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Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?

Author: sum (FL)

I saw this yesterday (not my home) but was curious if this is legit. The owner told me it's been that way since he bought the place two years ago and have no idea if it was altered before that but it drains fine.

Just that I have always seen the riser pipe for the washing machine vertical. I see no reason why they didn't make a vertical pipe just against the corner but instead run a 45 degree pipe like this. It seem to me there must have been a reason when the simplest route was not taken.

Then I remember when I pour beer into a glass, tilting the glass makes it less likely to foam up too quick? May be this let more air into the pipe?

Edited 1 times.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: packy maybe to give the standpipe more length without making it too tall so the washer doesn't have to pump higher?? whatever the reason, it is too long of a standpipe to pass my code. 24" max..

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: waukeshaplumbing (WI) its odd and unprofessional looking there is a max length a stand pipe can be and thats too long i would never do it that way...it can easily be fixed

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: North Carolina Plumber (NC) Actually it has a running trap ,if you look closely it turns to horizontal before entering the trap. Not code compliant.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: packy NC, if that were true than millions of garbage disposals would not be code compliant.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: North Carolina Plumber (NC) I wouldn't consider that disposal drainage an example of a running trap. The inlet is higher than the outlet and is vertical . It does have an offset inlet, which is code complient. A running trap will have the inlet and outlet at the same elevation.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: North Carolina Plumber (NC) On the washing machine drain, if they would have used a st.45 to come up out of the trap then it would have passed inspection here in NC.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: Paul48 (CT) If the pipe was 2", they probably wouldn't have to do it like that.What is that 1.25"?

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: jimmy-o (CA) QUOTE: Author: North Carolina Plumber (NC) Actually it has a running trap ,if you look closely it turns to horizontal before entering the trap. Not code compliant. what about an end-outlet waste under the sink? But the bigger issue here IS the size, doesn't look like 2" !!1

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: sum (FL) I think it is a 1-1/2", but didn't measure it. But I noticed a clean out threaded cap about a foot closer to the camera. That means this is why it ties into the stack right? That CO is 1-1/2" does it mean the stack is 1-1/2"? Or the cleanout could be on the branch arm, which does not make sense right?

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: hj People have different ideas what the "simplest" way is. That was someone's idea of "simple", but there is no benefit, other than it eliminated a 90 degree elbow.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: hj He could argue that the 24" regulation is a vertical measurement, not a horizontal one.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: hj It means whatever the installer wanted it to mean. We would just be guessing as to what is in the wall.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: joe plumber (NE) Maybe the installer had a different idea and thought there was a "benefit" to installing it the way he or she did .You contradicted yourself.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: NICK (CA) I was going to say, has there ever been a dryer in that position and the washer was to the left, but I dont see a gas stub or venting or 220 outlet. That would make some sense as to why it run so far to the left. I think maybe at one time for whatever reason the washer may have been on the left side.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: sum (FL) No. That's my first thought too, but the dryer is to the washer's left and the dryer vent is further left of the dryer.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: hj I did NOT contradict myself, and "benefits" and "easy" are NOT the same thing.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: hj Actually, there is no "good" reason for doing it that way, since the hose could reach the standpipe no matter where it was located between the trap and the left side of the machine. For some reason they did not want the machine against the wall with the drain fitting.

Re: Is it normal to have a 45 degree washing machine drain pipe riser?
Author: hj The dryer must be a LONG way to the left because it does not show in any of the pictures.