:)
Hi. My washer is draining off the roof vent onto the plants. I called a plumber but they wanted around $200 to fix (ballpark).
The washer is in the kitchen. It is near the sink and disposal. The sink is not stopped up.
I don't understand how the washer could be drainining through the vent and how regular water goes down the drain OK.
Should I pour a half gallon of bleach down the disposal part of the sink followed by two pots of hot water before buying a spade snake?
Please help.
Thanks,
Judah

 Hi Judah.  The only explanation for this is that your washer is on it's own branch with a solitary vent. That way if the branch drain was blocked the washer pump could possibily lift the discharge up past the roof vent.   But that doesn't make much sense when you realize the overflow should have come out the lowest opening, which is the washer stand pipe.  Also we tend to tie the washer into the kitchen drain line and use a common vent for both, in which case it should have come out the sink and not the roof vent. There is no doubt that you have a blockage in the washer drain line.  You can try pouring bleach and a few pans of boiling water  down the washer stand pipe but my guess is that you will have to snake out the line from the roof vent.  Good luck and let me know what you find.  You gave me a puzzler.  Regards,  Tom

Tom,
If I put the bleach in the drain pipe, what chance is there that the bleach would run off the roof?
Judah

Good Morning Judah,
If I put the bleach in the drain pipe, what chance is there that the bleach would run off the roof?
None providing you don't cycle the washer. If you have a handi-man I could walk him through snaking out the line, but try the bleach first. Cheers, Tom