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View Full Version : Washing machine backs up floor drain


vangerdahast
Oct 21, 2012, 09:55 AM
My washing machine is in the basement clear across the house from the main drain which I have been told is near the basement toilet. The distance is about 30 feet. I have had a plumber in to powersnake the drain. I have poured drain cleaners including acid down the drain. The floor drain is 1 1/2 in and transitions into 2 in pipe. Because of this 1 1/2 in floor drain, the plumber thought the whole drain line was 1 1/2 in and he recommended replacing everything from the washing machine over the toilet. Of course after opening up the floor I found that the drain was 2 in not 1 1/2 in all the way down. I also tried a solution found on this site of choking down the discharge hose and this did not work either. I'm considering having the plumber install a drain cleanout then powersnake again with a 2 in root cutter. I am open to any other suggestions.
Thank you

speedball1
Oct 21, 2012, 01:22 PM
First off no acid, that's dangerous and drain cleaner only seems to work in TV ads, There's no doubt you still have a partial clog downstream from the floor drain.
I have had a plumber in to powersnake the drain. Either he didn't run out enough snake or the clog consisted of sludge and he used a straight auger tip that augered through the sludge and it closed back up as soon as he pulled the snake. Call him back and ask him to snake the line using a chain knocker or a drop head auger tip and see if that doesn't clear things up. Let me know how he makes out. Good luck. Tom

vangerdahast
Oct 21, 2012, 02:39 PM
Thanks I will.