Ok, I know NOTHING about plumbing.. . I live in a 2 story townhome with a washer/dryer on second floor above the dining room. Yesterday, after washing some clothes, I had water running down the light fixture in the dining room. There was also soapy water on the floor under the washing machine. I pulled out the machine to check the drain in the floor. The drain is (surprise) all backed up. I have a plumber coming out tomorrow but don't really know what to expect. Will he just "unclog" the pipe? Will he need to put a hole in the ceiling? Why does water come out the light fixture only when the machine is running.. . there is obviously water sitting in the pipes now and not leaking. Help!

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Originally Posted by kronnie1

Ok, I know NOTHING about plumbing. . .I live in a 2 story townhome with a washer/dryer on second floor above the dining room. Yesterday, after washing some clothes, I had water running down the light fixture in the dining room. There was also soapy water on the floor under the washing machine. I pulled out the machine to check the drain in the floor. The drain is (surprise) all backed up. I have a plumber coming out tomorrow but don't really know what to expect. Will he just "unclog" the pipe? Will he need to put a hole in the ceiling? Why does water come out the light fixture only when the machine is running. . .there is obviously water sitting in the pipes now and not leaking. Help!

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You say." I pulled out the machine to check the drain in the floor." are you speaking about a pan under the washer ?
It sounds to me like you have a appliance problem well as a clogged drain line in the pan/floor. Perhaps a pump or tub seal's faulty. But I doubt the plumber can help with the washer leak unless it's a simple repair. The ceiling doesn't have to be opened up just dried out. Water seeks its own level so when the washer runs and leaks the water comes out the lowest spot which is the light fixture. Good luck, Tom

There is no pan under the washing machine.. . just a drain. We pulled it out of the little closet it was in to look at the drain. I hope there isn't a problem w/ the machine because it's only a year old!
Thanks for the quick reply!