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Author:
fyrfytr (OH)
My house was built in 1958 and on a slab. I purchased the house in 2005. Off and on we have had some clogs, but nothing a little plunging or some drain-o (I know, not good) haven't been able to solve. About 7 months ago we purchased a new washing machine. Ever since then the machine has been overflowing the drain. Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little. I have used an enzyme cleaner, nothing....increased the pipe stack to 2" PVC from 1 1/2 inch metal (maybe brass or nickel), nothing. All of the sinks drain fine, the toilets flush fine, the tub drains fine. Everything does ok except the washing machine and the dish washer. I am guessing that there is a clog somewhere in the cleanout area, small enough to let the usual pass by, but anything that has a pump is too much for it. Could I be right?
Where is my cleanout? I have tried digging in the rear of the house about a foot from the vent stack, but cannot locate anything. I am a DIY guy kinda guy so I am game for a lot.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
The cleanout should be where ever you put it when you changed to the PVC piping.
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Author:
george 7941 (Canada)
I think he just converted his washing machine standpipe to PVC, no cleanouts involved.
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Author:
Wheelchair (IL)
Rent yourself a sewer/drain camera and give it a go. No digging is necessary and the camera will tell you everything. Yes it could be a clog, roots or broken pipe.
Good Luck and Best Wishes
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
How tall is the standpipe out of the trap ? 24" is minimum here.
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
I suspect that the plumbing under the slab is cast iron, and it is probably corroded and full of lint and strings from laundry over time. I would save the money on the camera and snake the line out with a professional electric snake with a 3/8 cable; don't waste your time with a 1/4 inch cable, it doesn't have the strength. If the line is restricted, it will open it up. If it is broken under the floor, it will get buried in mud. From experience, I expect it will be simply rust and clothing fibers. As you snake the drain, use the cold water from the washing machine hookup and run water down the pipe to help carry away the debris.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
If he changed the standpipe to 2" and the rest is 1 1/2" then that is the problem. You can seldom just increase a pipe's size without doing SOMETHING to the pipe it connects to.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
You mean there are companies which will rent a very expensive and somewhat delicate drain camera to a person who has absolutely NO EXPERIENCE using it? The rates must be exorbitant.
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Author:
fyrfytr (OH)
That is correct...I just changed the standpipe from 1 1/2 to 2". After running the enzyme I was thinking it was an air issue since there was hardly any room between the drain line and the standpipe connection. Unfortunately that did not result in anything other then more water in the bucket :-(.
I was hoping to find a cleanout, but sadly I cannot locate one anywhere. I would rather not go and rent a snake. Does it make sense that only the dishwasher and washing machine backup? None of the sinks, toilets, or bathtub back up at all.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
The standpipe, unless it was VERY long, (so it could hold the excess water until the cycle stopped), would do little to prevent the washer drain from backing up. The problem is in the piping AFTER the standpipe, and if you cannot see a cleanout, there is either none or it is buried in the wall, which often happens.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
the newer Hi Efficiency machines have a LARGE gpm dump for a short time
the older 1.5" drain may not have the capacity to accept same
if so
install a utility sink to take the discharge and act as a storage 'buffer'
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Author:
KCRoto (MO)
Or hire someone to clear the drain. The internal pipe size is probably restricted to less than 3/4 of an inch at the moment since it only backs up under pumped water. The pipe doesn't have enough space inside it at the moment to accommodate that much water. Common problem with a simple solution. Ockham's Razor folks.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
yep
however, the sink will be very handy ANYWAY
ps. Occam's Razor
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"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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