line?????

[mnahrgang]

The washing machine... The drain line is getting close to 40.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by mnahrgang

The washing machine... The drain line is getting close to 40.

Mark the age of your washing machine would be about when the MFG started increasing the volume of their pumps or at least when I became aware of it.

A 40 year old drain line with no telling how much corrosion spells problems.

There surely is a P-trap as you stated and it would be virtually impossible to get a auger type cleanout tool large enough to do you any help past the trap.

[mnahrgang]

Thank you all. For now I'll try the vinegar thing for a few months and see how it goes. Hopefully that's all it will take. I may try to think of a way to turn that pipe into some sort of a basin that is larger to accept more water all at once, and then drain at its leasure if that doesn't work. At this point in time it's just an annoyance and a pain in the tush to deal with.
Thanks again for all the advise.

[klott]

if the pipe deteriorated it would make the inside diameter larger, carla is right about height of pipe plus if it enters right at the main line your back up problem might be when someone else is using water in another part of the house at the same time the washer is spinning out. don't wait until you snake it out to add the vinegar, go ahead and do it now before you go to bed and last but not least make sure the washer drain hose is not too tight in the drain pipe, this can cause a siphoning action and pull debris back into the p-trap. m2cw

[wcottrell]

hard to tell from picture but that sure looks like 1 1/2 inch stand pipe and if it is will probably back up from now on until its replaced with a 2 inch p trap and stand pipe.

Regards bill

[mnahrgang]

It is 1 1/2, but the budget doesn't allow for replacing it right now. I'm going to have to live with the vineager for now. Thank you for the advise.

[Henry Valenzano, CMI]

Mark I would check with some of your fellow inspectors your area and see if they have a video scope. See what is down there before you make changes.

[Brent Potter]

I would expect there to be a vent in the wall next to the stand pipe. I would open the wall and cut a clean out into the vent to bypass the trap and make snaking easier.

Brent