Washing machine problems?

Question

When my washing machine empties after each cycle, it overflows the drain in the wall. I ran a plumbers snake through the pipe and found no blockage. If I shut the machine down a few times as it drains out I can keep the pipe from overflowing. Could the washer be pumping the water out too quickly? The machine is at least 16 years old.

Answer 1

More than likely, your machine is pumping the water too fast. Old ones seem to do that. You can try a larger pipe? You said you already used a snake, but maybe you didn't get far enough? If you have an old house with old pipes (lead pipes?), it may be there's buildup in the pipes, and not really a blockage. You may have to replace them, or get a new washer.

Answer 2

what if the blockage is somewher further downstream???

if you were able to access the pipe with the plumbers snake, maybe try to pour something in the pipe - like some liquid cleaner and leave it there for some time. it can be just partially bloked so the water flows too slowly. it happens in hot days when bacteria grow faster and the bacterial growth on say a piece of fluff can partially block pipes - this happened to me a weak ago in the bathroom sink

Answer 3

My guess is, that you dont have a nylon sock over the overflow hose, that goes into the drain!

You have been pumping lint, down that hole for 16 years, and now, its hardened like concrete, some where down the line!

I would run a snake, clear out to the man hole, (the place where your sewer line drops into, as everyones sewer line ends up), and then you should have no problem for awhile...

Get a nylon stocking on there, and secure it with a hose clamp, so that you catch all the lint and it doesnt plug up the system anymore...

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 4

Do the nylon sock trick, snake it out again, and this time pour some drano max gel down the pipe to clear the pipe out of any clotting due to build up of hardened gunk on the inside of the pipe.