An old, clogged-up washing machine drain is a nuisance and often leads to property damage. There are some simple steps you can take to clear the clog in your own home without needing an expensive service call from a plumber.
Signs A Washing Machine Drain Is Clogged
Signs a washing machine drain is clogged can include slow drainage, gurgling noises from the drain, and water pooling around the washing machine. If you notice any of these symptoms, you should take steps to unclog your washing machine drain as soon as possible.
Washing Machine Clogs: What Causes Them?
Learning about the common causes of drain blockage is a great first step toward preventing future overflows before you even contemplate dealing with a blocked washing machine drain on your own. While clearing your home’s laundry drains of debris may be a time-consuming and unpleasant operation, if left unattended, these items can pile up and cause serious plumbing issues.
A clogged washing machine drain pipe is often caused by:
- Buildup of soap residue.
- Dryer lint and shards left behind.
- Before washing, remove grease, oils, and other materials from clothes.
If you see persistent, collecting water in your washing machine unit after cycles and don’t examine the drains on a regular basis, your machine’s drains are likely to have blocked over time due to constant usage. Acting immediately in these situations may make the drain-cleaning procedure easier later on and reduce the damage that washing machine blockages and waste could do to your pipes.
Safe Ways To Unclog A Washing Machine Drain
There are many methods that can be used to unclog a clogged washer, but the best way to do it will depend on the situation.
Attempting to unclog a blocked washing machine drain, as many homeowners rapidly realize, may be dangerous. How do you know you’re using the appropriate tools or unplugging the correct fittings to clear clogs and debris? Much more alarming are the potential consequences of shoddy DIY efforts, which might leave your washing machine drains in even worse shape than before.
Regardless of your worries, clearing up your washing machine drains might be the simplest change you can make to your home plumbing, as long as you prepare for clog clearance with the finest drain cleaning gear and plumbing knowledge available. When it comes to unclogging blocked washing machine drains, a little planning ahead of time may save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Manual Removal And Snaking Are Two Options
Repairing a blocked washing machine drain is really pretty straightforward if you have the correct plumbing gear on hand. However, if you don’t have any of the following tools, you’re likely to do more harm than good, maybe even inflicting pipe damage.
When dealing with a blocked washing machine drain line, the following equipment may be useful:
- Wrenches in the form of a basin and hex-shaped wrenches
- Snakes, or industrial drain augers
- Cutter for wire and pipe
- Screwdrivers and other traditional tools
When it comes to self-cleaning your washing machine’s drains, having these items on hand might make all the difference. Manually cleaning debris from your laundry drain starts with removing the unit’s drainage pipe, which is usually found on the back of most washing machines; this can usually be done with a standard screwdriver, but we suggest having a pail on ready to capture any water backed up by the blockage.
There is an extra drain hose to disconnect from the pipe after the drainage pipe has been detached from the washing machine unit. This hose, which serves as the principal link between your laundry unit and your house plumbing system, is where most washing machine drain blockage occurs. You should be able to snake this drain tube like any other drain fitting after you’ve detached it from the washing machine’s drainage pipe.
It’s a three-step technique to clean out the hose using a drain snake:
- Run the drain snake down the hose until it encounters resistance, then rotate the snake to physically grab onto obstructed materials and debris.
- Break apart stuck muck with fluid, twisting movements and keep forcing the drain snake through until no further resistance is encountered.
- Slowly pull the drain snake away from the hose, dragging any tenacious particles behind it. To make the snake easier to take out, flip the knob in the other way.
Unclogging Your Washing Machine Drain Using Cleaner
If you don’t want to disassemble your laundry unit and employ a drain snake to remove thick material from your blocked washing machine drain, consider flushing out your drainage pipes using non-caustic household cleaning mixes, such as baking soda, vinegar, and hot water.
These products’ natural acids may break down organic material, allowing them to clean out large volumes of stuck muck. When used correctly, they may completely restore the functionality of your laundry drains. Chemical cleaning chemicals should be avoided at all costs, since they may damage your drains and offer major health hazards.
If You Have Severe Clogs, Seek Professional Help
As with any home plumbing problems, it’s important to know your own DIY limits as a homeowner. Don’t make matters worse by using poor clog-clearing techniques, or attempting to clear your blocked washing machine pipes without the right tools or expertise. When you know you’re getting in over your head, that’s when you should turn to experienced plumbing professionals.
Washing machine drains are often clogged with hair, soap scum, and grease. You can learn more about the best ways to fix a clogged washing machine drain here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use to unclog my washing machine drain?
A: You can use a small plunger, snake, drain cleaner, or extending tool.
Why is my washing machine drain pipe backing up?
A: Scum, hair, cloth particles, and objects can build up in the drain area.
How do you clean a washing machine drain pipe?
A: One common way is to put some baking soda down your drain pipe and let it fizz away any debris. However, if this doesnt work then try vinegar or even lemon juice.
If your washing machine drain is clogged, perhaps reconsider using a commercial drain cleaner. For more, see How Commercial Drain Cleaners Damage Pipes, Health, And The Environment.
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