The last thing you need in your home is a leak, or to have water overflowing everywhere. Cleaning up an overflow is never fun, and so you will want to fix the problem, and prevent it from happening ever again!
One of the most common areas in your home that could overflow or cause a flood is the washing machine. Washing machine drains can sometimes become clogged, damaged, or overflow, which is an issue that will need to be rectified as soon as you know about it.
So, how do you fix a washer drain overflow problem? We are here to help you find out, learn what causes a washing machine drain to overflow, and to tell you exactly how to stop your washing machine from overflowing in the future.
How do you fix a washer drain overflow?
There is nothing worse than going to stick a load of laundry into your washing machine to find a large pool of water seeping out from underneath it. Before you go to use the machine, you will have to fix the problem in case it gets any worse, or causes more damage.
To try and fix a washer drain overflow, then you will first need to know how exactly the machine works, and how it removes the water after a wash cycle.
Once your machine finishes, it will then remove the water from the washing machine tub. This is done with a pump that will forcefully move the water into a drain hose, which then curls up and out of the machine, towards the standpipe, near your hot and cold water valves.
If the washing machine is in the proper working order, then it will send the water through a hose up into the standpipe where it will be carried towards the main sewage line from your home.
If at any point in this process the water cannot be carried to the standpipe, then the washing machine will malfunction, and overflow the drainage system, which is what causes the washing machine to overflow and leak.
If you are suffering from this issue, then it is important to stop this from happening. Before you make any steps to fix the problem, it is best to diagnose the issue, and ensure that it is a problem with the drainage system.
To check what the problem is, you are going to need to test your washing machine.
To do this, you will want to run your washing machine as normally through a drain cycle, and watch to see what happens.
You will need to be able to see the water in the hose go up into the standpipe, if you notice the water getting lodged, and coming out of the standpipe, then the issue is with the drain.
If this takes only a few seconds to overflow, then there is probably a clog in the standpipe, or in the washing machine hose. You will then have to clear this blockage with a snake cleaner to remove the clog or build-up inside.
If the water block and overflow takes a little longer to happen, such as around a minute, then the clog may be deeper within your washing machine drainpipe system. You can try to reach this with a drain snake cleaner, but you may instead need a qualified plumber to rectify this issue.
If the water takes much longer than a minute for overflow, then there may be a real problem in your plumbing system or in the drainage system. If this is the case, then we would recommend contacting a licensed plumber to help fix the issue.
On the other hand, it may not just be a clog in your drainage system that is causing the problem.
Sometimes, drainpipes can be the wrong size for the washing machine, or the hoses of your machine can be broken, which will also cause an overflow. If any of these issues seem to be the case, then you would have to contact a professional plumber to help you.
How can I stop my washing machine from overflowing?
If you want to stop your washing machine from overflowing again in the future, then there are a few steps that you can take.
For instance, we recommend using a lint bag or garment bag to prevent any build ups or clogs from happening inside the washing machine and drainage system.
You should also always remember to clean out the lint trap or filter in your washing machine to prevent a blockage. In addition, you may want to clean out the drainpipe and washing machine hoses frequently to stop the washing machine from overflowing again.
Finally, you can also make sure that there is always at least a ½ inch gap between the drainpipe and the hose that discharge the water so that your machine has appropriate drainage at all times.
What would cause a washing machine drain to overflow?
There could be a myriad of reasons as to why your washing machine drain is overflowing, these may be minor issues that are easily fixed, or much larger issues such as a main sewer line blockage.
That being said, one of the most common causes of a washing machine drain overflow is a clogged drainpipe, which can be fixed by removing the blockage with a drain snake or cleaner.
Why does my sink gurgle when the washing machine drains?
You may notice that your sink gurgles when your washing machine is draining. This is because the machine will empty the water by forcing it through the drain pump and pipe.
When you hear gurgling, this typically means that there is a blockage in a drain or waste pipe, which will need cleaning out with an enzyme based cleaner, or by a certified plumber.
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