Hi all,

First off, thanks to all the insightful info on this board!

I recently got a newer washing machine. I live in an apartment in a condo building and was experiencing water coming back out the drain pipe.

At first my building mangager told me they were experiencing clogs in the washer lines, and then they did a power wash and flushed out of all the lines. I was hoping this would fix the problem, but it didn't.

After troubleshooting, research, and the advice of my building's plumber (who I would have to pay to actually service the problem), the source of the new problem is the more powerful pump on the new washer. The plumber suggested I extend the washer's drain hose as far down the pipe as possible, and then seal the top of the drain pipe.

I got all my materials together and was about to do it when I looked down the drain pipe and there was water sitting in it. My drain pipe is about 38" high, and I'd say the water reaches about halfway up the pipe. Is this normal? Just don't want to seal the drain pipe if there's a possibility there's a clog in the pipe.

There should be about 4 maybe 5 inches of water in the trap, but definitely not 18 inches of water in the standpipe.

Sounds like you should have the standpipe snaked out.

I was worried you would say that! But thanks for your response. I'm also under the impression that my drain pipe stand is fairly long, but maybe that's just the way the builders made things when my building was created.

As Tom has pointed out a number of times, code issues vary from locale to locale.

If you were in a state that had adopted the UPC (Uniform Plumbing Code), your standpipe would be 2" longer than the maximum allowed -- But would be perfectly acceptable in states where the IPC (International Plumbing Code) or the SPC (Standard Plumbing Code) has been adopted.

Obviously all three work, but it sure does make it difficult for a plumber to just pick up his trade and re-locate elsewhere.