Every time a wash cycle ends, the water in the drum of your washing machine is emptied into a nearby drain line, also known as a standpipe, which eventually connects to your home’s main sewer system. A wrecked floor, mould growth, damaged sheetrock and insulation, and water spilling out all over your floor are just a few of the many costly issues that can arise from a malfunctioning drainage system.
If your washing machine ever overflows, this post will show you how to fix it and stop it from happening again. In addition, we will provide you some pointers to help you figure out whether you should call a professional or if you can fix the washing machine on your own.
Are you prepared to contact a Washing Machine Repair Abu Dhabi to resolve your washer’s issue? Begin by utilising our tool located below.
What Causes an Overflow in a Washing Machine and How to Fix It?
Getting to the bottom of a washer drain overflow is the first step in fixing the problem. Possible issues include a blockage in the drain hose, an inadequate drain line size for your specific washing machine or a malfunctioning hose that transfers water from the machine to your fixed plumbing pipes.
If you want to be sure your issue is permanently resolved, it’s best to follow the procedures below.
First, you need to check the space beneath your washer. We suggest taking a quick look beneath your washing machine to see if there are any issues before you move it. Before you start looking for kinks, make sure the washing machine hose isn’t pulled out of the drain pipe. These may be the root of your difficulties; figuring them out before taking any action can save you time. You can skip to step seven and test the solution after you unkink or reinsert the hose into the drain pipe if you observe one of these concerns.
If you didn’t see any obvious problems when you looked at the washing machine, step two is to move it away from the wall so you have more room to work. Just to be cautious, you should probably unplug the machine and cut off the water supply.
In Step 3, “Prepare the Area,” you should lay down some old towels on the floor and any sheetrock behind the machine to protect them from water. This is necessary since you will be working with a hose and drain pipe, both of which could contain water.
Step4: If the washing machine’s drain hose is malfunctioning, fix it: Now is the time to remedy any issues you may have found with the hose that were not apparent before you relocated the machine. Unseen kinks or cracks in the hose can be a result of this. Depending on how bad the damage is, you might have to buy a new hose altogether.
If the hose itself is in good working order, the fifth step is to remove any obstructions from the drain line or the hose itself. Using a plumber’s drain snake to unclog them and remove any lint that may be trapped is usually necessary, but you may check both to see if there’s a visible blockage. Connect the hose to the permanent drain line and use the auger or snake on both ends.
Step 6: Run a test cycle after reattaching the drain hose to the washing machine’s drain pipe: Lastly, return everything to its original state and execute a test cycle to verify the issue has been resolved. When you roll the washer back into position, be careful not to twist the hose, and push it down into the drain line as far as it will go. More significant issues may be at play if the situation continues, or the drain pipe connecting to your main drain line may be too small. No matter what, you should definitely get in touch with a plumber.
For a visual tutorial on how to clear washing machine hose clogs, you can also watch the short video below:
Why Does My Washing Machine Occasional Overflow Even Though It Drains Properly?
There are a few potential reasons why your washing machine might occasionally overflow even if it seems to be draining correctly most of the time.
Machine Is Overloaded
When the washer has intermittent drainage problems, it’s usually because you put too much clothes in it or use too much detergent. The increased water volume needed to wash an excess of laundry makes it more likely that the drain pipe may overflow. These days, it’s most often seen in modern washing machines that use sensors to detect the load’s water needs.
An overabundance of detergent can cause the hose and drain line to become clogged, which in turn causes the water to flow more slowly and eventually overflow. Soap scum and residue will build up faster in the PVC pipe, increasing the likelihood of blockages and overflows.
The Wrong Washer Parameters
Operating the washing machine on the incorrect setting is another, less prevalent, issue that Washing Machine Repair Abu Dhabi deals with. Things like using hot water instead of cold water or a spin cycle setting that’s too strong can accelerate the wear and tear on sensitive clothing. That can cause lint to build up and even rips off pieces of fabric, which in turn can cause clogs and overflow issues.
Just like when you use a heavy detergent in a mild wash cycle, there could not be enough water to dilute the detergent. Consequently, you run the chance of experiencing more frequent blockages. If you use the heavy load setting on a machine that isn’t really heavy, the water will drain out of the machine too fast for the drain pipe to manage.
Fixing Plumbing Issues
Regrettably, the problem may lie in your repaired plumbing system itself. By connecting the washer’s flexible drainage hose to a laundry sink, you may evaluate the machine’s drainage. If the water flow is regular, which is typically 3 to 5 gallons per minute, then the issue is probably with your plumbing. If snaking the line doesn’t work, you’ll need to call a plumber.
We suggest contacting the manufacturer or a service expert for assistance if you experience ongoing issues that you think are related to the machine itself, rather than a plumbing problem.
The Best Way to Keep Your Washing Machine From Overflowing?
Preventing a washing machine drainage problem from happening and damaging your home is preferable and more long-term than fixing an already-existing, usually-painless, problem. You can prolong the life of your washing machine and keep overflow problems at bay by following these simple precautions:
An external lint trap is one of the quickest and easiest solutions to overflow problems. These screen meshes are designed to fit over the washing machine hose’s end. Mesh allows water to pass through while lint and other debris are caught in the filter to keep them from clogging the drain pipe. Once a month is a good reminder to empty and clean the filter to keep it from getting clogged and creating more overflow problems.
Whenever feasible, put your laundry in a garment bag or lint bag to prevent lint and other small objects from getting stuck in your drain pipe or blocking your hose, which can lead to an overflow.
If your washing machine contains an internal lint filter, you should clean it on a regular basis, preferably once every few months. More severe blockages and leaks might develop over time if material is released into your hose and drain line from a clogged filter.
Make sure there is at least six inches of space between the wall of your laundry room and your washing machine. Crushing, cracking, or kinking the hose when you push the machine too near to the wall will cause drainage issues in no time.
Once in a while, you should clear the hose and drainpipe: Even with lint filters, lint and other particles that you unintentionally wash might accumulate in your hose and drain line. For their protection, we suggest snagging them every three months at the very least. To remove buildup from plumbing systems, you can use drain enzymes or a non-abrasive drain cleaner. Another option is to pour baking soda and boiling water down the drain line, let it soak for a few hours, and then run the washer.
If your drain pipe is too small to accommodate the volume of water flowing out of your bathtub or laundry room at once, you may need to get a new one. Because of the increased capacity and faster draining times of modern washing machines, this problem tends to occur more frequently in older homes with smaller pipes. A bigger drain line, which may require the services of a plumber, can be installed to avoid future overflow problems.
Opt for a front-loading machine instead: There are two main reasons why front-loading washers are more water efficient than top-loading ones. So, to start, more water is required by top-load washers because they can hold more garments. Secondly, front-load washers don’t use as much water to fill the drum or tub to cover the load of washing. Changing to a front-load washer can be a better option than repairing the drain line if the overflow problem is caused by a tiny diameter in the drain pipe.
Does My Overflowing Washing Machine Require an Expert or Can I Fix It Myself?
While it’s normally easy to figure out why your washing machine is leaking while it’s draining, fixing it might require the assistance of a specialist. Also, take careful not to water damage flooring or other building materials when you release the discharge hose and drain pipe for snaking; it’s a nasty and potentially dangerous process. If you’d rather not deal with wastewater or are worried about that possibility, calling a plumber is a smart choice.
There may be a more significant issue at play if you have tried the aforementioned solutions and are still perplexed by your drainage issue. In such instance, we suggest contacting a licensed plumber. We advise calling a professional plumber if you suspect a narrow drain pipe is the root of your problem. In most cases, this calls for the removal of the drain line and its replacement with a broader one.
The task itself is easy enough for a do-it-yourselfer to complete, but the eventual decrease you’ll have to make to connect the new line to your current system might be rather problematic if not executed correctly. In order to regulate the water flow, it is essential that the pipes make any necessary twists at the correct angle. Sewer blockages can get worse and spread farther into the drainage system if you aren’t careful, necessitating more intricate and costly repairs.
Repairing a Washing Machine Overflow: Last Thoughts
While problems with washing machines overflow are inconvenient at best, they can lead to expensive repairs and significant property damage at worst. If you know what to look for and how to remedy it, you can save money and prevent damage.
Overflowing washers are usually caused by lint blockages. To avoid this, you can either install a lint catcher on the hose and clear it out periodically to prevent buildup, or you can snake the machine hose and drain line once every few months. Repairing the damage to the hose and making sure there’s a 6-inch gap between the machine and the wall behind it are usually enough to cure the overflow, according to Washing Machine Repair Abu Dhabi.
When the water flowing from your washer is too much for your drain pipe, it might lead to washer overflow. Changing to a front-load washer or washing less frequently with less water are the simplest options. Calling a plumber to enlarge your drain line is a more long-term option. With any luck, this will put an end to future overflow problems. A Plumber or machine service technician may be needed for any more issues.
