Overflowing washing machine standpipe

ugm1dak

Hi,

Just looking for some advice. We moved into a new build house about 4 years ago. We've had a problem with the washing machine standpipe overflowing intermittently when using the washing machine. Tried rodding it and using drain unblocker without success. 

We paid someone to come out and inspect the pipes and drains and they said they were all patent. Conclusion was that it's a flow issue and the pipe would need replacing for a bigger one. This would cost thousands apparently as they'd need to dig up the drive, go through a kitchen wall etc. All sounded quite drastic for what is a pretty minor issue. 

This is the connection of the pipes to the outflow. There are a couple of tight bends and I was thinking straightening some of this out might improve the flow whilst preserving the trap. Any ideas would be welcome for how to solve the problem without major excavation work. 

Thanks,

David

Mutton_Geoff

How far up does the stand pipe go? That is an important factor in the issue. Also, is the pipe going off to the left used to drain anything else, eg kitchen sink. If so, does the flooding happen only when two things are happening at once, eg draining sink and washing machine?

Have you unscrewed the trap (u bend) to check it's clean? Washing machines chuck out a load of nasty jelly stuff from modern washing powder/capsules. Cleaning it properly (bottle brush or good flush and pull a wet rag through) is much better, and moneysaving, than pouring drain cleaning chemicals down the pipe.

EssexExile

The cheap, easy, unproffessional way is to just wrap loads of duct tape around the top of the standpipe and hose as it enters to stop the water splashing out.

grumbler

EssexExile said:

The cheap, easy, unproffessional way is to just wrap loads of duct tape around the top of the standpipe and hose as it enters to stop the water splashing out.

There are much better ways, still very cheap.

E.g.

OR

+

However, if the pipe overflows, this is unlikely to work.

EssexExile

It depends on the nature of the overflow, if it's a good flood then none of these things is the answer, it needs to be sorted properly. On the other hand when I got my new machine sometimes the initial spurt of water would splash back up the pipe, once flowing it's fine. In that scenario a bit of tape, or your more professional looking solution, will work fine.

Mutton_Geoff

grumbler said:

EssexExile said:

The cheap, easy, unproffessional way is to just wrap loads of duct tape around the top of the standpipe and hose as it enters to stop the water splashing out.

There are much better ways, still very cheap.

E.g.

OR

+

However, if the pipe overflows, this is unlikely to work.

The direct pipe connector should only be used where siphoning is not going to be an issue (ie these are normally fitted as part of the undersink drainage where the drain can vent through the plug hole).

If you fit one of these in the OPs set up, they will need to add a durgo to the top of the pipe else there is a risk of siphon and drain smells coming back up through the washing machine.

There could be a number of reasons the OP set up isn't working. Blockage, lack of fall on the pipework couple with a powerful washing machine drain pump etc.