Ask Me Help Desk - Floor Drain Backed up in Laundry room

Hi,

I've lived in my house for 5 years. It was built in 1957. It is a great, sturdy house. The biggest headache is that, occasionally, since the beginning - our laundry room floor drain backs up. I'd like to understand what is happening as best I can. I am not a plummer, but I am willing to learn as much as I can to fix this problem on my own.

Here is the setup. The house is a raised ranch. The laundry room is right underneath the kitchen. There is a pipe the leads down into the laundry room from the kitchen and continues into the floor (right near our washer). The Kitchen sink drains down this pipe and the washer also is connected to this pipe. Underneath the washer is a floor drain. There is another floor drain about 10 feet to the right (headed towards our garage) near the dryer. I am assuming that underneath the drain heads out towards our garage, down the driveway, and connects to the sewer. In the garage there is another 'stack' that has three drains leaded into it (for our 2 bathrooms upstairs). This stack continues down into the floor of the garage.

IWhen I've snaked the drain, I always did it through the floor drain closest to our dryer and tried to get the snake to go towards the garage. I rented an electric auger today and got 10-20 feet in when I couldn't get it in any further. I churned it around and then pulled it back out, ran water through the washer, but it backed up just the same.

My thought - and I am probably wrong - but should I try to access the stack in the garage and snake it there? I've heard some people mention snaking it from the roof. I have no problem going up on our roof - it is relatively flat - but I don't know what I'd be looking for up there. I'd appreciate any help you could give. I'd be happy to offer any more info if needed.

Thanks!
Garrett

You say that your problem is that the floor drain neer the washing machine backs up. You also mention that there is another floor drain in another part of the of the floor about 10ft. Away. I have a question? When the floor drain close to the washing machine backs up does the one further away also back up. If it doesn't I have a suggestion. If it does I can still advise you on something to try.

Are they galvanized pipes?if so I just had my plumber rip out all my out galvanized that was connected to the tub/sink and the pipes looked like a bad case of cholesterol... totally built up with crap but still able to flow a small amount of water... but not much... getting much bigger piping NOT galvanized

Good morning Garrett,

"My thought - and I am probably wrong - but should I try to access the stack in the garage and snake it there??"
Why would anyone snake from a floor drain that has return bend in the trap to hassle when he could go on the roof and have a straight shot at the drain escapes me. All you do is drop your cable down the vent until it hits the bend at the base and then put out about 20 feet more.
But wait! This might not be a "partial blockage" at all. Tommy raised a valid point about the pipes. I have a house that's built on a slab in 1954. My washer stand pipe is 1 1/2 inches so I assume the drain under the slab is also.
I'm beginning to receive complaints from older homes that the new washers have more powerful pumps that overpower the system with the force of their discharge. In one case Maytag had to replace the washer with one with a less powerful pump. I'm not stating that this is your problem I'm just agreeing with Tommy that the pipes may be at fault. Clogged up with crud or undersized, the result's the same. A backup with water on the floor. Good luck, Tom

Hi,

I have galvanized pipes that lead to everything, would that mean I also have galvanized pipes for my floor drain?

Speedball: Ok - so, if I go to the roof, what am I looking for? I'd be renting an auger - how long should it be? How big of a tip? Anything else I need to know?

Garrett

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsims

Hi,

I have galvinized pipes that lead to everything, would that mean I also have galvinized pipes for my floor drain?

Speedball: Ok - so, if I go to the roof, what am I looking for? I'd be renting an auger - how long should it be? How big of a tip? Anything else I need to know?

Garrett

Back in the 40's and 50's a lot of the drain pipes that are now 2" cast iron or PVC were installed as 1 1/2" galvanized pipes. This was before the days of garbage disposals and high velocity washer pumps and 1 1/2" pipe handled the discharge just fine. Now days disposals put a ton of crap down the pipes after every meal. High velocity washer pump out more volume then a pipe can carry away. If the kitchen and washer drains are combined, as they often are, then the mix of garbage and grease matted in with the fiber and soap from the washer is a blockage just waiting to happen.

If you decide to snake from the roof I would locate the kitchen vent pipe which should be right above the kitchen. If the vent's 3" or larger rent a Ridgid K-60 Sewer Machine or equivalent with 2 spools of cable and a auger and a cutter tip. Tf the vent's 2" or under rent a smaller Ridgid K-50 or equivalent.
Good luck, tom

Tom,

Thanks for the advice. I have another question. Are there any options for a permant solution to this problem? There must be a stopage because our washer has drained just fine in the past and, usually, with some persistent plunging or using a small manual snake we have, I've been able to temporarily fix the problem. Those things aren't working this time, which is why I'm thinking about going to the roof.

However, lets say it does work. What can I do to prevent this from happening again? What are my options, if any exist?

Thanks!
Garrett

Letmetellu:

HI. Well, currently, the set up is this. When you walk into our laundry room, you are facing the washer. There is one floor drain near it on the floor to the left (near the left wall). About 10 feet to the right is our dryer and the other floor drain. Continuing to the right leads to the garage.

Currently, when the washer drains the floor drain nearest to it backs up the most. The floor drain near the dryer backs up some, but not as bad as the one near the washer.

What is your suggestion?

Thanks!
Garrett

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsims

Tom,

Thanks for the advice. I have another question. Are there any options for a permant solution to this problem? There must be a stopage because our washer has drained just fine in the past and, usually, with some persistant plunging or using a small manual snake we have, I've been able to temporarily fix the problem. Those things aren't working this time, which is why I'm thinking about going to the roof.

However, lets say it does work. What can I do to prevent this from happening again? What are my options, if any exist?

Thanks!
Garrett

Garrett,
If snaking from the roof vent cleared the problem then you have your answer.
I know of nothing except replacing the pipes that would prevent this from ever happening again. You might cut back on the clogs by not using the disposal, if you have one, and making a bag out of a silk stocking to place over the end of the washer hose to filter out fiber and lint. Good luck and please keep me informed as to the outcome. Tom

I Need To Know How High Should A Washing Machine Drain Pipe Be That The Washer Emptys Into And Does It Need A Trap And If So Were Should It Be Located