Why laundry drains back up
Lint, pet hair and detergent residue settle in the horizontal pipe beyond the standpipe trap. Over a few years the opening shrinks until the pump outruns it. Basement laundry rooms in many Brampton homes also drain through a laundry tub whose trap was never cleaned, and some have a standpipe that is too short, letting water siphon or splash out.
Warning signs
- Water on the floor behind the washer during the spin or drain cycle.
- The laundry tub filling with grey water when the washer drains.
- Gurgling from the floor drain or a nearby sink as the washer empties.
- A musty smell at the standpipe when the machine is idle.
Repairs we make
- Pull the washer forward and check the drain hose for kinks and the correct insertion depth.
- Run a cable through the trap and branch to the stack, pulling back the lint mat.
- Where the standpipe is undersized or too low, rebuild it in 2 inch pipe at the proper height with a fresh trap.
- Replace a cracked laundry tub or its trap and tailpiece, and refit the faucet if it drips.
- Add a lint trap on the hose outlet into the tub.
Line ran clear but still backs up? The laundry often drains into the same pipe as the floor drain. Recurring backups may point to the building drain; see floor drain backup.
Supply hoses too
While the washer is out, look at the rubber fill hoses. If they are bulging, cracked or over five years old, swap them for braided stainless hoses, and make sure the hot and cold valves behind the machine turn freely.
Signs you need this job
- A steady drip from the spout
- Water under the cabinet after use
- Handles grinding, wobbling or turning past the stop
- One lonely tap running weak while others are fine
On the job, in order
- Close the angle stops or the main
- Pull the cartridge, stem or valve body
- Fit new parts and reset the trim
- Run both temperatures and check every connection
Ready when you are. One call, a real plumber, an arrival window.
Call now(365) 517-6415