washing machine drain height
 

Tell me if this is possible. I moved into my first house which has a
finished basement. The problem is, the unfinished part of the basement
(the section that has the washer/dryer) is on the opposite side of the
basement as the septic tank. The previous owner has the washing machine
drain into a septic pump which shoots the waste water up over the
finished part of the basement and down into the septic pipe on the
opposite part of the basement. This cross pipe is a PVC pipe that runs
just abnove the suspending ceiling (along the floor rafters of the main
floor). My question is, can the washing machine drain into this pipe
at ceiling height? This cross pipe is at a slight slope (goes down
about 1 foot over 25 feet length) towards the septic tank. So
basically, can the washing machine crain into a pipe about 7 feet from
the ground? Probably not? Thanks!!

"grodenhiATgmailDOTcom" wrote in message
ps.com...
Tell me if this is possible. I moved into my first house which has a
finished basement. The problem is, the unfinished part of the basement
(the section that has the washer/dryer) is on the opposite side of the
basement as the septic tank. The previous owner has the washing machine
drain into a septic pump which shoots the waste water up over the
finished part of the basement and down into the septic pipe on the
opposite part of the basement. This cross pipe is a PVC pipe that runs
just abnove the suspending ceiling (along the floor rafters of the main
floor). My question is, can the washing machine drain into this pipe
at ceiling height? This cross pipe is at a slight slope (goes down
about 1 foot over 25 feet length) towards the septic tank. So
basically, can the washing machine crain into a pipe about 7 feet from
the ground? Probably not? Thanks!!


My washer pumps to about 8' from the ground without any problems from the
washer. Having it empty into a horizontal (basically) pipe will not work
though. You need a vertical run to drain in to or it's almost going to get
messy. My vertical pipe is about 2' tall and empties in to a 2" drain that
is about 5' off of the ground. The top of the drain pipe is between the
ceiling rafters in my basement. It sounds like you already have the proper
setup with the sump pump. You are going to run in to trouble without using
the sump pit if you try to drain an inordinate amount of suds from the
washer or if something else, at the time, is draining into the pipe that
your washer also drains through. I have had my share of overflowing the
washer drain in the basement and I plan to install a sump pit one day to
alleviate the problems.I have learned not to shower and do laundry at the
same time for now.

"Olaf" wrote in message
...
You need a vertical run to drain in to or it's almost going to get
messy.


Uh, I mean it's almost always going to get messy.