The consequences of a washer drain clog can be severe and costly, including:
Point the washer’s drain hose into a 5-gallon bucket. Run a “Drain & Spin” cycle. If water shoots into the bucket violently, your pump is fine. If only a trickle comes out, check the hose for a foreign object (like a sock) stuck at the rubber fitting. Remove it with needle-nose pliers. washer drain clog
A washer drain clog is a mechanical poetry of lint, water, and gravity. It is frustrating because it happens suddenly, but it is rarely a mystery. In 90% of cases, the culprit is a 3-foot long “lint slug” sitting in the P-trap. Armed with a wet-dry vacuum, a 25-foot auger, and the knowledge that chemical drain cleaners are the enemy, you can solve the problem in under an hour. The consequences of a washer drain clog can
Remember: The cheapest and most effective tool is prevention. Buy a lint trap. Run hot vinegar water monthly. Clean your pump filter. If you do these three things, the only time you will see your standpipe is when you are moving the washer to paint the wall—not mopping up a flood. Stay dry, and happy washing. If only a trickle comes out, check the
This is the vertical PVC or metal pipe that the washing machine’s drain hose slides into. Typically, it stands between 30 and 48 inches tall and is 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Its height is critical; it prevents water from siphoning back out of the machine. When a clog forms, the standpipe is often the first victim, filling up and overflowing like a volcano.
Warning: Do not use a drain bladder on old, fragile cast iron pipes. Use only on PVC or ABS.
The consequences of a washer drain clog can be severe and costly, including:
Point the washer’s drain hose into a 5-gallon bucket. Run a “Drain & Spin” cycle. If water shoots into the bucket violently, your pump is fine. If only a trickle comes out, check the hose for a foreign object (like a sock) stuck at the rubber fitting. Remove it with needle-nose pliers.
A washer drain clog is a mechanical poetry of lint, water, and gravity. It is frustrating because it happens suddenly, but it is rarely a mystery. In 90% of cases, the culprit is a 3-foot long “lint slug” sitting in the P-trap. Armed with a wet-dry vacuum, a 25-foot auger, and the knowledge that chemical drain cleaners are the enemy, you can solve the problem in under an hour.
Remember: The cheapest and most effective tool is prevention. Buy a lint trap. Run hot vinegar water monthly. Clean your pump filter. If you do these three things, the only time you will see your standpipe is when you are moving the washer to paint the wall—not mopping up a flood. Stay dry, and happy washing.
This is the vertical PVC or metal pipe that the washing machine’s drain hose slides into. Typically, it stands between 30 and 48 inches tall and is 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Its height is critical; it prevents water from siphoning back out of the machine. When a clog forms, the standpipe is often the first victim, filling up and overflowing like a volcano.
Warning: Do not use a drain bladder on old, fragile cast iron pipes. Use only on PVC or ABS.
