There is a copper pipe that comes out of the wall above the washing machine drain. This pipe is open at the bottom, and it has been dripping down the drain for the last month. What could be causing this?

Can you trace it where it ends?

May be it is from the water heater T&P or from your AC drain, Thanks.

John

I am just guessing what this could be because I don't have enough information to say it is one thing or the other.

First do you have a humidifier?
If you do this could be the drain from your humidifier.

Do you have a furnace in your attic and you also have a heat pump?

If so this could be the condensate drain from your AC coil, or it could be the secondary drain pan telling you that your main drain is stopped up and draining into the secondary pan.

If your water heater is in proximity to the washer drain?
It could be the pop-off on the water heater has started to drip or with the water heater in the attic it could have a drain pan under it and the water heater may be leaking.

So tell me where the water heater is located and any other information that I might be able to use and I will try to tell you more.

The water heater is on the other side of the wall from the pipe in question. I was wondering if it had anything to do with the water heater. If it is connected to the heater, what could be causing it to drip?

Try this. Go to the water heater and lift the lever on the T & P valve, (see image) while someone watches the pipe. Did water gush out? Let me know, Tom

Quote:

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Originally Posted by farmingtonkat

The water heater is on the other side of the wall from the pipe in question. I was wondering if it had anything to do with the water heater. If it is connected to the heater, what could be causing it to drip?

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Where the water is dripping into the washer drain feel of the pipe and see if it is hot, now go to the water heater and feel of the pipe that is coming off the pop-off valve at the top of the water heater. If it is also hot then the pop-off is leaking and needs to be changed. That is something you can do, if you want instructions just post back to this same thread and you will be advised on how to replace the pop-off valve.