I was able to finish the wash by guarding how much went down the drainpipe. I am on a septic system. This is the first time anything like this has happened. I haven't done a wash since (it happened just yesterday) It has been raining for days-don't know if that has affected anything. I'm not sure what to do next. Everything else is working fine-toilet, sinks, tub. I've learned a lot reading but still am not sure how to proceed or what might have happened to back up the drainpipe from the washer/any input will be appreciated

Raining for days can saturate the leach field, or your tank may need pumped, or your waste line from the washer may be partially blocked. How long has it been since your septic tank was serviced?

If all other fixtures drain well, I would guess that the washer drain itself is paritially clogged. Is there a cleanout downstream of the p-trap? Most likely, the washer drain needs to be augered(snaked). Good luck and please let us know how things work out.

Thank you both, my knowledge is limited but I guessed drain clog simply because everything else is working as always. To answer the question of when septic was last serviced-less than a year ago--I use the same person/company and it's usually every two years unless he tells me differently. I don't have an auger and probably wouldn't use it correctly so I guess I should call roto rooter.

You can rent augers from many hardware stores, and they are fairly easy to use, but if you don't feel comfortable taking it on yourself, you are making the right call by having a pro in to do it for you. They should be able to solve your problem quickly. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Pet, that's not that big a job, usually can rent the tool, just need to find a clean-out, and run the snake in. People here with guide you if you like.

Thanks but I don't even know what a clean out is. I think it's best if I bite the bullet and let a pro handle it even though it's fairly simple