DIY Fix: Washing Machine Drain Overflow
The Sunday-evening laundry can be a time for homeowners to reflect on the activities of the past week and prepare for the one ahead by ensuring their clothes are fresh and clean. Nothing can put a wrench in that plan quicker than walking into puddles of water around your washing machine. While there are multiple possible reasons for water on the floor of a laundry room, the most common culprit is a washing machine drain that is overflowing.
Most washing machines drain excess water out of the basin using a built-in pumping mechanism. This mechanism pumps water through a hose and into a standpipe, a vertical piece of pipe that connects to a main plumbing stack in the home. While newer washing machine models may have a warning light to indicate when there is a drain blockage, in older models you will want to check this manually.
If you’ve experienced a washing machine drain overflow, try these tips to fix it yourself. If you run into trouble or don’t feel confident doing this yourself, give St. Louis washing machine repair experts Diamond Appliance a call now!
How to verify and fix a washing machine drain blockage
In order to verify there is a blockage somewhere in your washing machine drain, start by running your washing machine through a drain cycle. Then, tune your attention to how long it takes the washing machine’s standpipe to fill up and subsequently overflow.
If the standpipe fills up within a few seconds of starting the drain cycle, the clog is likely located near the surface of the standpipe or in the washing machine pump hose. This type of clog can typically be addressed with a simple hand snake.
If the standpipe takes somewhere between 30 seconds to one minute to fill up, it could signal a clog location deeper in the main drain system. A clog of this nature could possibly be addressed with the use of an extended drain auger, but your best bet is to call a professional like Diamond Appliance to inspect the situation.
If the standpipe takes over a minute to fill up and overflow, it can be a signal that there is a significant clog deep in the drainage system and a professional plumber should be contacted to take a look.
Preventative future overflows
To prevent a washing machine drainpipe from overflowing, there are a number of preventative measures that can be taken. It is important to know that washing machines contain internal lint traps much like clothes dryers do, but these washing machine traps may not be as easy to locate or clean. For this reason, consider using a garment bag or lint bag when washing a load of clothes. This will help prevent lint from building up in the drainpipe system.
To help ensure proper drainage, make sure there is at least a half an inch between the drainpipe and the pump hose. This can help prevent poor drainage. Also, if your washing machine is located near a utility sink, it is certainly possible to run the pump hose right into the utility sink. If you choose this method, make sure the pump hose is securely fastened to the utility sink to prevent unexpected detachment and subsequent flooding.
Limit the quantity of detergent you use in each load. Homeowners may be surprised to learn that the amount of laundry detergent required for washing machines is much less than expected. Minimizing the amount of detergent helps to prevent unwanted soap residue from building up, which can add the clogging issues in the drainpipe system.
Finally, inspect and clean your washing machine’s hose and drain pipe regularly. Keeping these components clean can help nip small clogs in the bud, before they become significant and costly issues.
Finding water on your laundry room floor can be a scary sight, but knowing what to look for and how to prevent this situation from occurring should hopefully give homeowners added peace of mind. At Diamond Appliance, we are here to help you with all washer repair needs. We serve St. Louis, St. Charles, Kansas City, Independence, and other communities with expert Whirlpool washing machine repair, Maytag washing machine repair, GE washing machine repair, Frigidaire washing machine repair, and more. Give us a call today to schedule your repair or have your questions answered.
