Drain Water From Washer Backing Up Into Sink

[BobdeBuilder]

Drain water from my washing machine has started backing up into my kitchen double sink. It backs up into the sinks some then drains out. The sinks drain fine, however.

The washer is about 4 feet from the sinks and I'm assuming it uses the same vent. Like I said, the sinks drain fine. I can fill one then unstopper it and it flows out great. I get the whirlpool effect which I'm told is a good sign. There is an AAV connected under the sink.

If the sinks didn't drain then I'd know there was a clog but with them draining, I'm stumped. Thought I'd ask here before calling a plumber. Thanks for any insight.

 

[pasadena_commut]

There is a partial clog in the drain pipe downstream from all of the elements you describe. It passes some water, but only slowly. When the pipe is empty the sinks will drain normally because there is enough volume of pipe above the clog to hold all of their water. However, the washing machine puts out a lot more water, and it does it very quickly, so it fills the pipe to its position and then it backs up into the sinks.

Snake the drain line, hopefully from a clean out near the sinks.
Depending on where the drain line goes, this could be caused by roots. If it is roots you will be snaking this line frequently until the problem is definitively addressed.

 

[W J]

I'm having a tree roots problem. The washing machine drained and water gushed out of the overflow in the basement. I used the wet-vac and dumped the water from the floor into the sump pump pit. Of course, the water gushed out of the overflow onto the floor again. Thankfully it's not a carpet floor, just concrete. I had the septic tank man over and he found roots in the inlet. He ground some out, put in a new clean-out and will pump the tank on Monday. This happened a few years ago, so I expect it could happen again with our big trees.

 

[GReynolds929]

I'm having a tree roots problem. The washing machine drained and water gushed out of the overflow in the basement. I used the wet-vac and dumped the water from the floor into the sump pump pit. Of course, the water gushed out of the overflow onto the floor again. Thankfully it's not a carpet floor, just concrete. I had the septic tank man over and he found roots in the inlet. He ground some out, put in a new clean-out and will pump the tank on Monday. This happened a few years ago, so I expect it could happen again with our big trees.

You should start your own thread.