Plumbing help?

Question

I need help repairing a washer drain pipe that repeatedly overflows. My plumber has been out several times and extended the vent through the roof (vent pipe is 1 1/2") and charges me tons of money each time. What can I do? Can I fix it my self? The drain is behind the washer and I don't know if there is P trap at the bottom (have to tear out drywall). The vent goes through the brickwall horizontaly then 90's vertically to the roof on the outside of the house.

Answer 1

Have you purchased a new washer? The old code for washer drains was 1-1/2". The newer washers require a 2" drain because the pumps are better and the flow is increased. The vent has nothing to do with the overflow. It may be a clogged trap on the drainline which needs to be snaked out.

Answer 2

If the vent is on a 90 degree then it could possibly be flooded ,by code vents can not exit a house greater than 45 degrees this ensures that water entering the open vent can lay in the bottom of the line in which case you will get overflow a cheap fix is to have the line drained and the install a 90 degree fitting on the top of the vent line to allow air flow but stop water from entering

Answer 3

you will need to know what size drain line u have going from the WM...if its NOT a 2" line then it should be updated to a 2" line......if it is and still overflowing....you will; need to find out how high the drain is from the p-trap......u have to have a minimum of 36" from the top of ur drain to the p-trap for water to run thru the trap without trying to back up......if the drop is too short the new WM ahve a pump on then instead of being gravity fed therefore puts out more water per minute making more volume in the line at a time.....if u have old line replace them with PVC.....if it is pvc then just make sure it is 2" pipe not the vent but the drain line HAS to be 2" and make sure u have a 36"drop from wherre the washer hose goes into ur pipe to the top of the p-trap.....hope this helps ya

Answer 4

The vent will have nothing to do with the problem. Usually the trap for thee washer drain is the same as the one used for the laundry sink. If you don't have a laundry sink. of course it will be separate. In either case the trap should have a drain plug at the bottom of the curve. That can be used to "unclog". If your trap doesn't have this plug (unlikely) It would be the best fix for your situation to change the trap. Not too expensive and you may be able to do it yourself.