Ask Me Help Desk - Frozen washing machine drain

I live in Michigan (BRRRR) and last year the washing machinge drain froze up. It is on an outside wall and I had to cut out the drywall and rip out all the insulation and put a heater on it to unthaw it. I left the opening open thinking that the heat from inside the house would keep in warm enough. Well yesterday it was -2 here and the drain appears to be frozen again since water just went everywhere.

The water supplies are run inside through the cabinet sink right next to the washing machine so they are okay. What are the options for the drain pipe? Should we just drain it into the sink in the winter? We live in the country so I believe the washing machine just drains out to the back along with the sump pump. Could I hook the washing machine drain somehow into the sink drain right next to it?

Could I move the trap somehow down into the basement since that is probably where it's freezing.

Any Suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

David

What is this sink next to washing machine... a sink... or a laundry tub... or a kitchen type sink... get back to us on that.

If you have a laundry tub then may be able to move pipe seasonally... but we can discuss that after you give us more info.

Talk soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

What is this sink next to washing machine....a sink...or a laundry tub...or a kitchen type sink...get back to us on that.

If you have a laundry tub then may be able to move pipe seasonally...but we can discuss that after you give us more info.

Talk soon.

It's a sink built into the cupboards. I would call the sink a laundry tub. It is 12-13 inches deep so I think I could just move the drain hose to the sink at attach it somehow in the winter. From looking further at I would have to say the washing machine drain and the sink drain connect behind the cupboard so they are draining the same place. So I think just moving the drain in the winter might be the easiest for now until I can figure out some other way to run the plumbing.

I can't imagine putting the laundry drain on the outside wall in Michigan is a good idea. Our house was built in 2002 and I am curious as to what the code for that would be. Apparently they knew it would freeze since they ran the water lines through the cabinet and just used the drain in the wall.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I would like to do something else in future than just running it into the sink.

David

Well, first thought is for you to put back some insulation in/behind/under the p-trap and in the stud bay and see if that helps for the remainder of the season.. it should (leave hole in drywall open for now), but only temporary as I am sure you will want to close the drywall and finish the wall soon.

If that does not appeal to you then, second thought is to try to drain washing machine into sink.. just for now. But be careful to watch that sink does not overflow (1st couple uses) and watch for clogged strainer/drain throughout the rest of the time you are using sink.

As for water pipes... running water pipes in an exterior wall is frowned on just about everywhere I know of... but not waste and vent pipes. Running waste and vent pipes in outside wall very common... and the waste lines usually do not freeze because the pipes drain instantly... so not usually an issue.

In your case, they left a p-trap in the outside wall... this trap always has water in it and can then freeze if left sitting still long enough... AS YOU ALREADY KNOW ALL TO WELL... I AM SURE!!

Anyway, not to hard a job to bring p-trap into warm space so this does not happen anymore. If you can post a picture (use go advanced button when posting) we can evaluate and give best plan for bringing that p-trap into room so looks good when done.

Hey , hope this helped. If it did please RATE THIS ANSWER by clicking on button below.

Thanks for the reply. Last year when it froze I put a bunch of insulation around it and it still froze this year, however, it was very cold. I did leave the opening open thinking the heat from the house would help but still froze. I will use the sink for the rest of the winter and try to figure something out this summer. The hole is behind the washer so you can't see it so that is not a problem. The washer and dryer are in the entry way on the main floor coming in from the attached garage so I think I will just try to build out the drain just a little since the washer will hide it anyway. At this time I have the washer all put back so I really can't take any good pictures.

Thanks for your help, you gave me some ideas to work with moving the trap this summer.

David

Quote:

Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Well, first thought is for you to put back some insulation in/behind/under the p-trap and in the stud bay and see if that helps for the remainder of the season..it should (leave hole in drywall open for now), but only temporary as I am sure you will want to close the drywall and finish the wall soon.

If that does not appeal to you then, second thought is to try to drain washing machine into sink..just for now. But be careful to watch that sink does not overflow (1st couple uses) and watch for clogged strainer/drain throughout the rest of the time you are using sink.

As for water pipes....running water pipes in an exterior wall is frowned on just about everywhere I know of...but not waste and vent pipes. Running waste and vent pipes in outside wall very common...and the waste lines usually do not freeze because the pipes drain instantly....so not usually an issue.

In your case, they left a p-trap in the outside wall...this trap always has water in it and can then freeze if left sitting still long enough...AS YOU ALREADY KNOW ALL TO WELL...I AM SURE!!!

Anyway, not to hard a job to bring p-trap into warm space so this does not happen anymore. If you can post a picture (use go advanced button when posting) we can evaluate and give best plan for bringing that p-trap into room so looks good when done.

Hey , hope this helped. If it did please RATE THIS ANSWER by clicking on button below.