[homerj624]

Hi all,

Forgive me, I don't know much about plumbing at all. I have a Kenmore 80 series washing machine (model number 3949664). When I run the washing machine it drains twice, as I believe is normal with most washers. During this draining cycle there is a slight overflow of suds in the drain pipe from the washers hose.

Should I use less laundry detergent? I don't think I am using too much.

Should I get a smaller or larger coupler to use with the black hose before it goes into the drain pipe?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thank you very much,
Scott

[ballengerb1]

Your hard drain pipe should be at least 2", is it? Suds can back up but if the drain is 2" and clear there should be no issue. Are there suds backing out iof the stand pipe?

[massplumber2008]

Homer... how tall is the standpipe coming out of the p-trap? The standpipe should be between 18 and 36 inches. Most on this site recommend 30 inches as a minimum. Let us know. Thank you

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[homerj624]

Yes the suds are backing out of the stand pipe. It seems to measure about 2" in diameter. It is higher up, towards the ceiling of the basement, so measuring isn't that easy but form what I can tell it is.

The water does not stream out or flow. It actually is mostly just suds and they sort of just ooze over the side of the stand pipe. From what I can tell there is no blockage whatsoever, especially because I can hear the water draining into the septic when I walk further down the drainage line.

[massplumber2008]

Homer.. how tall is that standpipe..

[homerj624]

The black hose from the washer enters the drain, and then that pipe is about 6" and then there is a curved pipe, and what is then I believe an elbow. Forgive me I don't know the terminology for everything.

Basically the black hose from the washer goes into the drain pipe. That pipe is about 6" , then into a left hand turn, then there is a "U" shape, then another left hand turn, and then to the main drain line. Sorry not sure how else to explain it without either drawing or taking a picture :D

[massplumber2008]

The standpipe is way too short... But you said that drain was way up.. so suggest will be difficult to increase height of standpipe. Maybe if you put a 2x1.5 inch increaser and stub up just another 6 inches... will help a lot.

As stated in last post... standpipe should be a minimum of 18 inches... I think we found your issue!!

[homerj624]

Can someone help define what a standpipe is?

And Massplumber, is there a way you could explain what you are referring to when you said "put a 2x1.5" increaser and stub up just another 6 inches" please? Sorry again, I am lacking in knowledge in the plumbing area :)

[massplumber2008]

OK.. sorry. The U pipe is called a p-trap.

There is an inlet and outlet to the trap. The hose from washing machine enters pipe that is inlet to p-trap... this is also called a standpipe. Then of course, the outlet of the p-trap goes off to the main drain line.

It is the standpipe (that the washer hose sticks into) that needs to be at least 18"..some say 30".. and some say 36"...*whew*...I recommend a 30" standpipe.

You have suggested that your standpipe is 6 inches tall... yes?

And then I will explain the 2 x 1.5 stuff... ;)

[homerj624]

Yes unfortunately it sounds like the standpipe is 6" only, yikes. I didn't have an issue with first washer, but I wonder if that is because it was newer and it therefore had a newer pump that didn't force as much water out as this old one does?

The problem is I don't really have any wiggle room above the start of the standpipe :(

[massplumber2008]

See... I think that is exactly the case here. Newer machines pump greater volume of water at faster rate... causing issues with some drains... especially ones with 6 inch standpipes. *frown*

Anyway, you said no wiggle room... I have seen this scenario before... Is there a laundry sink near this washing machine.. Is there a sewer pipe that is lower than the washer p-trap?

[homerj624]

Unfortunately no, no laundry sink or accessible sewer pipe that is lower

And actually, just to clarify this is an older machine. It's a bit of a long story, but the short of it is... The newer one that I had (that one was working fine, no drainage issues whatsoever).

It's only been since I had to hook up the old washer as a replacement machine that I am seeing the back flow of suds issue :(

[massplumber2008]

Interesting... wait till ballenger gets back in and see what he has to say... but I think the drain may need to be piped larger.. to two inch. It certainly can't hurt. Good luck.