Need plumbing help ASAP...

[Ravenlost]

Okay, already posted that I think my drain pipe from the washing machine is clogged (it's happened before due to all the dog hair in it). Now I have some questions to ask before I proceed with trying to fix it (would like to have it fixed before hubby gets home from work tonight).

1. If the drain pipe is just plugged, would the water come out of the top of the pipe?

The water is coming from behind the baseboards and flooding the floor. It only happens when I use the washing machine. This concerns me as I'm worried there may be a busted drain pipe, not a clogged one.

2. I can hear water that's standing in the drain pipe, so that makes me think the pipe ISN'T busted, but also makes me think it may be cracked higher up.

3. Should I cut out the sheetrock to see if there's a busted drain pipe? The pipe is PVC.

4. Or, should I continue to try baking soda and warm vinegar to unplug the clog?

5. There's a round plastic/PVC plug thing in the wall to the left of the drain pipe. What is that and should I mess with it?

Thanks for any replies.

Oh, wanted to add that there is a laundry sink to the left of the washing machine. I have not noticed any water bubbling up into the sink, nor have I seen any leaks from the sink pipes. So I suspect the clog/leak is not affecting the sink drain...which makes me very tempted to just put the drain hose from the washing machine in the sink!

[rags57078]

if its not coming out the top and the drain plug is tight you have a busted or cracked pipe

[Ravenlost]

That's what I'm afraid of, which means I need to cut out the sheet rock.

Where would I find the drain plug?

[rags57078]

was going by what you said is #5 ,, that should be a clean out plug ( where they can get in if you have a plugged line

[Harry Chickpea]

Cut the sheet rock to find the leak, yes, temporarily, you could run the washer drain into the sink. By drain plug, do you mean the cleanout port? Those are usually in basement or crawlspace before you get to the main one, which sometimes can be outside.

[Robert]

Your entire system ( PVC ) should be glued together. As a result, there should be no leaks. I would start with cutting the smallest size hole in your sheet rock. Say 12"X12", then inspect with a flash light near the leak. Open up more of the wall only as needed.

The round plug you see is an inspection hole/port. You can open it any time to run a drain snake down to unplug the system. You can still do this, but the evidence of water coming out says you have a bigger problem.

Drywall can be fixed, any hardware store should be able to talk you through this as well as how to fix you plumbing problem.

The plug is probably a place to insert a sewer snake or tape to clean out the drain pipe .


Lots of people posting while I did .

[Ravenlost]

Originally Posted by Robert

Your entire system ( PVC ) should be glued together. As a result, there should be no leaks...

"Should" being the operative word!

This house was built by idiots. We've already had a busted/rusted out plumbing problem once due to cheap materials that were used and the jacuzzi tub in the master bedroom leaks through the downstairs ceiling. The builder came out and "fixed" that when we moved in almost eight years ago, but it still leaks.

Sigh...guess I am going to go cut a hole in the sheet rock. At least it will be behind the washing machine and not like the two large sections that were cut out in the living room (where it was discovered they had installed the outside spigot plumbing BEHIND the brick fireplace wall which resulted in having to bust out the brick outside to get to it).

Wanted to add that there is no basement or crawlspace. House is built on a concrete slab.

[Alice In TX/MO]

The clean out is most likely on the outside of the house somewhere. We have clean out access a couple of feet into the yard from where the drain line exits the slab.

The one for the kitchen sink is actually ON the wall on the outside.

Should look like a 3" or so piece of PVC with a part that unscrews on the top. HOPEFULLY it is above ground level, but you may have to dig down to find it.

If water is running over behind the washer, it's very likely running down into the wall from the box thingy (don't know the name) that the end of the hose goes into.

Most likely running over the top of the drain line and then into the wall.

I sincerely doubt there is a leak in the pipe.
-You are NOT going to get this fixed before he gets home. Don't have that expectation.

Edited to add: Washing machine outlet box. (who knew) It has the cold and hot water faucets and the drain hole for the washer drain hose.

[Alice In TX/MO]

how to unclog the washer drain

YouTube

[Alice In TX/MO]

An incredibly stupid video, but it shows what's happening. This pipe is free standing.

YouTube

[PNWest]

Can you feed a garden hose down the drain to see how close or far a clog might be. You might be able to run water in the hose to help dislodge the clog. OR, and this is trial and error, feed the hose in as far as it will go, measuring the length as you go. Pull the hose out and at 1 foot intervals and turn the water on at each foot mark.

When you get water on the floor, that's approx. where the broken pipe is.
Good luck.

[Ravenlost]

Washing machine outlet box is bone dry. Always has been. The only place we have water is the floor. Last load I did (yesterday) we made sure the floor was completely dry, pulled the washing machine away from the wall and then watched. The water is seeping out from under the baseboard.

Odd thing is there is no wet sheet rock, which makes me think that water is dripping (or pouring) down onto the floor between the walls. There is some seepage into the kitchen in the same area, but very little. Of course, our floors are probably not level!

I have no clue where a clean out would be outside...if they even installed one! Like I said, idiots built this house. The washing machine drains into the septic tank (per code regulations...I would prefer grey water drain into the yard)...the entire house's plumbing drains into the septic tank.

Sigh...I really did NOT want to call the plumber.

I'm very tempted to run a load with the drain hose in the laundry sink just to see if I get leakage again.

[Rick]

Fill the sink and see if it leaks when you drain it.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I would do that, too. With the new info, it does sound like you have a leak in the drain pipe somewhere.

There *should* be a clean out, but that doesn't mean there IS one. Find a piece of rebar or something similar and use it to locate the drain line outside. Identify the general area where the drain pipe should exit the house and probe with the rebar down into the ground till you feel and hear it bump the pipe. Then, dig it out for a couple of feet and see if there's a clean out. It wouldn't be far from the slab. You may have to make a series of test holes parallel to the house like this ......... to find the pipe.

From what I found on a google search, the cleanout is supposed to be not more than 18" from the slab. It's also supposed to be up at the level of the ground, but hey..... never had one like that unless I installed it myself.

Link shows what it *should* look like when dug out, and you can see what the top part looks like. This one is *really* nice.
http://allthingsdrain.com/wp-content...r-cleanout.jpg

[OkieDavid]

You may be able to disconnect the hot and cold lines at the wall, remove the drain hose and pry the outlet box up and out. This may allow you to see into the wall space. If so, re-connect everything and run the washer while looking for the leak. You may have to be creative with a flashlight and small makeup mirror to be able to see clearly.... Good luck.

[Ravenlost]

Good idea OkieDavid!

LOL Rick...I'd rather do a load of clothes so the water doesn't go to waste! Guess a small load would work.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Ravenlost

Good idea OkieDavid!

LOL Rick...I'd rather do a load of clothes so the water doesn't go to waste! Guess a small load would work.

You're preaching to the choir!

[Ravenlost]

LOL...my hubby tells me that all the time!

[empofuniv]

If you switch the drain hose over to the laundry sick...might want to tie the top of a knee high stocking around the end of the hose so the body and foot of it will act as a lint/hair catcher.

I used to use a pc of wire to tighten a knee high down on the drain hose.