How To Avoid A Washer Clogged Drain

Washing machine drain clogs are inevitable. Because of the appliance’s exposure to different types of waste substances such as dirt, debris, shredded facial tissues, hair, lint and even soap scum, the drain pipe gets clogged after some time. With consistent use of the appliance, the substances that do not get totally washed away into the septic tank or the sewer pipe just accumulate inside the line and create obstruction. And while the blockage is relatively easy to get rid of, we cannot disregard the fact that prevention is still better than cure. Read on and learn more about avoiding and fixing washer drain clogs.

Cleaning The Washing Machine Drain Hose

Over time, debris will accumulate inside the washing machine’s drain tube. This is not surprising at all considering the different types and amounts of waste particles that get stuck to your dirty clothes and linens. To prevent the clog from getting more severe, you can clear the drain hose manually. Just unplug the washing machine from the power outlet and then turn its water supply valve off. This way, you won’t risk getting electrocuted or flood your work area. Here’s a DIY guide for you:

1. Get your adjustable pliers and use it to loosen the metal that connects the water supply tubes to the valve assembly. Remove the washing machine drain hose connectors, too. Place a bucket under the valve to catch any remaining water in the hose.

2. Now detach the hoses and put them in the sink or in your bathtub. Get a good brush and scrub the surface of the screens found on each of the hose. Also be careful not to remove or damage the screens.

3. Afterwards, fill the hoses with tap water and blow out on the hose’s non-screened end. You can do this task several times until all the lint and sediments are removed from the hoses.

Trapping The Lint

Aside from cleaning the hoses every now and then, you can prevent clogs on your washing machine drain by trapping the lint and silt. Simply fasten a durable nylon stocking at the end of the washing machine’s drain hose. This stocking will catch the small particles and sediments that are supposed to get washed into the main drain pipe. Just empty the nylon stocking every two weeks and in case it tears, replace it.

Treating Hard Water

If you live in an area where your water contains high amounts of minerals, you might want to have a water softener installed in your home. It will not totally eradicate the presence of sediments in your drainage lines but it will, of course, lessen the build-up in the water supply lines connected to your washing machine.

Clearing The Drain Pipe

If you notice that the washing machine takes a while longer to drain and there’s no problem with its hose or drive belt, you might want to use an effective drain cleaner to clear the drain pipe. Simply disconnect the washer’s drain hose from the pipe and start working on it. You can get the step-by-step guide on how to unclog a washer drain pipe here.

We hope that we have showed you ways on how to prevent a washer clogged drain. If you have problems with your washing machine plumbing, just call a licensed West Palm Beach plumber for plumbing appliance installation and repairs. Plumbers 911 Florida delivers reputable plumbing services in West Palm Beach FL including plumbing appliance installation, drain pipe cleaning, leak detection, plumbing fixture repair, septic tank maintenance, faucet repair, toilet repair and many more! Call us at 305-662-0668 (Miami-Dade County FL), 954-468-0512 (Broward County FL), 561-327-6287 (Palm Beach County FL) to schedule a service!

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