Hi there. I own an older house, and the washing machine has been draining slowlyllately. In the last few days, a little bit of water has leaked out from underneath as it drains. It has also created a slight gurgle sound in the kitchen sink and bathtub as it drains. Yesterday, I called a local plumber and he snaked the line from the washing machine and took off. We did a load of laundry on low water level this evening, and as it drained, crud and waste filled up the bathtub. Now I'm out $250 and the problem is worse than before I called the plumber. I've thought the whole time that the problem was a clog somewhere in the line, but the plumber insists that the line from the washing machine is too small in diameter and that he needs to replace it. The slow drain has been a recent thing, thought, and my bathtub's never filled up with muck before he snaked the line! I'm interested to know what anyone thinks the problem may be, and what could be done to remedy the situation.

The plumber did not run enough cable. He cleared the washer line but simply moved the clog down the line a bit. If he cleared the small washer line slowly he could scour the inside of the pipe. If he went fast and had the wrong tip, he simply poked a hole in the clog. It is likely that the clog is where the lint from the washer meets the grease from the sink.
In the atlanta metro area this job would cost from 125.00 up to 600.00, simply depending on who you called. Same job, different prices.