Ask Me Help Desk - Washer backing up into shower stall

Quote:

Originally Posted by shell49_1974

I live in a raised ranch home in which the laundry room and a full bath are located on the lower level of the house. Recently, I noticed that when the washer discharges water, it backs up into the shower stall in the bathroom. Just a bit of water and bubbles gurgles up and then it goes right back down. Whenever you just run water in the shower, it also drains regularly. The bubbling happens about two times during every wash. We just purchased the home and asked the previous owners if they had problems and they said no. Any ideas? Thank you so much!!!

Sounds like the sellers were a little less then truthful about the drainage problems. You have a partial blockage downstream from the shower stall.
A partial blockage will let a minor discharge, such as a shower or a lavatory drain on by. However, a washer discharges with great force and volume. Twice in a cycle it discharges and emptys the washer tub, ( is this beginning to sound familiar?) What's happening is the washer hits the blockage with great force and bounces back sending a bubble of air ahead of it. Then quietly drains away. A partial blockage will only worsen, they don't heal themselves. The result is a complete backup out of the lowest fixture.
To repair this problem you must snake out the bathroom lavatory vent from the roof. Put out enough cable after you hit the bend at the base of the vent to run past the bathroom. Afterwards stick a hose in the vent and flush out any debris that may remain. Good luck, Tom