Plumbing advice required

[moncton golden flames]

The hose that empties the water from my washing machine, is loosely fitted into a vertical drain coming out of the wall about 24" above the floor. Not always, but often enough, the drainage water sometimes overflows the drain pipe and goes all over the floor. I don't even know where to start, other than calling a plumber to take a peek at it, which I would rather not do at this point...$$$). My thoughts are that the water empties faster than the drain can take it away (maybe a machine issue) or there is no vent stack or there is something plugging the drain somewhere on it's route. Does anybody have any experience with this sort of problem or any recommendations to a great plumber if I can't figure it out on my own?

[moncton golden flames]

damn it, wrong forum....any way a mod could move it to OT?

[Bobblehead]

Time to call Roto-rooter.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by fotze

If it worked before it is probably plugged, could be in the utube thing, dump a few jugs of drano down the pipe and let it sit for a long time. A cheap $8 fix that may or may not work.

If you are reffering to a water trap that you find under most sinks, I don't think you would find one of those on a washing machine drain, and you really wan't to be careful with that Drano stuff.

You can by a pretty long "snake" type thing that you ram down the drain pipe, it has a handle on the outside end that you turn that spins a drill type device on the business end and it chews through whatever is causing the blockage. You likely have a build up lint in the pipe. Failing that, that one second plumber stuff is pretty good and should have an attachment that will form a reasonable seal on the drain pipe. Safer than the corrosive Drano as all it does is blast air down the pipe. Make sure you have some water in it prior to firing it though, it needs something to push against.

[moncton golden flames]

I tried the Drano approach already, and no results.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by fotze

You may be right but why wouldn't there be a utube? That is what keeps the sewer stank from coming in.

Agreed but I don't think you are allowed to bury traps behind a wall, they must be easy to get access in case they become clogged. I know mind does not for sure. Not all drain lines have them. In my place and my parents, the main sewer line is covered up by a vented cap, meaning you can acutaly see water from showers and sinks and such rushing by. Water from toilets, however, does not pass through the same line.

[ken0042]

I'm no plumber, but the trap for my tub in the basement is below the level of the concrete, and it passed inspection. Take it for whatever that's worth.

[HockeyPuck]

Sounds like a plug to me.... I had the same thing happen - I didn't get a plumber in, I just rented a plumbing snake from Home Depot. IIRC, you can rent 2 sizes and it's relatively inexpensive and easy to do. My washing machine drain pipe is right next to my main stack, so I just had to open up the big clean out on the main stack. Send the snake down and you should be good to go... make sure you wear gloves and coveralls.... nasty job - especially when you begin to recoil the snake... Also, make sure you have some help, those plumbing snakes aren't something you can toss around by yourself... Just curious, do you have cast iron plumbing in your house?

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by HockeyPuck

Just curious, do you have cast iron plumbing in your house?

Not from what I can see. The drain pipe coming out of the wall is a black PVC type pipe, and all the other sinks on the house are PVC as well. The house is about 48 yrs old, which kind of surprises me.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Agreed but I don't think you are allowed to bury traps behind a wall, they must be easy to get access in case they become clogged. I know mind does not for sure. Not all drain lines have them. In my place and my parents, the main sewer line is covered up by a vented cap, meaning you can acutaly see water from showers and sinks and such rushing by. Water from toilets, however, does not pass through the same line.

there is still a trap, just a glued one, doesn't unscrew.