Washing Machine Drain In Floor

[Doug]

Hi, We just bought a house. It's an older house and the washing machine drains right into a hole in the center of the floor. It appears that sometimes that the water is taking longer to drain all the way through so it's filling the area up where it's built to handle this and moving on to other areas of the floor (and potentially going to cause water problems with furniture and such in other areas in the basement).

Not sure of the right question to ask, but I'm curious as to whether or not we could do something ourselves to maybe clean out the drain (similiar to say using DrainO in a kitchen sink).

Also, roughly does anyone have any idea what kind of cost/time is involved in making this so it doesn't drain into the floor but drains underground some way?

[PipeDown]

Don't use draino at least not at first. If it fails, you end up with a toxic soup you have to bail out. Use a snake and clean the drain that way, its far more relaible and safe and cost about the same as a can or two of draino. Its probably just a cake of lint in the trap or a little further down. A plunger might also break up the clot.

As for moving the drain, it all depends on where the drain pipes are that you would tie into. Generally drain pipes under a slab are difficult to modify.

[Bob]

That drain could just go into a drainfield outside your house, which could be plugged by the washer lint.

You could try putting the end of your garden hose down the drain, then wrapping a rag around it to seal the opening, Then turn on the water. If it's just a plugged drain pipe, this may somewhat clear it.

I have no idea about the cost, but I'd sure fix it if it was my house.

Bob

[Al Bundy]

"Doug" wrote in news:1153866792.769626.226160 @s13g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

In the center of the floor?!!! WTF??? I've seen that drain hole in the middle of the floor but it's in case the washer leaks/overflows. Doesn't trash everything. In addition the regular washer drain is in the wall.

Sounds like the regular wall drain got covered over for some reason. Maybe it got clogged/leaked/whatever and they said screw it. Figure if it isn't there, it isn't non-functional.

[Dano]

Since it is an older home it is probably a 1-1/2 inch line. This is too small to take a washer without backing up. Often in older homes the washer drains into a laundry tub which acts as a resevoir while draining.

[Doug]

Right there is a tub like you're describing to take the water like you're describing but it still has a problem with water backing up in the drain on the floor. We're going to try the snake idea that was described early on and give that a try.