Ask Me Help Desk - Washer drainage pipe problem

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarkejanet

i have recently moved into a house(not new) and put in a washing machine. I have noticed( not like it is hard to miss) that the water very quickly begins backing up out of the drainage pipe and over flows, soaking the dry wall and floor. I believe there was something in the pipe causing a blockage as I scan it with a flash light at an angle and when I stuck a pole down it, i think it move something. Unfortunately it is still stuck in the pipe. The pipe is about three feet straight vertical pipe and then elbows upward and then elbows again downward into the main pipe leading into the ground. My question is ...is it necessry to replace the entire length of piping or is there a way of disconnecting the pipe at the elbow attachments?

You have described a "S" trap which is outlawed in the United States and Canada. There should be a nut that you can unscrew to take the trap apart. But you should be able to pull up and twist at the same time and pull the pole out. Put some muscle into it. The blockage is beyond the trap into the line. It will have to be snaked out. Since it's unvented you'll have to snake from the trap. If you can pull the trap apart you can feed the snake into the pipe that goes into the ground. Otherwise you'll need to call in outside help to cut into the line, snake and flush it out and then replace the trap. Good luck, Tom