Hi Everyone,
First let me say that I am a complete novice to plumbing, I have just bought my first house and am trying to save money by fixing as many things myself that I can. My problem is that anytime the washer drains it overflows the drain pipe, even just running a garden hose in the pipe will overflow it. The pipe has an inside diameter of 1 3/4" and sticks out of the basement floor 25". The house is 33 years old and is on a public sewer. I don't have a problem with any other water in the house draining, even the floor drain in the basement drains fine. The floor drain also does not back up when the washer does, it is only the washer drain stack. I have tried drano and have snaked 20' of the drain and still have the saem problem. Does anyone have any suggestions?

If the floor drain doesn't back up when the washer does that indicates the washer drain is most likely tied in to the kitchen sink line. You say you ran out 20' of snake but failed to say where you snaked the line from. How long does it take when you run a garden hose down it for to back up? I'll wait on your answer. Tom

Tom,
Thanks for responding so quickly. I ran the snake down the washer drain pipe and the hose takes about 20 seconds to back up, the washer takes less time than that. When you look down the pipe with a flash light you can see water standing at the bottom, I guess that is the height where there is not enough pressure to move it through the clog. Let me know your thoughts.

Steve

Hey Steve,

The water you see at the base of the standpipe is the trap seal. It belongs there.
Snaking through the washer trap is doing it the hard way, you have the return bend in the trap to fight. A easier way would be to snake out from the washer roof vent with a rented sewer machine. If a 2" vent rent the equivalent of a Ridgid K-50, put out enough snake to hit the base of the stack and about 30 foot more. Test your work by cycling a load of wash. Good luck, Tom

Tom,
Where is the washer roof vent? Is the rented sewer machine just an automatic snake?

-Steve

The washer roof vent should be above and in line with the washer, (how many vents do you have coming out of your roof?)
A Ridgid K-50 is a power snake we use for 2" drain lines or smaller. Regards, Tom

Tom,
I don't understand what a roof vent for a washer is. The plastic pipe coming from the washer sits in a pipe that is coming out of the basement floor. This pipe I assume, as you said before, is tied into the kitchen sink line. To answer your questions I have 4 vents on my roof and there is no openeing above my washer. I guess what I donb't understand is why a vent on my roof would have anythign to do with the water draining from the washer. Thanks for all your help.

-Steve

Hey Steve,
I guess you haven't read any of the posts that deal with blockages on the plumbing page. The vent pipes on your roof connect directly into the drain lines in your house. Rent a power snake and run it down the pipe on the roof that sets over or near your kitchen sink. F you're still confused then call in outside help. Watch what and how he snakes a line, ask questions so you'll be able to do it yourself next time. Good luck, Tom