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Please Help! Plumbing Problem!?

Hi all, I really have a stumper. The waste water drain line to my washer keeps backing up when the washer tries to spin it out. I have replaced the vent system so that it has suction, I have taken out the p trap, all of the lines are slanting down hill and it is still backing up water. All of the other plumbing in the house works great except the water being drained from the washer. The is no blockage that I am aware of. The house was recently purchased and by the looks of the laundry room floor that I just had to replace, noone else has been able to figure out this problem either. Suggestions are extremely welcome. I am at a loss. Thank you for your time.

Public Comments

  1. How high is the stand pipe from the trap?
  2. If the line is not blocked-which is what I would suspect, then maybe the line is too small for the flow generated by the pump on the washer. Maybe you can put a short piece of pipe or tubing into the drain hose to restrict the flow. If cutting the flow in half does not prevent the overflow, then either it is blocked or not vented well enough. It doesn't take much vent.
  3. There must be something in the drain pipe itself. You've already checked all of the other lines so what's left? There could be something in the line that moves when water from a different line runs, but blocks the pipe when the washer drains. I've seen small toys and pieces of plastic do this. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but it's hard to assess a problem sight unseen.
  4. Often the soap will partially clog the drain line. Snake it out.
  5. You did not mention the use of a snake to rheem the line. which should have been done before replaceing any parts Rheem it from the washer hose inlet to it's connection with your main drain line.This will fix to problem or help you locate it. Proper connection at main drain should be checked. hope this resolves your situation. AL
  6. Snake the drain and then connect a garden hose to the hot water line from your washer and put the end in the drain and see if it takes the full water stream while you hold it there.If it takes it at first then slows and backs up you may have to get a professional with a longer power snake to clear the smaller drain to the main sewer or drain.If you have some mechanical aptitude and a fair amount of strength you may be able to rent a power snake but be warned it can be a lot to handle.
  7. If you are absolutely certain there is no obstruction in the pipe. If the drain line for the washer is 1 1/2 pipe, it is to small, it should be 2". 1 1/2 may work for awhile but it doesn't take much for it to become a problem. I'd also suggest putting the P-trap back in place, sewer gas can come back in to the house if you don't. Without actually seeing it, I couldn't say if it is vented properly. 1. check the drain pipe sizing 2. verify that the line is PROPERLY vented 3. if the pipe is made of galvanized steel or is cast iron, it is possible that it has rusted internally and the diameter has been reduced. If you're not familiar with plumbing codes or systems, I do suggest you call a professional. Worst case scenario you'll have to replace some piping and maybe add an inline vent. The alternative is your floor being ruined.
  8. I'm the other half of the plumbing team on this problem. We have a correct vent. Right now it's venting into the attic, maybe 8 foot above the drain line starting point, if we can figure out the problem, we're going to put a one way vent valve on top of the vent pipe in the attic. We are also going to replace the p-trap since it's not the problem. Basically, we were taking out any flow restriction we could to simplify the flow. 1-1\2" diameter pipe shouldn't be a problem. Had one at my other house for years with no problem. My next guess is the cast iron line that it ties into. I'm thinking of replacing it with PVC up to the next drain, about 20'.
  9. Old house, old cast iron pipe, old problem, new owners..... Sounds like someone in the past either broke the drain line from the washer or it was never hooked to the sewer system... i.e. it was a grey water system that has filled with the usual... dirt, roots, etc... Either snake it out and find out where and which is the problem, or run a brand new drain line to the washer!!!!
  10. Your stand pipe, the pipe that brings air to the water as it goes down, is to short. It should be about 18 to 24 inches above the water going down. This happens with most drains, your problem, your not alone. The water coming out of the washer is just to much, to fast and it has to many suds in it, creating a vacuum and it takes several seconds to "breathe" in this time, it goes over. If this doesn't help ? Your drain line should be a 1.5 inch line also.