A washer is an important appliance in the house however a drain issue is one of the most common concerns of this household appliance.
It is common for washers to share the same drain with your sink and both are expected to empty into a toilet waste line but if the washing machine backs up and drains into the kitchen sinks instead, this often means your main drain line is clogged.
There are some specific issues that can cause your washer to get clogged and drain into the sink. Some of these issues you can fix yourself while some are going to require you to get an appliance repair person to fix them.
One of the things many homeowners have discovered is that attempting to deal with a clogged washer with no guide can be risky.
You won’t know exactly what is happening with your washer and why it is draining into the kitchen sink unless you have it inspected. The washer actually pumps water into the drain at 15 gallons rate and if there is any form of partial blockage, it is enough to cause the washer to back up and drain water into the sink.
Clogging is not the only thing that can cause a washer to drain into the sink. Washing machines are not that complicated to use but when it backs up into the kitchen sink, it can be quite annoying. Stick with us to learn why your washer drains in the sink and ways it can be fixed.
Washer Drains Into Sink (Causes & Simple Fixes)
Before you go ahead to start fixing your washer draining into the kitchen sink or simply getting clogged, you should first understand the possible cause behind it, this will help provide steps to prevent any future occurrence.
The concept of a washing machine is actually simple and when the washer starts backing up the sink, it can be easily fixed, but first, you need to learn the causes.
1. Venting Problems
The vent can sometimes be the cause of this problem. If your washer and kitchen sink each have their own vent that extends through the walls and is connected to the main vent stack then there is a possibility that blockage has occurred in the main stack.
Also, if there is a gurgling sound from the sink drain when the washer is being drained, it’s highly possible that the venting is the cause.
How to fix it:
If venting is the problem, clearing might help solve the problem. You can try plunging doesn’t have any effect, consider checking the vent opening on the roof, although we recommend leaving this to professional plumbers. Remove any dirt or debris that might be blocking the opening, and you can verify that the vent is not blocked by spraying water into the vent opening.
2. Blockage in The Drain System
Just like the vent getting blocked, you will have to check the drain system to figure out if there are any other forms of blockage as well. Your washer just like every other plumbing appliance in the house must connect to a 3 or 4 inches pipe that leads to a sewer or septic tank outside.
So, for your washer to drain into the sink, there must have been some connections, the clog should be somewhere between the kitchen drain connection and the connection to other drains.
You have to figure out the location of the blockage, if it is found to be before the kitchen sink then It’s what gets the washer back up into your kitchen sink.
How to fix it:
The drain is often the first place to look if your washer is draining into the sink or won’t drain at all. Plunging the drain can help get rid of any first and debris, but if the clog is too far away to plunge or unclogged, a plumber snake will be required to help unclog it.
3. Studor Vents
Studor vents can be the issue if your washer is a new addition to the house and if the studor vent is what your plumber used to vent the drain pipes.
The studor vent is used in order to avoid the need to run a new vent into the house, but the valve can stick thereby causing the washer to back up into the sink.
How to fix it:
Fixing this is quite simple. It simply requires you to replace the studor vent. You will find this connection to the drain right behind your washing machine, unscrew it with adjustable pliers and have a new one installed.
Will Vinegar Unclog a Washing Machine Drain?
Yes, vinegar has been used as a non-caustic home cleaning product for years to unclog drains. So, if you are not looking forward to pulling apart your pip drains to unclog them you can try flushing them out with a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and hot water.
The acid in these substances along with the gravity can help remove any buildup of minerals within the washing machine drain and hoses.
In Conclusion
It is common for washing machines to share a drain with the sink and while you can easily solve the issue of a kitchen sink getting clogged with a plunger, the same can’t be said for a washer draining into a kitchen sink, it is a little more complicated.
Fortunately, this cause and fixes in this blog post should help you fix that.
Note: Most modern washers are built differently so if your washer simply won’t drain, we suggest you first consult your washing machine manual, there is a troubleshooting section that might help make suggestions or identify what the problem is or call a professional to clear the drain for you.