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How do I prevent drain water from my washing machine backing up?

The title was probably not the best way to describe the problem, but I will expand the problem here.

When I connect my washing machine to the spigot on the P trap the water in the drain hose backs up because it appears that the spigot is too small for the volume/pressure of water coming from the washing machine which causes the washing machine to stop its cycle. When I place the drain hose directly into the laundry trough the washing machine drains ok and the washing continues its cycle until completion.

Having the drain hose directly into the laundry trough apparently is not compliant.

Is there a solution?

Thanking you,

Fletch582

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JacobZ

Hi @fletch582,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.

Is it possible to get a photo showing the opening in the spigot? Let me know if you need a hand uploading images. I am happy to help if required.

I ask because the spigots on traps usually come sealed, and they need to be drilled out. If it hasn't been drilled out, you'd need to do this. If it has been drilled out poorly, the flow could be restricted, causing it to back up, so you may need to redrill it.

If you have a look and don't find any issue, please let me know so I can assist further.

Jacob

fletch582

Hi Jacob,

Thankyou for your quick response.

The spigot as far as I can tell has been drilled out cleanly and does not have any blockage that I can see.

The manufacturer's manual states that the drain hose should either over the side of the laundry trough using a hose guide or into a standpipe ( which I do not have) or directly into the trough which apparently makes the installation non compliant. The user manual also states not to use a drain spigot.

So I am at a loss regarding this issue.

Thankyou for your assistance,

fletch582

JacobZ

Hi @fletch582,

If it's been drilled out cleanly and it still isn't draining as intended, it sounds like you might have to look at some alterations to the pipes in order to fulfil the manufacturer's requirements.

Do you have some photos of your laundry trough and the pipes beneath that you could share?

There may be a solution already in place, but I'd have to see it to know what you're working with.

Otherwise, having a plumber come out to inspect things might be the way to go.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

fletch582

Good morning Jacob,

Please find attached some photos of the laundry trough and the pipes. ZNeVh%VtR9a3TnJwOXNnfQ.jpg

JacobZ

Hi @fletch582,

Unfortunately, if the spigot is not working with your washing machine, then it looks like you're going to need to speak with a plumber, as there doesn't seem to be another option available to you.

I have seen laundry sinks that have a drainpipe attached to the hole opposite your mixer tap -

Perhaps a plumber could swap the sink to pipe connection with something like this Caroma 50mm Double Bowl Connector, so your drainage hose can sit in this hole.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

EricL

Hello @fletch582

Just to add to the suggestions made, I recommend speaking to your plumber and have them time the drain in your laundry sink. Looking at your setup, I don't see any reason why it can't cope with the water drain other than there is a partial block in your plumbing. This means that the blockage only becomes noticeable after a certain amount of litres are passing through the pipework. But otherwise in normal day-to-day use it becomes unnoticeable.

The only other solution that comes to mind is to install a classical pipe drain where your laundry waste pipe is placed over an actual pipe drain. But please speak to your plumber to explore other solutions.

Eric

fletch582

Hi Eric,

Thankyou for your reply.

I will contact the plumber after Xmas and see what he can find out.

Thankyou and Jacob for all of your help with this problem.

Have great Xmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Fletch582

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