Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    lori83ste's Avatar
    lori83ste Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jan 26, 2009, 01:05 PM
    Drainage of washing machine in basement.
    Hi,

    Our basement has a drain that goes directly to the septic tank. Our washing machine which is in the basement used to drain there, however, the basement flooded becaause of sewage backup and heavy rains early last year. When my landlord fixed it he capped off the basement drain and hooked the washer up to drain upward. At first I thought everything was fine. Well, now a few months later, for some reason our washer isn't draining properly. We checked to see if it was clogged and couldn't find anything. It also spins just fine. But the clothes are so wet when we remove them that it takes three full dry cycles to get them dry and it is still pushing damp... Could it be that our washer can't drain the way it is set up? It is not a newer washer, but it is also not ancient either.. I would say about 8 years old or so. It is not a high end model either. Our basement has normal 8 foot ceilings so I am just not sure if it is just that our washer is not powerful enough, something is wrong with the drainage, or something wrong with our washer... Can anyone give me some advice to find the source of the problem? Thanks!
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
     
    #2

    Jan 26, 2009, 08:43 PM

    Yopur old drain did not go directly to the septic tank, there must have been a trap somewhere or you'd smell sewage in every load of laundry. To test the machine just let it fill with the smallest fill and a few old wrags. Let it reach the spin/drain cycle but disonnect the drain line and hold it shoulder high above a pair of 5 gallon buckets. If the machine empties just fine then it's the drain line. I can help with this but it really belongs to the landlord, most do not want you experimenting or repairing their property.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Drainage for washing machine drain pan [ 2 Answers ]

Hi, just added W/D upstairs. I think code says I must have washer drain pan, common sense says get it. Here's the question: I can't prop washer up because it's up against a knee wall and unwilling to cut into 150 year old wide pine flooring. So I don't think I can p trap coming out of the drain...

Washing machine drainage [ 1 Answers ]

Hi, I brought a front load washer and decided to rearrange my lundry room in the basement. BEFORE, the old washer used to drain directly into the wash basin. They were side-by-side. NOW, the front load washer is 6 feet away from the basin. The drain hose does not reach the basin plus, it really...

Drainage for sink/washing machine [ 1 Answers ]

Hi, About 15 years ago, we moved our kitchen to a different part of the house. This involved moving gas, electrics, plumbing etc. However over the last 5 years (could have been longer!) we've noticed that the drainage for the sink and washing machine seems to be overflowing in the outside...

(another) Washing machine Drainage Problem. [ 4 Answers ]

The other day the washing machine drain overflowed all of a sudden. Thinking it is clogged for sure I have attempted to snake the drain with no luck. I can't seem to get the snake past the 90 degree (no trap) curve at the bottom of the standpipe. I next attempted a drain cleaning bladder which...

Washing machine drainage [ 2 Answers ]

I was wondering if you can drain directly outside, into say a garden bed, instead of into a drainage system. Such as a pipe that goes outside and down to the ground level and drains into the flowerbed.


View more questions Search