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Author:
Dwende (PA)
Hello,
We just bought a house and the laundry is in the basement. The washer discharges into a utility sink which drains to a pump. That pump pumps the water up to the sewer pipe. This is not uncommon.
The problem is that the pump sounds like there is no water running through it. My wife did one load and it worked fine and on the second load of laundry it sounded like a garbage disposal without any water running through it.
I think that the pump is clogged because it worked just fine the first time. I don't mind taking apart the pipes leading from the sink to the pump to check it out but my fear is that when I disassemble the pipes, whatever water is in the sewer line within the house will follow gravity and come rushing into my basement.
I also think that maybe this won't happen because the sewer line isn't flowing into the basement as we speak and I doubt that the pump has some anti-backflow valve. I'd like to hear the opinion of someone who knows this stuff. I believe I can fix it and I'd hate to pay someone to come to my house to tell me what I already suspect.
Thanks
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Author:
North Carolina Plumber (NC)
There shouldn't be any standing water in the sewer pipe, there should be a check valve in the discharge line on the pump. You can have an empty 5 gallon bucket ready when you cut the piping.
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Author:
jeff h (NJ)
i agree with nc plumber nice touch
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Author:
Dwende (PA)
Ok so the drain up to the pump is clear and the pump apparatus spins freely when I turn on the switch. There is a blue connector between two pieces of pvc pipe. I assume that this is the check valve. Should I continue to cut away the pvc pipe until I find the clog?
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