Drain vent issue?

Up until recently, the plumbing in my 15-year-old house worked flawlessly. In the last week I have noticed a septic smell coming from the washing machine drain. The drain itself is approximately 3 feet from the floor, goes down below the floor into a U-trap, then into a vertical-T pipe (drain and vent I assume).

I have done the following:

1. I went up on the roof, found two drain vents, and flushed them both with water from the hose. It did not help.

2. I ran Drano in the washing machine drain itself thinking there may be stagnant water in the trap. It did not help.

What am I missing? I suspect the drain vent has a Y-splitter on it below the roofline that is clogged. If so, how do I force water into the clogged split when I clear it?

The washing machine drain is located not far from our dining room/kitchen and the smell is becoming overpowering. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

what kind of washer do you have ?

do you have the new front loader ?

if you do, the problem is stagnant soured water in your machine

complaints are that the machine does not completly drain, the water left behind sours and smells

google the problem, for the fix.

No. I have a top loader. The odor is definitely coming from the drain.

The problem is the stand pipe is to long

from the trap to top of the stand pipe should not be longer than 24''

reason being is the long stand pipe can make the trap water syphon itself out when used


i suspect, that is the problem, only way to prove it is to cut the pipe

if i'm wrong, will not hurt a thing,

why after 15 year?

pipe my be getting clogged, that changed the dynamics of the relationship water to air in the pipe

Plus...

You need to clean the filter if it's a front loader or even if it's just newer

Titaniumplumber said:

You need to clean the filter if it's a front loader or even if it's just newer

Click to expand...

read the first couple of posts in the thread

A little guide I found for the plumbing:


Keep in mind that there are some differences depending on what code (UPC or IPC) is used in your area.

international plumbing code on stand pipes for a washer


1002.1 Fixture traps.
Each plumbing fixture shall be sepa
-
rately trapped by a water-seal trap, except as otherwise permit
-
ted by this code. The vertical distance from the fixture outlet to
the trap weir shall not exceed 24 inches (610 mm) and the hori
-
zontal distance shall not exceed 30 inches (610 mm) measured
from the centerline of the fixture outlet to the centerline of the
inlet of the trap. The height of a clothes washer standpipe above
a trap shall conform to Section 802.4. A fixture shall not be
double trapped.





802.4 Standpipes.
Standpipes shall be individually trapped.
Standpipes shall extend a minimum of 18 inches (457 mm) and
a maximum of 42 inches (1066 mm) above the trap weir.
Access shall be provided to all standpipes and drains for
rodding.



uniform plumbing code for stand pipe for a washer

receiving the discharge of indirect wastepipes shall be
approved for the use proposed and shall be of such
shape and capacity as to prevent splashing o r flooding
and shall be located where they are readily accessible
for inspection and cleaning. No stand pipe receptor for
any clothes washer shall extend more than thirty (30)
inches (762mm) ,nor less than eighteen (18 )inches
(457mm) above it strap .No trap fo rany clothes
washer stand pipe receptor shall be installed below the
floor, but shall be roughed in not less than six (6)
inches (152mm) and not more than eighteen (18)
inches (457mm) above the floor. No indirect waste
receptor shall be installed inany toilet room, closet,
cupboard, or storeroom ,nor in any other portion o fa
building not ingeneral use by the occupants thereof;
except standpipes for clotheswashers maybe
installed intoilet and bathroom areas when the
clotheswasher isinstalled in the same room.