Ask Me Help Desk - Suds overflow from washer drain

This may actually be a washing machine problem rather than a pure plumbing problem but I'll float it here anyway. We recently replaced our aging washer and dryer. We are now experiencing overflow of soap suds from the washer starting near the end of the spin cycle. This was not a problem with the previous washing macine. In observing the spin cycle, water drains as it should. Toward the end of the spin cycle the discharge hose pulsates every few seconds and the effluent is primarily foam which backs up and out of the drain. The problem is independent of the amount of water used in the wash cycle.

I am unable to provide much info on the plumbing as it is in the wall. The trap seems to be about 12" below the drain inlet. The discharge empties into 1 1/2 ABS connected to an integrated drain/valve box.

I'm thinking that the pump is really whipping up the last bit of water and the resulting foam has too much volume and not enough velocity to drain. Any suggestions for a remedy will be greatly appreciated. Maybe this is a good excuse to rip out a cabinet and install the laundry sink my wife has been wanting. :D

RR

Quote:

Originally Posted by road runner

This may actually be a washing machine problem rather than a pure plumbing problem but I'll float it here anyway. We recently replaced our aging washer and dryer. We are now experiencing overflow of soap suds from the washer starting near the end of the spin cycle. This was not a problem with the previous washing macine. In observing the spin cycle, water drains as it should. Toward the end of the spin cycle the discharge hose pulsates every few seconds and the effluent is primarily foam which backs up and out of the drain. The problem is independent of the amount of water used in the wash cycle.

I am unable to provide much info on the plumbing as it is in the wall. The trap seems to be about 12" below the drain inlet. The discharge empties into 1 1/2 ABS connected to an integrated drain/valve box.

I'm thinking that the pump is really whipping up the last bit of water and the resulting foam has too much volume and not enough velocity to drain. Any suggestions for a remedy will be greatly appreciated. Maybe this is a good excuse to rip out a cabinet and install the laundry sink my wife has been wanting. :D

RR

Your new washer has a more powerful pump that discharges with more force and pressure.
You say the distance between the drain and trap is 12" and that's the root cause of your problem. When we plumb for washers we use 2" pipe and the distance between drain and trap is 36". You appear to be light on the volume that the discharge dumps into so it backs up when the pump discharges moire then the system can carry away. My system's 1 1/2" and I had to install a compression fitting on top of the drain pipe so I didn't get a overflow. It might be time to install that laundry tray. Good luck, Tom

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedball1

Your new washer has a more powerful pump that discharges with more force and pressure.
You say the distance between the drain and trap is 12" and that's the root cause of your problem. When we plumb for washers we use 2" pipe and the distance between drain and trap is 36". You appear to be light on the volume that the discharge dumps into so it backs up when the pump discharges moire then the system can carry away. My system's 1 1/2" and I had to install a compression fitting on top of the drain pipe so i didn't get a overflow. It might be time to install that laundry tray. Good luck, Tom

Thanks, Tom. I had been thinking about a sealed connection of some sort and will investigate the compression fitting approach as an interim solution. There appears to be room to work without much trauma to the wall. The two long term solutions, correcting the drain size and trap location or installing a laundry tray, will entail some demo and will have to wait a few months do to workload.

Thanks again,
Steve

Steve, I may be way off base and a lot less about plumbing then these guys but thought I'd throw this out just in case. If this is a front loading washer the instructions tell you to buy a different kind of detergent. For example, Tide He... I think is one type. The reason for that is the regular detergent will cause the loads to suds up more than usual. This actually happened to my brother-in-law. I hope I was of some help.

Joe

Quote:

Originally Posted by jduke44

Steve, I may be way off base and alot less about plumbing then these guys but thought I'd throw this out just in case. If this is a front loading washer the instructions tell you to buy a different kind of detergent. For example, Tide He... I think is one type. The reason for that is the regular detergent will cause the loads to suds up more than usual. This actually happened to my brother-in-law. I hope I was of some help.

Joe

Thanks, Joe but it is a top loader. The problem occurs only during the last bit of the spin cycle when most water is gone and nothing but suds is coming out of the hose so I may try a low-suds detergent just to see if it will help 'till I can get into the wall or seal off the connection. The guy who built this house was an electrical contractor and the electrical is first class. I have come to find out, however, that he was NOT a plumber!

Steve

I had this same problem "HAD" a heavy duty maytag washer only two years old. It would rinse water fine only suds in the final spin.. Plumber came in twice no leaks or clogs. Snaked from the roof down and put chemicals down drain. Hose would pulsate and suds only came up.Botton line bought a new KENMORE last night and no problems what so ever..