Washing Machine Water Drain Clogged

So this customer discovered his washing machine water drain clogged and caused a leak in his tenant's first-floor ceiling. Before calling me he decided to open up the wall opposite the washing machine and the ceiling of the apartment below.
My first thought was, this sounded like a routine clog so why tear up walls and ceilings. But once I made a visual inspection of the drain line it was apparent why this happened. Like my previous video "leak under kitchen cabinet" (link below) who does this kind of work! I still don't understand how this passed inspection!
I re-piped the 2nd-floor washing machine drain from the washer box down and into the ceiling of the 1st-floor apartment. We ran the machine through several cycles and all looked pretty good. Although I tried to glue the standpipe directly into the washer box, It just would not fit. Again I can't believe what tradespeople do, I hope you enjoy the video!
Happy Plumbing,
Bob.
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[@sandysue202]

I am fixing to do a re-route/re-do of my washer drain. I live outside the city limits of a tiny little town and so there will be no codes or inspectors but I just want to do it right because the existing drain goes back under the edge of my house, behind the foundation and I just want that one to be a non used, empty pipe when I am done! It's always, always been a problem drain line. I am a 71 year old widow with minimal plumbing skills but I believe I can do this!! Your videos will help me along with probably several others. This one was great and thanks!!

[@darrenwhite9626]

Bob, this helped me fix a problem with my washer after two repair men/contractors said they couldn't find the issue! Thank you for what you do!

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thank you for visiting and checking out the video! Bob.

[@588158]

another great video bob! i don't think it was ever inspected. looks more like a weekend warrior job.

[@nicholassharp8691]

Sounds like inspector was like yep. Can’t see it from my house. Looks good.

[@mcroley591]

Nice work! Take care Bob!

[@Fireship1]

Nice work Bob!

[@nicholassharp8691]

Same issue in my house. Glad I found this video.

[@shuteforyourgoals5132]

Well done

[@ottoroth3066]

Good video Bob....I hate plumbing!

[@tonym6920]

Nice job Bob, there sure are a lot of hacks out there! 👍👍

[@lizardman1303]

Dang the bell was super loud and lasted a long time while wearing headphones

[@eutimiochavez415]

Great job !

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thank you!

[@williamdyckman9704]

Bob, redo is really a nice looking job, obviously could not have been inspected by plumbing inspector.

[@perrycummings4848]

To be fair, inspectors don't have x ray goggles. Inspectors don't generally rip out sheetrock to inspect every pipe

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Fair Enough!

[@robertgeorge4064]

Inspectors are supposed to look before it’s closed in. They will make you open it up if it’s closed up and not inspected.

[@Saint696Anger]

good stuff man 👍

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thanks for the visit

[@rajeshgajjar3774]

Mr. Bob thanks

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thank You!

[@caseyhartman7094]

One of my friends recently bought a condo that has some plumbing issues. He knew about the toilet and kitchen sink from the home inspection report. This weekend I moved the washer and dryer out of its closet to get rid of trash on the side left by the previous owner or resident. When I moved them back, water started backing up into the kitchen sink. The drain line might be full of grease and gunk like your friend's.

[@jandbplumbing]

Hi Bob you cleaned up job, Plumbing inspector never made it there on the original job I wanted to ask you could you include the PVC right into the laundry box most boxes do that.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

I tried, the socket was too small. Would love to have glued it in, but just would not fit!

[@susanbarthelow1796]

Hey, Bob, if it’s an old house and had Reno’s, perhaps this outlet is where the kitchen was and then ultimately the kitchen sink.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Good Point! Thanks for posting.

[@mikeymclucky]

That is absolutely brutal. Was the inspector a 2 year old?

[@tctulloch]

Maybe they had something else connected to that drain before using it for a washing machine.

[@dmattei760]

Hey bob, I'm seeing some ppl discuss that code requires the trap extend a certain distance from the vertical vent/drain in order to avoid creating an S trap - and to double the size of your pipe to generalize that distance. Does this setup create an S trap, or am I incorrect? Thanks for your help.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

IMO technically I guess you could say this mimics an "S" trap, but the fact that it's vented should equalize things and keep the trap from siphoning. They wanted to keep everything in that 16" bay and the only way to do it was to destroy that C.I. TY. I seriously doubt the job was inspected! I could not find any reference in the code about doubling the size of the drain downstream of the trap, depending on which code was referenced, I could be mistaken.

[@dmattei760]

@@BobsPlumbingVideos Okay, so as long as you have the vertical vent above you clear up that siphoning issue? I have a washer drain situation that is in close quarters, and I wasn't sure about this. Thanks

[@ahfallah]

Hi, is there any possibility the sewage from upper flats go into washing machine in lower flat when its not working?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

if you have a blockage in the drain line below the lower flat, when the upper flat drains its washing machine, it will hit the blockage below the lower flat and back up and out of the lower flats washing machine drain.

[@ralphh4131]

Thx

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thank You!

[@davidjuaquin2]

Should washing machines drain under bathroom sinks or kitchen sinks? & Can multiple appliances like a dishwasher and wahing machine drain under a kitchen sink simultaneously?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

My personal view would be not to drain any appliance under a bathroom sink, kitchen sinks here in New York are 2" which are better suited for multiple drains. However if wanting to drain both a washing machine and dishwasher and drain them simultaneously, I would make an independent connection for the washing machine downstream from the kitchen sink "P" trap or you could end up with a backed up drain while both are draining at the same time. Or have them drain at different times. Hope that helps!

[@wayneswonderarium]

Somone probably washed a lot of greasy clothes 😂

[@angelf9800]

Question What if you don’t put in a p trap in the washer drain what will happen.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

You'll have sewer gases (methene) enter the house. Not a good idea or code approved.

[@benoit1805]

Mine is not clogged, it keeps spitting back water when the drain cycle starts, any suggestions?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

How tall is your standpipe? Has to be at least 30" or more. As the cycle starts water will rise in the standpipe to some degree. I've seen "P" traps with a 12" section of pipe used as the standpipe and the water will come right out!

[@General_Klytus]

Hello Question can you Drain directly into a Toilet as opposed to a Sink or Standpipe?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Not directly, it's must be be downstream of the toilet bend a few pipe diameters technically. But in the real world, that's not always possible!

[@General_Klytus]

@@BobsPlumbingVideos Thx Bob

[@jtobias8246]

It's Marijuana or cigar tobacco from pockets??

[@brileann4176]

My washer is opposite side of kitchen sink i believe they have both draining in the same area (I’m no expert).. we can’t even use the damn pipe to drain the washer bc it overflows. Landlord claims it’s bc it’s clogged and he’s always had this problem.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

If water comes out of the standpipe when the sink is running, the line is clogged and needs to be snaked.

[@ttvjxnsfn8154]

I have an old house my garbage disposal is connected to our washer drain we know because food was spilling out we can’t figure it out without taking the wall apart we tried a snake we can’t get the snake through at the elbow part any suggestions

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Send me some pictures of the piping arrangement. email to [e-mail].

[@stephenbile3932]

I am confused, are air admittance vents legal in homes in NYC which are up to 3 floors?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

up.codes/viewer/new_york/ny-plumbing-code-2020/chapter/9/vents#918

[@stephenbile3932]

@@BobsPlumbingVideos this is really confusing. I googled it and this is what I got Are air admittance valves legal in NYC? (a) Where permitted. The use of air admittance valves in lieu of providing a vent stack through the roof shall be permitted in dwellings three stories or less in height. An individual vent pipe, branch vent, vent stack or stack vent shall be permitted to terminate with a connection to an air admittance valve.

[@eleanadavies5380]

I feel like heave been tipping paint or something down the drain

[@snipedeedillygaf4973]

how mich would that cost someome that had to pay a plumber amd how much if u did it your self

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Retail $1,200 / $1,800. DIY $100 / $250.

[@Ty_James21]

I'm having the same issue. My drain hose isn't draining the water, how can un-clogg it.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

You may need to use a small roto -rooter drain snake. General Handy-Electric is my choice.

[@Ty_James21]

@BobsPlumbingVideos Thank you, I honestly believe that the water down the sandpipe is frozen. The temperature got down to 15° a few days ago and that's when my issue started. I'm a new homeowner and I had no clue this could happen. I'm learning pretty quickly

[@Dr.GreenPlumb]

👍

[@realestateservicessaleshea99]

Thanks again for the videos. PVC is great! 🥃🥃🍺🍺🍺⛳🎳 Stay safe. Retired (werk'n)keyboard super tech. Wear your safety glasses!

[@plutobabe750]

Our inspector gives the ok over the phone, or just never shows up.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

A beautiful thing! I think?

[@Sh1nbooTV]

Sir how to fix plastic pvc elbow thread?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Need some more info JayLord!

[@Sh1nbooTV]

@@BobsPlumbingVideos the pvc plastic elbow thread the (spiral) already flat i mean the spiral is broken. the other tread can not be connect because the spiral of the pvc plastic elbow tread is broken sorry for bad english

[@jacksplumbingvideos7147]

@@Sh1nbooTV you need a new elbow.

[@crockpot5194]

Somebody bribed the inspector back then. You know money talks!

[@bradpittless837]

The inspector was Paulie Walnuts.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

😂😂😂

[@babooll5632]

Me thinks an inspector was not involved

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

100% Agree!

[@tomdale1313]

because it's being pumped and not gravity, i would have thought the pipes would be clean even with the back grade...since you came upon this mess by code aren't you the person to make it right?...studor vents are allowed in Seattle

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

They're not code-approved in the city. The customer was not concerned about reconnecting it to the pl;umbing system.

[@fatguylungs333]

Do you have a moment to maybe help me? Our washing machine has decided not to drain it's water anymore. Unless when you put on 'flush and centrifuge' then it drains, and during the program fills it with water again just to leave it at the end of the program again. So I know it's able to drain and push the water out. It just won't. And doesn't give me an error or anything either. 😂 Would you have any idea ?? It's a Samsung Eco bubble ofc (I'm Dutch so maybe the term isn't right 😂)

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Unfortunately, I am not an appliance repair person, sounds to me like the issue may be with the appliance itself and not the plumbing?

[@bobbywenger5595]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@toadster20000]

Drain pipes should be done in abs pvc is not fire rated for drains

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Code compliant in N.Y.C. up to five stories residential.

[@pacof4558]

I really like how you did a play by play on your nonsense well edited video.

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Much Appreciated! Thank You, Bob.

[@stephenwilliams5633]

Admittance vents are permitted in Ontario. I have noticed you always use PVC piping in Canada I always see ABS piping houses, why do you use PVC??

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

PVC is legal for residential five stories or less.

[@stephenwilliams5633]

@@BobsPlumbingVideos but it's more expensive

[@jacksplumbingvideos7147]

@@stephenwilliams5633 it depends on what the area uses and in some cases what the area requires, in wisconsin we use pvc but we can use ABS while other areas only allow ABS.

[@janetstone236]

FIVE STARS *****!

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Thank You!

[@bryang9158]

Looks like your p trap is a s trap with that short transition piece 🤷

[@stephenzies8867]

How Did it Pass Inspestion ? it's Just Like Anything In Life Why This Why That ? "MONEY" Money Talks And You Know The Rest . Not All Inspectors Are Honest . And Get Paid $$$

[@user-tu2oh6ug9n]

My inspector screwed me and lied

[@mrkrasker9609]

Either it was a case of greasing the wheel, or I got a guy that knows the guy, or just stupidity.

[@yingvang1276]

Why it has to be all curvey?

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

?

[@lauraskale6730]

We

[@wangbungal]

Studor vent in a laundry drain? Really? Talk about doing it right

[@BobsPlumbingVideos]

Here the choice - A. I can't afford you to reconnect to the plumbing system . B. Is there anything else you can do rather than leave an open line in the attic? C. STUDOR VENT! D. The End