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-   -   Washing machine pipes or hot water heater (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=327546)

  • Mar 10, 2009, 04:19 PM
    pencilsr
    Washing machine pipes or hot water heater
    Bad smell after doing load in washing machine
  • Mar 10, 2009, 04:44 PM
    ballengerb1

    How is the machine drain connected to your home drain, is there a trap or just a standpipe?
  • Mar 10, 2009, 04:45 PM
    21boat

    Did you try filling it up with just water and bleach let sit (no cloths of course ) and then finish cycle. Let sit for some hours to kill all bacteria

    Signed 21 Boat

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  • Mar 10, 2009, 04:48 PM
    pencilsr
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by pencilsr View Post
    bad smell after doing load in washing machine

    I have run the washer empty with bleach, and no results, sometimes the water will trickle into the washing machine after a load is finished - what does this mean? And possible solutions?

    Now it seems, only when hot water is used, a smell emanates from the laundry room only, the water does not taste bad from the sink or smell bad from any of the bathrooms, the water is running and draining fine in the pipes.

    Where would the vent be, and how can this be changed, and/or is the smell backing up into the hot water heater from the washing machine pipes.

    It just does not make sense that its only in the laundry room after doing a load of wash with warm or hot water. It is a very strong smell. Help

    Appreciate your ideas and advise.
  • Mar 10, 2009, 05:09 PM
    ballengerb1

    Does the smell actually smell like sewage? Can you answer my question about the drain, is there a trap?
  • Mar 11, 2009, 08:42 AM
    pencilsr
    Actually I would be guessing - I imagine there is, how can I be sure - what do I look for.

    It is getting worse, so it now seems its every time, I run the hot water anywhere, it just that the smell is emanating from where the hot water heater is located.

    So if it is the hot water heater, what can I do to fix this problem the hot water heater is not that old.

    Thank you so much.
  • Mar 11, 2009, 09:04 AM
    pencilsr

    I tried the bleach method several times and no effect, I now believe its coming from the hot water heater as the smell comes back after using the hot water anywhere in the house.

    The smell is coming from the hot water heater, and it is very hard to describe. Not exactly sulpher and fishy
  • Mar 11, 2009, 09:05 AM
    pencilsr
    Is there something I can do to fix this problem
  • Mar 11, 2009, 09:39 AM
    ballengerb1

    Can you post a picture of your water heater and also describ how it is fueled and vented? If not, try googling water heaters with your brand name and then copy and post a link of that site you found.
  • Mar 11, 2009, 09:56 AM
    pencilsr
    OK, I went to the hot water heater to investigate closer, and its not that, the smell is very intense where the washer is located, underneath in the basement from where the washer resides, the smell is so unbearable, sulpher fish, can't describe it, when I run the washer the water drains fine,
    So any ideas for me here?
  • Mar 11, 2009, 10:39 AM
    pencilsr
    So now I guess I need to know how to tell if there is a trap, it seems to be a standing pipe
  • Mar 11, 2009, 11:27 AM
    ballengerb1

    The taller verticle pipe is the standpipe. Part B is a trap. The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing - Google Book Search Does it look like what you have or does the evrtical pipe just Tee into a drain line?
  • Mar 11, 2009, 01:06 PM
    pencilsr
    As I mentioned before it seems I have a standing pipe, not sure what to look for to see if I have a trap.
  • Mar 11, 2009, 01:08 PM
    ballengerb1

    Did you open the link and look at the picture? A standpipe alone goes straight into the drain pipe, usually a Tee, A trapped pipe has that loop at the botom, please look at the link and then your plumbing at home?
  • Mar 11, 2009, 05:45 PM
    pencilsr

    Well it loops like an upside down 'P' before going to the drain pipe.
  • Mar 11, 2009, 07:18 PM
    ballengerb1

    OK , that's a trap so we have to keep looking/thinking.

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