Proper Washing machine and sink drain.

[JeffreyWisc]

We purchased a house that we are doing some work on. I removed an old washing machine and a sink. The following picture is what I am left with after removing the water lines and sink trap. The old washing machine drained into the sink. In an effort to make it look better and not have washing machine water draining into a sink, is there a proper, somewhat easy way to do this? I am not sure what other information you would need, but I can answer anything else if it helps you give me advice. I would like this to be proper, I may call in a plumber if it gets too involved, if I do, your advice would at least help me be educated as I deal with the plumber. I love the idea of DIY, but I also won’t take the chance if I feel it is beyond my skill level. There are so many variations that I see online, I just would like the best advice possible and this forum seems so full of educated people who don’t lead people astray!

Thank you!

Jeff

 

[Twowaxhack]

So this had a laundry sink and a washing machine beside it that dumped into the sink ? That’s how I understood it.

If you want independent drains then you’ll need to open up the wall and find the pipe that runs vertically. Once that’s found you can cut stacked sanitary tees in or a double fixture fitting.

Or you could have one washing machine drain and have the sink drain connect to the standpipe of the washer, utilizing one trap for both fixtures.

Either way you’ll need to open up the wall and find we’re the pipe goes vertical.

 

[JeffreyWisc]

So this had a laundry sink and a washing machine beside it that dumped into the sink ? That’s how I understood it.

If you want independent drains then you’ll need to open up the wall and find the pipe that runs vertically. Once that’s found you can cut stacked sanitary tees in or a double fixture fitting.

Or you could have one washing machine drain and have the sink drain connect to the standpipe of the washer, utilizing one trap for both fixtures.

Either way you’ll need to open up the wall and find we’re the pipe goes vertical.

Yes, you understood correctly, it was an old sink seemingly purpose built for laundry areas. I will open the wall and post a picture later in the week.
Thanks for the reply. I tore this old sink out 7 months ago and I don’t exactly remember how it was hooked up, but this is a video of the laundry machine draining into it. I want a more modern sink, so I know I have to change the drain method.

 

[JeffreyWisc]

Sorry double post

 

[Geofd]

If you have to,stack the tys you will thank yourself when you have to snake a drain

 

[JeffreyWisc]

 

[JeffreyWisc]

I guess the pipe going up attaches to a vent stack in the attic. I don’t know that for sure because it is roughly 1 million degrees up there, so I haven’t yet psyched myself up to go up there and start tracing vent pipes. Is there a rule of thumb as to how many drains can share a vent pipe. And also, how many vent pipes can attach to a vent stack? Hopefully I am using the correct terms.

 

[Twowaxhack]

I guess the pipe going up attaches to a vent stack in the attic. I don’t know that for sure because it is roughly 1 million degrees up there, so I haven’t yet psyched myself up to go up there and start tracing vent pipes. Is there a rule of thumb as to how many drains can share a vent pipe. And also, how many vent pipes can attach to a vent stack? Hopefully I am using the correct terms.

Many vents can connect and then penetrate the roof. You just keep increasing the pipe size as the load increases.

Why you concerned with the vent ?

 

[JeffreyWisc]

When I looked at where this drain pipe comes into the basement, it enters and joins up with the kitchen sink drain line and that sink is being moved to the other end of the kitchen. I had to remove the venting structure on the kitchen sink because it used the soffits and we removed all the soffits for a more modern ceiling look. So, I was concered at first because it seemed that the laundry room plumbing shown here may have been using the vent pipe that I removed and capped in the ceiling. None of this may make sense without me showing more pictures. However, if that pipe I showed almost certainly has to connect to the vent going through the roof, then my initial thought that it connected up with the kitchen vent pipe is probably wrong. Plumbing kinda makes my head spin when it comes to venting!

 

[Twowaxhack]

When I looked at where this drain pipe comes into the basement, it enters and joins up with the kitchen sink drain line and that sink is being moved to the other end of the kitchen. I had to remove the venting structure on the kitchen sink because it used the soffits and we removed all the soffits for a more modern ceiling look. So, I was concered at first because it seemed that the laundry room plumbing shown here may have been using the vent pipe that I removed and capped in the ceiling. None of this may make sense without me showing more pictures. However, if that pipe I showed almost certainly has to connect to the vent going through the roof, then my initial thought that it connected up with the kitchen vent pipe is probably wrong. Plumbing kinda makes my head spin when it comes to venting!

You just need to get up in the attic space when it cools down and have a look. It’s possibly all connected but there’s a chance it’s not.

 

[JeffreyWisc]

You just need to get up in the attic space when it cools down and have a look. It’s possibly all connected but there’s a chance it’s not.

This may sound silly, but as a novice with venting, that pipe that goes directly up from where the drain is, that is certainly a vent pipe, correct? There are no stories above this room, so it has to be getting vented from that pipe that goes up?

 

[Twowaxhack]

This may sound silly, but as a novice with venting, that pipe that goes directly up from where the drain is, that is certainly a vent pipe, correct? There are no stories above this room, so it has to be getting vented from that pipe that goes up?

Yes

 

[JeffreyWisc]

Yes

Would it be standard plumbing practice to have the laundry sink drain line connect to the kitchen drain line in the basement and then continue to the stack just for ease due to the location?

I can take a video tomorrow of how it does it. Plumbing truly fascinates me, honestly if I could do it all over, I would have gotten into the field when I was younger. It’s like a giant puzzle and I get great satisfaction solving those puzzles, albeit with plenty of help, and also using my two hands to put some piping together and make sure it is right, that part is really satisfying too. I read these forums every morning and I always pick up some interesting thing from every one.

 

[Twowaxhack]

Would it be standard plumbing practice to have the laundry sink drain line connect to the kitchen drain line in the basement and then continue to the stack just for ease due to the location?

I can take a video tomorrow of how it does it. Plumbing truly fascinates me, honestly if I could do it all over, I would have gotten into the field when I was younger. It’s like a giant puzzle and I get great satisfaction solving those puzzles, albeit with plenty of help, and using my two hands to put some piping together and make sure it is right, it’s really satisfying. I read these forums every morning and I always pick up some interesting thing from every one.

Drains often combine at some point, so yes.

 

[JeffreyWisc]

Drains often combine at some point, so yes.

If a drain combined, it wouldn't be able to share a vent in that manner alone, because the filled trap of the drain it was sharing from wouldnt allow it, right?

 

[JeffreyWisc]

Here is another bathroom vanity set up. The right side pipe goes down to the basement and connects with two sinks in the basement, a utility sink in a shop and then a wet bar sink in the finished part of the basement. So I assume the three fixtures share a vent pipe and then connect to the pipe that penetrates the roof in the attic.

 

[Twowaxhack]

Yes, that would make sense. They all share the vent.

 

[JeffreyWisc]

Well, I have been using a new front load washing machine on the new 2" set up for a couple months now. I am glad I upgraded to 2" pipe (just to have assurance) , but with the way I hear that washing machine run, I tend to doubt it would have ever overwhelmed the 1.5 inch line. Seems like the front loader uses far less water than the old top loaders. I can hear the washer right above my shop and the drain lines run above my head in my shop, I can hear the machine run the entire cycle, it seems like just a series of a bunch of low volume sprays into the drain line. I guess if it sprayed at that seemingly high speed constantly the 2 inch would be needed, but the machine just doesn't work that way.

 

[MicEd69]

Well, I have been using a new front load washing machine on the new 2" set up for a couple months now. I am glad I upgraded to 2" pipe (just to have assurance) , but with the way I hear that washing machine run, I tend to doubt it would have ever overwhelmed the 1.5 inch line. Seems like the front loader uses far less water than the old top loaders. I can hear the washer right above my shop and the drain lines run above my head in my shop, I can hear the machine run the entire cycle, it seems like just a series of a bunch of low volume sprays into the drain line. I guess if it sprayed at that seemingly high speed constantly the 2 inch would be needed, but the machine just doesn't work that way.

Yep, front loaders use less water than top loaders. And some people don't like them thinking they don't clean as well for that very reason. So, it is good that you did go to a 2" drain as you never know what the future holds.

 

[TomFOhio]

Since its all open now why don't you put in a washing machine box that has the drain and water valves. Looks nice too.
Guy Gray makes a good box.