Washing machine plumbing - help please
Discussion
Chaps, I helped a friend move last weekend and have popped back to plumb in the washing machine. I’m not an expert but I’ve done enough DIY jobs to think this one pretty simple... connected up, quick cycle before putting it into place and water on the floor...
The issue seems to be that the pump is able to disperse water at a faster rate than the waste plumbing downpipe can cope with. When I hear the pump, you then hear water gurgling up the pipe and then spills over the top. At first I assumed the U-bend had a blockage, so this morning tipped some drain unblocker down it. Tried again just down and same result...
Now it might still be a partial blockage, so I might nip to B&Q for some new piping. Here’s a pic of the plumbing. What do we think?
ETA sorry pic from phone on side for some reason..
The issue seems to be that the pump is able to disperse water at a faster rate than the waste plumbing downpipe can cope with. When I hear the pump, you then hear water gurgling up the pipe and then spills over the top. At first I assumed the U-bend had a blockage, so this morning tipped some drain unblocker down it. Tried again just down and same result...
Now it might still be a partial blockage, so I might nip to B&Q for some new piping. Here’s a pic of the plumbing. What do we think?
ETA sorry pic from phone on side for some reason..
Plate spinner said:
At first I assumed the U-bend had a blockage, so this morning tipped some drain unblocker down it. Tried again just down and same result...
Have you actually taken the U apart?Plate spinner said:
Here’s a pic of the plumbing. What do we think?
ETA sorry pic from phone on side for some reason..
It took me a moment to realise the photo was rotated. I was just staring and thinking "No, surely nobody..."ETA sorry pic from phone on side for some reason..
Right, thanks for your comments chaps.
Loaded a pic from a laptop, for some reason the phone was insisting it go the wrong way...
Blue U bend - taken apart and clean as a whistle
Green elbow - taken apart and clean as a whistle
Red outlet pipe - I think this could be the issue...
It just looks too horizontal and when I took the green elbow off, has water sitting there. It does drain - I've poured a bottle of drain unblocker down there. But it vanishes into the brickwork and it's an old apartment building, so I can't chase it all the way through,,,
So - I've put it all back together and I'll give it a go. The issue just seems to be that the water cannot exit through the prescribed route quick enough and gurgles up through the downpipe and over flows.
If all else fails there's an appliance junction under the sink where a dishwasher is plumbed in. She says she'd rather live without a dishwasher than a washing machine - so if need be I'll route the W/M into that and leave the D/W disconnected. Not ideal but scratching my head about what else to do bar getting someone in to start sorting internal pipework...
Haha, I said I'd help sort this thinking it'd take 15mins max.
Loaded a pic from a laptop, for some reason the phone was insisting it go the wrong way...
Blue U bend - taken apart and clean as a whistle
Green elbow - taken apart and clean as a whistle
Red outlet pipe - I think this could be the issue...
It just looks too horizontal and when I took the green elbow off, has water sitting there. It does drain - I've poured a bottle of drain unblocker down there. But it vanishes into the brickwork and it's an old apartment building, so I can't chase it all the way through,,,
So - I've put it all back together and I'll give it a go. The issue just seems to be that the water cannot exit through the prescribed route quick enough and gurgles up through the downpipe and over flows.
If all else fails there's an appliance junction under the sink where a dishwasher is plumbed in. She says she'd rather live without a dishwasher than a washing machine - so if need be I'll route the W/M into that and leave the D/W disconnected. Not ideal but scratching my head about what else to do bar getting someone in to start sorting internal pipework...
Haha, I said I'd help sort this thinking it'd take 15mins max.
Ah - update. The kitchen is the next room to the bathroom which makes sense.
The pipe I highlighted in red also picks up the bath waste pipe. She has mentioned that when having a shower the water builds up and doesn't exit fast enough - it drains eventually, but it's slow.
This must be the issue?
There's crap in that pipe which is reducing the flow dramatically and hence water is finding the next best place to go - in the W/M case, out the top of the down pipe?
I've sent her out to buy more drain unblocker, this time to pour down the bath plug hole...
The pipe I highlighted in red also picks up the bath waste pipe. She has mentioned that when having a shower the water builds up and doesn't exit fast enough - it drains eventually, but it's slow.
This must be the issue?
There's crap in that pipe which is reducing the flow dramatically and hence water is finding the next best place to go - in the W/M case, out the top of the down pipe?
I've sent her out to buy more drain unblocker, this time to pour down the bath plug hole...
Plate spinner said:
If all else fails there's an appliance junction under the sink where a dishwasher is plumbed in. She says she'd rather live without a dishwasher than a washing machine - so if need be I'll route the W/M into that and leave the D/W disconnected. Not ideal but scratching my head about what else to do bar getting someone in to start sorting internal pipework...
If the sink/dishwater connections drains ok then you can get appliance traps like this one with two connections so you can connect both dishwasher & washing machine. https://www.screwfix.com/p/mcalpine-appliance-trap...
If the sink waste just goes to the same pipe as the current washing machine though it isn't going to help if you have a problem downstream.
Mr Pointy said:
If the sink/dishwater connections drains ok then you can get appliance traps like this one with two connections so you can connect both dishwasher & washing machine.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mcalpine-appliance-trap...
If the sink waste just goes to the same pipe as the current washing machine though it isn't going to help if you have a problem downstream.
Cheers, I’ll pop back next weekend and go for this solution. https://www.screwfix.com/p/mcalpine-appliance-trap...
If the sink waste just goes to the same pipe as the current washing machine though it isn't going to help if you have a problem downstream.
Everything is clean, just seems that the new washing machine has a pump rate chucking out water faster than the current plumbing twists and turns can cope with.
Sink waste pipes seem fine and can cope with the taps on full. Plus, plus if there’s any excess flow rate, I’d rather it momentarily came onto the mixer sunk rather than all over the floor.
Thanks for the help.
I would vote that a plunger over the bath drain would help a lot - you may have to block the overflow to the bath and the drain where you stick the washer drain pipe, but getting a good blast of water would dislodge a lot of crud.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/plumbing-tools-by-rothe...
https://www.screwfix.com/p/plumbing-tools-by-rothe...
Peanut Gallery said:
I would vote that a plunger over the bath drain would help a lot - you may have to block the overflow to the bath and the drain where you stick the washer drain pipe, but getting a good blast of water would dislodge a lot of crud.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/plumbing-tools-by-rothe...
Much prefer these types of Plungershttps://www.screwfix.com/p/plumbing-tools-by-rothe...
https://www.screwfix.com/p/sink-bath-unblocker/138...
But I do agree drain unblock chemicals only work when it's blocked - block up any overflows to stop pressure escaping and that should enable the blast of water to do a good job
Haha, right I’ll round this one off...
Bought a hose extension, drilled the carcass so I could route the waste pipe up under the sink and put an appliance tee into the existing trap set up.
Ran a cycle and it all worked, no leaks... but the W/M waste has enough flow pressure to defeat the u bend capabilities and starts to pool water upwards into the 1/2 sink!!! It then retreats again when the pump stops and the u bend can handle the flow. I checked when taking it apart - it’s all clean and no sludge or blockages.
She says it’s fine, better to collect water temporary in the sink than permanently on the floor. And she puts the machine on at night so it won’t be a practical issue. She asked what would happen if she puts the plug down to stop the water rising into the sink - my view is that pressure might build up and force a failure somewhere else. Better to let it rise and fall in the sink, but that’s so weird right ??
I can only conclude that this washing machine had a mix up at the factory and has accidentally had the bilge pump from a cross channel ferry fitted by mistake
I’m still a bit baffled though...
Bought a hose extension, drilled the carcass so I could route the waste pipe up under the sink and put an appliance tee into the existing trap set up.
Ran a cycle and it all worked, no leaks... but the W/M waste has enough flow pressure to defeat the u bend capabilities and starts to pool water upwards into the 1/2 sink!!! It then retreats again when the pump stops and the u bend can handle the flow. I checked when taking it apart - it’s all clean and no sludge or blockages.
She says it’s fine, better to collect water temporary in the sink than permanently on the floor. And she puts the machine on at night so it won’t be a practical issue. She asked what would happen if she puts the plug down to stop the water rising into the sink - my view is that pressure might build up and force a failure somewhere else. Better to let it rise and fall in the sink, but that’s so weird right ??
I can only conclude that this washing machine had a mix up at the factory and has accidentally had the bilge pump from a cross channel ferry fitted by mistake
I’m still a bit baffled though...
Edited by Plate spinner on Saturday 3rd February 16:58
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