Washing machine waste pipe overflowing

rentalforever

I have a washing machine in the utility with the waste hose from the machine loosely "plugged" in to the waste pipe. When the washer is dealing with a full load of clothes, it uses more water and the waste pipe isn't able to clear it in time. Since it's not a sealed pipe, it ends up overflowing. I don't think there's a blockage in the pipe itself as the water does clear fairly quickly and sometimes it doesn't overflow at all.

Is there a way for me to get the waste hose to connect to the waste pipe in a sealed way so that it never overflows? I'm thinking that the vertical waste pipe in the picture needs to be changed to something else but I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for - it does however measure 40mm in diameter though.

Any suggestions?

Jeepers_Creepers

It's not designed to be sealed, as this would risk the water content of the W/M to be syphoned out when you don't want it to be.

Could you post a wider shot to show the height of the vertical white pipe in relation to the W/M itself? It may be that it needs raising a little - that could be all that's required.

Also could you describe/photograph where that white pipe goes - how long is that horizontal section, and then what?

doningtonphil

it looks like the waste pipe is larger diameter than the grey flexible  waste hose so it should cope with the quantity pumped in to it unless you have a restriction somewhere.  Where does the white pipe go when it disappears?

rentalforever

Jeepers_Creepers said:

It's not designed to be sealed, as this would risk the water content of the W/M to be syphoned out when you don't want it to be.

Could you post a wider shot to show the height of the vertical white pipe in relation to the W/M itself? It may be that it needs raising a little - that could be all that's required.

Also could you describe/photograph where that white pipe goes - how long is that horizontal section, and then what?

Here's the pipe in relation to the washing machine. It's a touch lower than where the waste hose emerges from the washing machine. How does the height of the the waste pipe affect the setup?

rentalforever

doningtonphil said:

it looks like the waste pipe is larger diameter than the grey flexible  waste hose so it should cope with the quantity pumped in to it unless you have a restriction somewhere.  Where does the white pipe go when it disappears?

That's correct. The grey flexible waste hose is the standard fitting that came with the washing machine and it easily pulls away from the vertical white waste pipe.

The white waste pipe is on a slightly downward angle as it runs along the wall and continues all around the room until it disappears behind a set of built-in cupboard units. Can't get behind there without taking at least one, possibly three, full height built-in units out to see where it disappears to.

grumbler

doningtonphil said:

it looks like the waste pipe is larger diameter than the grey flexible  waste hose so it should cope with the quantity pumped in to it unless you have a restriction somewhere.  Where does the white pipe go when it disappears?

The larger diameter means nothing as the water is pumped through the hose, then flows naturally through the pipe, but yes, the pipe is likely to be partly blocked somewhere.

Jeepers_Creepers

rentalforever said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

It's not designed to be sealed, as this would risk the water content of the W/M to be syphoned out when you don't want it to be.

Could you post a wider shot to show the height of the vertical white pipe in relation to the W/M itself? It may be that it needs raising a little - that could be all that's required.

Also could you describe/photograph where that white pipe goes - how long is that horizontal section, and then what?

Here's the pipe in relation to the washing machine. It's a touch lower than where the waste hose emerges from the washing machine. How does the height of the the waste pipe affect the setup?

If the white vertical pipe was extended a couple on inches, it would probably help the splashback, but might then be too high for the W/M's specs. (A taller pipe would just allow more 'head' of water to build up which would assist a bit.)

I think your problem is down to the long run of that waste pipe, coupled with it perhaps having too slight a slope to cope. The issue is, the white pipe empties due to gravity, whereas the W/M actively pumps the water out the grey pipe at quite a rate.

I also have a horrible feeling that the white pipe is only 1 1/4" diameter (~35mm) whereas it should be 1 1/2" - like the pipes under your kitchen sink. That would definitely hinder the flow.

I don't think - I can't see any reason to suspect - that this is down to a blockage, even partial; there are other, more obvious, explanations (pipe run too long, pipe too narrow, slope perhaps not enough for such a run).

Things to try in order of ease: (1) read the W/M's instructions (you'll find them online if you don't have a copy) and look up the max height from the ground that the waste pipe opening can be. Compare that with what you have, and please report back. (2) Measure the size of that white pipe. If it's hard to judge with a tape, then wrap a strip of paper around it, mark where it overlaps = circumference, and divide with a pie. 3 will do. (3) Measure how many metres that pipe run is...

Where is your kitchen sink? Could you post a photo of the pipework under there, please?

Jeepers_Creepers

A solution: This https://www.screwfix.com/p/washing-machine-drain-out-kit/75883 coupled with an extra piece of pipe coming out the top, high enough to prevent any splashback.

Jeepers_Creepers

A possible immediate solution - how far down the white pipe does your grey flexi pipe go?

You can move the flexi further along that plastic bend thingy so that the hose end goes a good 3/4 of the way down inside the pipe so the end is just a couple of inches above that first bend. That could well do the trick - the force of water coming out might be enough to drive the water right round that first bend and get it moving away quickly, instead of it filling up that vertical pipe as it currently seems to be doing. Worth a try - a couple of minutes, and no cost.

grumbler

Jeepers_Creepers said:

rentalforever said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

It's not designed to be sealed, as this would risk the water content of the W/M to be syphoned out when you don't want it to be.

Could you post a wider shot to show the height of the vertical white pipe in relation to the W/M itself? It may be that it needs raising a little - that could be all that's required.

Also could you describe/photograph where that white pipe goes - how long is that horizontal section, and then what?

Here's the pipe in relation to the washing machine. It's a touch lower than where the waste hose emerges from the washing machine. How does the height of the the waste pipe affect the setup?

If the white vertical pipe was extended a couple on inches, it would probably help the splashback, but might then be too high for the W/M's specs. (A taller pipe would just allow more 'head' of water to build up which would assist a bit.)

I think your problem is down to the long run of that waste pipe, coupled with it perhaps having too slight a slope to cope. The issue is, the white pipe empties due to gravity, whereas the W/M actively pumps the water out the grey pipe at quite a rate.

...

I don't think - I can't see any reason to believe - that this is down to a blockage, even partial; there are other, more obvious, explanations (... slope perhaps not enough for such a run).

With such big 'head' the slope is almost irrelevant even over few meters.

Usually such kits for washing machines come with their own trap

I wonder where the trap is located in this case.

Jeepers_Creepers

I'm assuming there is one, but who knows? The nose?