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pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 09:45 AM

Please could anyone help. My washing machine is right next to the sink in my kitchen. The sink drain smells awful and I'm sure its because of the washing machine . I have tried various drain cleaners and the outside drains seem to be fine. Im not sure what to do as I simply can't afford to call out a plumber

speedball1 · Apr 27, 2008, 10:00 AM

Does the sink drain smell worse when the washer's discharging or does it smell bad all the time?

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 10:01 AM

Hi speedball it seems to smell at different times throughout the day especially first thing in the morning when water I flushed.

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 10:04 AM

Also I forgot to mention the gurgling noise made by the machine when it empties. This seems to bring up the smell.

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 10:12 AM

Yes I hear gurgles when it empties water and when the machine spins I can hear the pipes 'shuddering'

speedball1 · Apr 27, 2008, 10:19 AM

You have a blocked roof vent. The solution would be to rent a sewer machine and snake the kitchen roof vent and then the washer vent , if there is one. Put out enough cable to reach the base and 20 feet more on each vent. Good luck, Tom

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 10:32 AM

Sorry speedball I'm really confused . The laundre and sink outlet is not near the kitchen roof. The drains out directl outside into the drain in the garden/yard area.

speedball1 · Apr 27, 2008, 10:43 AM

Sorry! I assumed the two were together on the same line . Just snake the washer vent then. Regards and good luck, Tom

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 10:49 AM

The washing machine and sink are next to each other -just not near the kitchen roof.
Is the washer vent the part that connects to the kitchen drain? And what does snake mean precisely- does it involve some sort of tool ? Sorry if I appear a novice also I'm from london and maybe I'm getting confused with the terminology

speedball1 · Apr 27, 2008, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by pakana

the washing machine and sink are next to each other -just not near the kitchen roof.
is the washer vent the part that connects to the kitchen drain? and what does snake mean precisely- does it involve some sort of tool ? sorry if i appear a novice also im from london and maybe im getting confused with the terminology

A sewer snake looks like this, (see image) When you said sink I thought you meant the kitchen sink instead of the laundry sink. Sorry! My mistake! The roof vent you want to snake is located over the washer /sink area. Go up on the roof and drop the snake all the way down to the base.
Then put out about 20 feet more. Test by cycling the washer. Good luck, Tom

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 01:41 PM

OK thanks Tom- Its still a bit too complicated for me to do myself I think Ill wait for a plumber as the snake maybe expensive too. But I did mean the kitchen sink. The machine is right next to the sink. Instead of the snake can I use a steel wire especially designed to remove drain blockages from sink pipes? This might be a more suitable option for me

ballengerb1 · Apr 27, 2008, 01:55 PM

pakana, where do you live? From what you have said does this mean the gray water from this drain is dumped out to open air in the back yard or is there a sewer pipe there.

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 02:07 PM

I live in east london . The wateris dumped out into the outside into a little gutter.

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 02:13 PM

The sewer pipe or the mains gutter is actually a few feet away in next doors yard.

mike4671 · Apr 27, 2008, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by pakana

please could anyone help. my washing machine is right next to the sink in my kitchen. the sink drain smells awful and im sure its because of the washing machine . i have tried various drain cleaners and the outside drains seem to be fine. Im not sure what to do as i simply can't afford to call out a plumber

Inside the washer - is a drain hose that empties into the wall drain ---- excess soap and residue fills up and partially plugs the line -- easy to fix --- pull out washer and remove back panel -- a few screws --- remove hose and flush out with hot watery and soap --- should fix problem

pakana · Apr 27, 2008, 03:03 PM

Thanks mike, I think the washer empties into the sink pipe drain which in turn empties into the wall drain. Its going to be really messy, ill have to wear a mask.Will I still have to remove panel?

ballengerb1 · Apr 27, 2008, 06:19 PM

Don't bother removing any panel. Nothing you have said would makes us think the drain hose is pluggged with soap residue. The machine drains to the sink, the sink drains to an open gutter outside and it smells bad. Let's confirm, is there a trap under the sink, big S shaped piece of pipe.

pakana · Apr 28, 2008, 03:11 PM

Hi ballager
I've just looked under the sink and there's a u-bend pipe, and some other grey pipes or tubes . I wouldn't say they are s shaped though

ballengerb1 · Apr 28, 2008, 03:38 PM

Maybe it looks more like the letter J than an S to some people, that's your trap and it should be keeping out odors. Lets try an old recipe for this. Speedball may tell you to dump a quart of bleach in and let it sit over night flushed the next day with a bucket of hot water. It probably works as good as my recipe but mine is fun. Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup of table salt and dump into the sink drain, now add a cup of vinegar and step back. Tomorrow flush with a big bucket of really hot water. Bet its fun.