I installed a new drywell last summer (2008) it was installed just for the washing machine and nothing else. Could not afford to hook up to sewer line. Now the drywell is overflowing when washing machine is being used. How can this be fixed without it costing me a fortune, diggine up to see the top of the drywell.

So, my question is how can I resolve this problem with chemicals, Do the go through the washing machine pipe that leads to the outside, I really have no idea but need help ASAP.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated

Lori126

Im confused,, you couldn't afford to hook washer drian to house plumbing, but you could afford to put in a drywell? I suggest hooking washer into house plumbing and scrap the drywell idea, but that's just me, hope one of the other plumbers and pros here can give you some better advice.

Like MGD, I'm confused. How about telling us why and how you came to that decision. Also tell how your dry well was constructed.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

Like MGD, I'm confused. How about telling us why and how you came to that decision. Also tell how your dry well was constructed.

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I was told that It would cost me more money (alot) than a drywell. There are pipes in the boiler room,and just my dryer, and water heater and boiler. So when I put the washer back there the plumber told me it would cost more to hook up to the sewer line than to put in a drywell. The drywell was constructed right, but the house is being rented and the tenant did not maintain the drywell to keep it from lint, soap etc.. So it started to overflow. The drywell cost me about $600 for a 55 gallon drum. Why, would it have been cheaper to hook up to the sewer line? I was told they would have to break through my driveway to do so. I am now more confused than ever, I thought the same thing that I should hook it up to the plumbing in the house but was told it would be a lot of money about $4000 todo so. Please if you have any suggestions or know better (as I see that you do) please let me know, I would appreciate any help.
Thanks so mucy

:confused:

So the washer is in the boiler room. Where is the boiler room, in the basement, in the garage? Is your house on a cement slab or is there a crawl space? How far from the boiler room is the nearest bath room. Give us a description, I can't see your house from here.

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

So the washer is in the boiler room. Where is the boiler room, in the basement, in the garage? Is your house on a cement slab or is there a crawl space? How far from the boiler room is the nearest bath room. Give us a description, I can't see your house from here.

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THe nearest bathroom is far away, my house is on a cement slab, but the boiler room is not far from the kitchen where the washing machine was (next to the kitchen sink) THe boiler is in the garage that was converted into a boiler room and part of the kitchen. So from the boiler room it is 22 ft to where the washer was in the kitchen. Now there is a dishwasher there.
So from the boiler room is 9 ft to the main kitchen, then you have the dining room right next to where my kitchen is and washer was then there is the bathroom. I was wondering if I could hook up to the pipes where my old washer was and now is a dishwasher. I have pictures of my house on my computer Just do not know how to get them to you. There is a sight that I had my house on and you can see all the pictures of the inside and outside.
(Pictures were done prior to putting in a new kitchen). Would that help any?

To post pictures click on the "Go Advanced" button, scroll down click on "Manage Attachments". Browse to find pictures on you computer. Open picture then click on upload. There is a size limitation. Convert pictures to JPEG to minimize size.

Lori, You gave us great details to work with but I have a question that you left out. City sewer or septic tank?
Your plumber make a major boo-boo- when he installed dry well instaed of a grease trap (see images). As you're now finding out.
Dry wells are super for collectng and dispersing liquid such as rain water run off but to punch holes in a 55 gallon dreum and fill itt with rocks and not expect it to pack it in as soon as the lint, fiber and grease clogged the openings was pure wishful thinking on his part.
A grease trap will trap the lint, fiber and grease and allow the remaining liquid to flow out through a perforated pipe to disperse in the soil.
When the trap gets full it has a lid where it can be cleaned or pumped out.
So the grease trap is reuseable while a dry well can only be dug out. The rocks removed and the crud cleaned out by hand. The you bury it again.
See why I said it was a bad idea?

It's not like you don't have options.
`1) You can connect back to the city,(not a septic tank) sewer.
2) Pull, clean and reinstall the dry well,( but you'll be doing this every time it loads up). **OR**
3) You can install a grease trap and a perforated pipe to get rid of the remaining liquid.

Your choice! What's your pleasure? Tom

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

To post pictures click on the "Go Advanced" button, scroll down click on "Manage Attachments". Browse to find pictures on you computer. Open picture then click on upload. There is a size limitation. Convert pictures to JPEG to minimize size.

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Thank you I will try that so you all can see what I am talking about.

Lori

I am hooked up to sewers.my main drain is right in front of my house, I know because I had to replace it a few years ago and the pipes leading out to the street. I should have done this back then. Where does the grease trap go? Does that go underground as well? If it goes underground how do I access it? Is it just as costly as attaching to the sewers?
The quote I got when I was going to hook up to the sewer line was about $3000 - $4000, and the drywell was $600. That was the reason why I went with the drywell, but the plumber doing the job I guess just wanted to get it done and did not do the right job.
Money factor is my main issue.
I appreciate all that are trying their best to help me, I cannot tell you what it means to me. I am alone and living on a small disablity check. That is why my main concern is money.

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Originally Posted by speedball1

Lori, You gave us great details to work with but I have a question that you left out. City sewer or septic tank?
Your plumber make a major boo-boo- when he installed dry well instaed of a grease trap (see images). As you're now finding out.
Dry wells are super for collectng and dispersing liquid such as rain water run off but to punch holes in a 55 gallon dreum and fill itt with rocks and not expect it to pack it in as soon as the lint, fiber and grease clogged the openings was pure wishful thinking on his part.
A grease trap will trap the lint, fiber and grease and allow the remaining liquid to flow out through a perforated pipe to disperse in the soil.
When the trap gets full it has a lid where it can be cleaned or pumped out.
So the grease trap is reuseable while a dry well can only be dug out. the rocks removed and the crud cleaned out by hand. The you bury it again.
See why I said it was a bad idea?

It's not like you don't have options.
`1) You can connect back to the city,(not a septic tank) sewer.
2) Pull, clean and reinstall the dry well,( but you'll be doing this every time it loads up). **OR**
3) You can install a grease trap and a perforated pipe to get rid of the remaining liquid.

Your choice! What's your pleasure? Tom

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I hope you received my response, What's my pleasure the cheapest easiest way. If you did not receive my entire answer please let me know.

The cheapest way would be to keep digging up the 55 gallon drum, cleaning it out and reinstalling it. You know long it took to load up. Figure on doing this every time.
However, while this is the least expensive it's also the least desirable plumbing wise and the most labor intensive so It can't be "the easiest". The one with the least attention required would be a sewer hookup. I under stand your situation. I'm retired and living off Social Security myself. Believe me, I know what it means to "pinch pennys" but here we give the best advice available and you just got mine. Good luck in whatever you decide. Tom

I haven't seen any pictures and I don't know where everything is but it sounds like the washer stand in the boiler room in the garage could have been pipe back into the house to the original location through the cabinets. You said it was only 10". Is that a possibility?

I have the same problem with the drywell and the washing machine the water is surfacing... tried pumping it out Put yeast in the dry well. After one load water resurfaced... What was your outcome? What did you do to clear the water surfacing?

I am so sorry it took so long for me to thank you for your help, my husband passed away suddenly and I stopped thinking about everything else. The house is connected to the sewer, I never heard of a grease trap, and I will look into it. Thanks so much and again my aplogies

Yes, it is possible, I thought the same thing that could just connect to the sewers just by doing that. My pipes were all in the floor but in 1995 I had my pipes (hot and cold water) put into the walls, the washer was in the kitchen where the diswasher is now, so I thinking being the pipes are now in the walls I could do exactly as you said. I also want to apologize for me taking so long to get back to you but my husband died very unexpectly and I just forgot about doing anything. Thanks so much again.