Want to move my washing machine - how far can I go from the drain?

Question

I want to move my washer & dryer. It would be from inside the house to the garage, it's only about 10 feet but there is a dividing wall between the 2 areas.

The electrical for the dryer and the taps for the water in are no problems but it is the drain I need some advice with!

I've had 2 plumbers have a look. The 1st one said he'd want to tear up the floor and the garage cement to install a proper drain (he personally said he wouldn't do it if it were his house). The 2nd one talked about installing a laundry sink beside the new spot and putting in some kind of pump (?), then feed the water back to the original drain - I didn't quite understand him but the only structural work would be to put a small hole in the wall. He estimated about $1,000 for this option (not including the dryer move).

Since it's only a few feet, I'm wondering why I couldn't just get an extra long drain hose and run it through the wall? It would be maybe 8 or 9ft... Thanks!

Answer 1

You would be asking for major problems, possibly backing-up into the washer, or flooding one room or the other. You will find it violates building codes. The jet pump would have back-up protection, and the sink would have holding capacity. The proper drain is the best bet. The cheap way always causes problems, and you will knock thousands of dollars off the resale value of the house if you don't put in a proper drain. You don't mention how far the new location is from an outside wall, but you have to vent the dryer as well. You don't say where you live, but if you are in an area that experiences winter, and your garage is not heated, you will have all kinds of problems with both units, from mechanical to premature rusting. Sorry, but it is a bad idea, especially with a hose poked through the wall to save a few bucks. The washer drain pump may be strained by an over long drain hose.
Maximum drain hose you can buy appears to be 5 feet, by the way. SOME manufacturers sell longer hoses. If it isn't specifically mentioned in your manual, you know for sure you will overload your drain pump.

Answer 2

You have to be careful when doing a jerry-rig job on drains and holes through garage walls.

Drains are designed to carry waste water to the sewage system and prevent sewer gasses entering the premisses.
Methane gas (sewer gas) is highly explosive and also a health hazard. Sewer gas backup can level a house just as effective a natural gas leak. This can be triggered by a light switch spark, pilot light, match, and in extreme cases static electricity.

Punching holes through garage walls may compromise the integriry of the wall. A wall between the living quarters and the garage is design to keep out exhaust fumes and act as a fire wall. If you do not do this correctly, you are creating a health and fire hazard.

Be careful and do it right. Do not cheap out. You may be sorry.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

i could take the drain hose and placed it in a bucket and notice if the water drains in there first. only determine to provide up the gadget extremely speedy so which you do no longer drain all the water in all places. in case you get water then the gadget is draining effective. flow on the roof of the residing house and you ought to have countless vents popping out of the roof(those would be approximately 2" pipes)locate the only above the washer and run a water dampen it and function somebody turn the water on finished blast for extra or less 5 minutes to sparkling the vent.

Answer 4

washing machine pumps are not designed to pump water over long dastances thats why the hose is short and close to the machine.is space is an issuse for moving them why not get a stacking washer dryer.if you detiremined to do it the laundry sink with a proper pump will work, still why the garage?not a freindly zone for appliances?

Answer 5

A drain works by gravity.
If there's too little slope, there's not enough flow.
Even if there's a floor drain in the garage, could you live with a flooded floor every time you use the washer?

Answer 6

i would think your idea is the most economical. i would just hookm up a hose to the drain on the washer, drill a hole in the dividing wall, and insert the other end into the old drain hole in the floor. don't forget to seal it though

Answer 7

I do not see a problem with that as long as it was secure but the problem might be finding one instead of somehow rigging it,,,,,,,I would contact the maker of the machine and see if one can be bought and easily installed because the hose fits inside of the washer and you dont want to attach a hose to a hose.......that is a accident waiting to happen........