Hello,

My washer backs-up into my kitchen sink when it drains. What could the
problem be, or is it just an old house?

The sink fills about half-way, but never overflows. The sink drains a
minute or so later and there is a residue with small black chips of
grime and a few minutes of local unpleasent odor. My house was built
in '69. I am nervouse because my neighbor told me the pipe exiting his
house to the back alley had partially collapsed last year and he had
to drill into the cement to fix it. He said the pipe installed by the
builders was not meant to last beyond 30 years or so.

Thank You For Your Time,

Nathan

Nate wrote:
Hello,

My washer backs-up into my kitchen sink when it drains. What could the
problem be, or is it just an old house?

The sink fills about half-way, but never overflows. The sink drains a
minute or so later and there is a residue with small black chips of
grime and a few minutes of local unpleasent odor. My house was built
in '69. I am nervouse because my neighbor told me the pipe exiting his
house to the back alley had partially collapsed last year and he had
to drill into the cement to fix it. He said the pipe installed by the
builders was not meant to last beyond 30 years or so.

Thank You For Your Time,

Nathan



It would be very helpful if you told us if it was your CLOTHESwasher or
your DISHwasher....

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

Oops! It is the clothes washer.

Nate wrote:

Hello,

My washer backs-up into my kitchen sink when it drains. What could the
problem be, or is it just an old house?

The sink fills about half-way, but never overflows. The sink drains a
minute or so later and there is a residue with small black chips of
grime and a few minutes of local unpleasent odor. My house was built
in '69. I am nervouse because my neighbor told me the pipe exiting his
house to the back alley had partially collapsed last year and he had
to drill into the cement to fix it. He said the pipe installed by the
builders was not meant to last beyond 30 years or so.

Thank You For Your Time,

Nathan


This might be the type of sewer lateral pipe the neighbor
referred to:
http://www.mlive.com/homeimprovement...302zolton.html

Jim

Nate wrote:

Oops! It is the clothes washer.


It certainly sounds like there's an obstruction limiting the flow rate
of your drain system, but where in your drain system it might be I don't
think any of us can tell you without being there. It could be as simple
as a "hairball" clog in a drain common to that sink and clothes washer,
or as you fear, your sewer lateral pipe may have followed your
neighbor's and collapsed.

I suggest you get a professional you trust in and have him/her see if
the problem can be corrected by a simple "roto rooter" type treatment of
the drain system.

If your neighbor's and your homes were built at the same time by the
same builder than your neighbor may be able to tell you what type of
drain pipe they found partially collapsed on his property, and whether
there was an outside reason why it failed, which may not be common to
both your homes.

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:46:19 -0700, Nate
wrote:

Hello,

My washer backs-up into my kitchen sink when it drains. What could the
problem be, or is it just an old house?

Hey, the White House is almost 200 years old. Do you think their sink
backs up? Buckingham Palace is a lot older than that.

The sink fills about half-way, but never overflows. The sink drains a
minute or so later and there is a residue with small black chips of
grime and a few minutes of local unpleasent odor. My house was built
in '69. I am nervouse because my neighbor told me the pipe exiting his
house to the back alley had partially collapsed last year and he had
to drill into the cement to fix it. He said the pipe installed by the
builders was not meant to last beyond 30 years or so.

Clogs are a lot more common than collapses. Do you share your drain
with any other apartments, even one in your own home? How long has
this been happening. Do you have lint from your washer entering the
drain? What else might have gone down the drain that shouldn't.
Grease?

Thank You For Your Time,

Nathan

On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:37:01 GMT, Speedy Jim wrote:

Nate wrote:

Hello,

My washer backs-up into my kitchen sink when it drains. What could the
problem be, or is it just an old house?

The sink fills about half-way, but never overflows. The sink drains a
minute or so later and there is a residue with small black chips of
grime and a few minutes of local unpleasent odor. My house was built
in '69. I am nervouse because my neighbor told me the pipe exiting his
house to the back alley had partially collapsed last year and he had
to drill into the cement to fix it. He said the pipe installed by the
builders was not meant to last beyond 30 years or so.

Thank You For Your Time,

Nathan


This might be the type of sewer lateral pipe the neighbor
referred to:
http://www.mlive.com/homeimprovement...302zolton.html


If it's a case like this, I have no experience, but is it conceivable
that rather than replace the pipe through the cement, is it possible
to just ream it out and leave only what remains plus the cement
itself, and connect a pipe from the drain to the cement and from the
cement to wherever the pipe goes now.

Jim

mm wrote:

On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:37:01 GMT, Speedy Jim wrote:


Nate wrote:


Hello,

My washer backs-up into my kitchen sink when it drains. What could the
problem be, or is it just an old house?

The sink fills about half-way, but never overflows. The sink drains a
minute or so later and there is a residue with small black chips of
grime and a few minutes of local unpleasent odor. My house was built
in '69. I am nervouse because my neighbor told me the pipe exiting his
house to the back alley had partially collapsed last year and he had
to drill into the cement to fix it. He said the pipe installed by the
builders was not meant to last beyond 30 years or so.

Thank You For Your Time,

Nathan


This might be the type of sewer lateral pipe the neighbor
referred to:
http://www.mlive.com/homeimprovement...302zolton.html



If it's a case like this, I have no experience, but is it conceivable
that rather than replace the pipe through the cement, is it possible
to just ream it out and leave only what remains plus the cement
itself, and connect a pipe from the drain to the cement and from the
cement to wherever the pipe goes now.


There are pro services which can re-line the pipe.

Here is but one example:
http://www.dmrobichaud.com/sewer_lining.htm

Your city may have information and resources.

Jim