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    JKnowles's Avatar
    JKnowles Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Dec 18, 2011, 08:49 PM
    Washer drain into Main Drain? (I think, picture included!)
    Here is a picture of my basement, my landlord said she set it up for use with a washing machine and I went out and bought one and feel like I shouldn't hook it up this way?
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    Milo Dolezal's Avatar
    Milo Dolezal Posts: 7,192, Reputation: 523
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #2

    Dec 18, 2011, 09:42 PM
    Hi JKnowles, your drawing is not clear to me. First, I don't see trap with stand pipe + vent for washing machine.Than I am not clear on how you plan to connect your new drain with existing. Can you post pic of the pipe you want to connect to or be a bit more specific ? Back to you. Milo
    JKnowles's Avatar
    JKnowles Posts: 5, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Dec 18, 2011, 09:48 PM
    I can take a pic in the morning as of now its basically just a 4" pipe going at about a 30 degree downwards slope into the basement floor right under the water hook ups for the washer there was just an unsealed TEE pipe sticking out of the 4" pipe and I just looped my washer drain hose over another pipe at a height above the water level and stuck it into that unsealed hole, it works but I'm worried about clogs or back up or as I have read in other posts about gases and other dangers. But the last tenant left old bottles of detergent and my landlord said he did have a washer dryer set up. Maybe he removed all existing plumbing before moving out and I have to install a few things?
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #4

    Dec 19, 2011, 06:23 AM
    Yeah, post that picture if you can, OK?

    As Milo said, you need a PTRAP and a vent for a proper setup... ;) Here, the ptrap keeps the sewer gasses from entering your house... vent keeps trap from siphoning and keeps pipes clear (helps waste water "self-scour" the inner drain lines).

    Back to you...

    Mark
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #5

    Dec 19, 2011, 11:10 AM
    What I see here is a direct open connection between your home and the city sewer allowing sewer gas to enter your home. Sewer gas is harmful to your familys health and the methane content makes it explosive if enough accumulates in your home. Until you can get a washer station in that will pass code seal off the openings to the house main. Good luck, Tom
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