How can I unblock washing machine drain pipe?

Okell

Just to be clear, I don't mean the drain pump and I don't mean the drainage hose that are parts of the machine itself.  I'm talking about the vertical white plastic waste pipe attached to the kitchen wall and which the machine's drainage hose empties into.  The machine itself is draining perfectly well.

This has happened several times before, but in the past I've always been able to clear it with a bit of effort, a plumber's snake and some soda crystals and hot water, but this blockage has defeated several attempts so far.

If it were a handbasin or sink I'd use a plunger or Mr Muscle drain cleaner.  But the top of the pipe is under a worktop so I can't get a plunger to it, And I don't particularly want an overflow of Mr Muscle if it doesn't unblock it.

Any ideas or do I just have to persevere with physical effort?  Or should I risk trying something like Mr Muscle (or similar)?

EssexExile

Do the various parts of the pipe, straight bit, u-bend, etc. not just unscrew to take the whole thing apart? They are usually compression (screw together) or push fit - just pull apart. If they are solvent welded then you have a problem.

molerat

I would like to know what is coming out of the machine that is enough to block the pipe.

Albermarle

molerat said:

I would like to know what is coming out of the machine that is enough to block the pipe.

I thought the same. This has never happened to me.

CliveOfIndia

molerat said:

I would like to know what is coming out of the machine that is enough to block the pipe.

As always, a picture paints a thousand words.  But my supposition is that it empties into a U-bend that forms part of the sink drainage, if you see what I mean.  If that's the case, then my first suggestion would be the same as mentioned by EssexExile - unscrew the various bits, give it a clean and re-assemble.

(OP, if you do decide to go for this method - by far the easiest and most effective if it's possible - clean the bits and pieces in a different sink to the one you've just removed them from !).

It could well be that it's stuff going down the sink that's causing the blockage, rather than the washing machine itself.

ThisIsWeird

Photos, Okell, please.

marcia_

Albermarle said:

molerat said:

I would like to know what is coming out of the machine that is enough to block the pipe.

I thought the same. This has never happened to me.

 I had this with the dishwasher. It was blocked with fat that i had put down the sink rather than come out the dishwasher the repair man told me . He just dug it out  the u bend  

EssexExile

molerat said:

I would like to know what is coming out of the machine that is enough to block the pipe.

Fluff and limescale. Usually gathers at a bend where the flow slows down.

Bigphil1474

OP, we used to get this all the time in our old house, just a general build up of gunk that needed cleaning out about twice a year. Had to physically dismantled the pipes and used a metal rod I'd salvaged from somewhere to physically push the gunge out. In our case, i think  it was basically caused by the waste pipe being too shallow and connecting to another waste pipe that came from next to the sink. Needed completely replumbing really but money was tight when we moved in so it was easier to keep cleaning it out twice a year, and basically just got used to doing it.

If you are lucky, the down pipe bit may come off the across pipe (if you've got one) to make it easier to slide out. I did have a removable section of worktop which made it easier, but I had to take the washer out, remove the work top section, untwist the down pipe connected to the u bendy bit, slide the across pipe out through the hole in the cupboard, then take everything outside, give it a thorough rodding and rinse with hot soapy water, then put everything back together.

ThisIsWeird

Okell? OKELL!!!
Photos, please, and then we can hopefully guide you on how to remove the blocked sections, and clean them out properly.
Using chemicals usually has a very limited effect, because as soon as it breaks through, the chemicals drain away. Your pipes will not be fully clear.
Also, if you remove them to clean, you'll be able to ID the cause, and if it's cooking debris and fat, then you need to change what you put down t'sink.

Okell

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I won't be back at home until after Christmas so can't provide photos (of what?) at the moment.

The waste pipe is just a vertical plastic pipe about 1.75" in diameter, about 30" high with a U (or P?) trap or bend at the bottom.  It exits the kitchen wall and outside it joins the waste pipe from the kitchen sink.

Nothing like grease or fat goes down the kitchen sink - it all goes in the bin - and I can't imagine what from the sink could possibly cause a blockage.  The sink drains perfectly well - I can tell that from watching it drain and listening to it drain from outside.  And wouldn't the sink back up anyway?

Also the washing machine is currently draining into the sink - no problems whatsoever.

As regards what could come out of the washing machine to cause the blockage, I assume it's lint and fluff etc as suggested by @EssexExile.  Obviously it's been small enough to get through the drain pump* and filter as that is all working ok.  In the 25 or so years we've lived here, this has happened no more than half a dozen times and it's always been sorted out with the snake.  I'm puzzled as to why this seems to be immovable.

I don't want to, but I suppose I'll have to disassemble the waste pipe


*My wife has a tendancy not always to check her pockets etc are empty when washing her clothes so we've had to clean out the drain pump and filter several times.  The machine itself is draining perfectly well so I assume the drain pump and filter are OK.  (She's a rower and after working on her boat she once left a 9" screwdriver with her clothes and it ended up in the washing m/c.  Fortunately it made such a racket we were able to stop it before any damage was caused.  This was several years ago.  Hair pins too...)