"Doug Lassiter" wrote in message oups.com...
We have a GE "extra heavy duty large capacity" washing machine that has
worked beautifully for more than a decade. Unfortunately, ever since we
got it, the drain line has been problematical. The washer drain hose is
stuck into a 1.5-inch ID pipe opening in the washer wall fixture behind
it. If the seal between that drain hose and the pipe is not good, the
water will overflow out the opening and spill down the side of the
wall. (Yeah, we don't have a lot of wallboard left under there
anymore.)

Now, that same drain pipe is also fed by the dishwasher and kitchen
sink, and there is no such trouble with them. Water drains out of the
sink pretty quickly, in fact -- for a sink. As you might guess, without
any overflow line (see below) the washer pump also fills up my sink. So
it seems that at least between my washer and the kitchen sink, the line
is OK.

A plumber has come in to clean out the drain pipe, and nothing much
changes. I finally attached an overflow line on the access port fixture
on the outside wall of the house (conveniently behind the washer) that
allows this water flow from the washer to shoot out into the garden.
NIce, and kinda spectacular, but ...

I've been told by a neighbor that I'm supposed to NOT have a perfect
seal between the drain hose and the sewer pipe, as there has to be air
pressure relief. (The plumber didn't think this was an issue.) But this
is certainly not the solution to the problem because if the seal isn't
good, as I said, the water just spills out faster!

So it seems that I have a washer pump that is too powerful for my
drain. What are my options? I guess I could constrict the drain hose a
bit to slow the flow, but I'm concerned that might be stressing the
pump. Would it? Actually, I'm probably already stressing the pump with
my seal.


Code for this type of drain is 2" drain pipe. With a laundry tub, 1 1/2" works.

It is possible that careful cleaning of the drains could lessen your problem. You
could plumb the washer hose directly to the drain and add an air trap there to break
suction when the water stops. Then have drain stoppers that can be shut tight on the
sink to prevent overflows there. Resticting the washer hose enough to reduce the flow
would likely result in a place for lint to catch and gradually close it off further. I don't
know how much pressure washer pumps can handle. Contact a washer repairman
for that info.

Bob