“What’s the matter? Why the water is not Draining from my washer?” I asked desperately to myself when I was washing the clothes this weekend. Last weekend, I noticed the water was draining so slowly. I was in a hurry, so I didn’t pay attention. But now the water is stuck in the washer! It is not Draining at all. Then suddenly, something came into my mind. I checked the drain pipe to see if there is any problem or not. And guess what? My washing machine drain pipe is clogged. That is what I was afraid of. I needed to know the reason and the way to fix it.
The Common Causes of Washing Machine Clogs:-
Have you ever faced issues with your washing machine clogs? If you don’t, that’s good news. But, you will meet it someday. So, even before facing this issue, it is a must to know the reasons so that you can deal with this later. Cleaning up the debris is so awful. But, leaving this untreated, severe plumbing problems can occur.
The building of soap residue, fibers fragments, or leftover dryer lint and oil, grease, or other dirt from the clothes you are washing are the common reasons.
When you see pooling water in the washer unit following cycles and the draining system is not working correctly, the main reason is there is a clog in the drainer. That can happen due to daily or prolonged use. If you see these signs, you should clear the clog as soon as you can. Otherwise, the debris will affect the drainpipe badly.
How to Clean a Washing Machine Drain:-
The washer is for washing clothes, and the fingers, fragments, soap residues, oil, or greases from the fabric will make the draining system clogged one day. You have to get rid of this. There are several ways to fix this. If you ask me how do I unblock a washing machine waste pipe, I do this sometimes with chemicals or sometimes with a sneaking tool. That is up to you.
It would be great for you if you went through the way more manageable for your clog type. A little effort and time can save your washer and get back to the normal draining spin cycle.
Using Drain Cleaners:-
Drain cleaners are one of the most useful things to clear the clogs of the washing machine. To use them, first of all, to find the drain is essential. The drain can be anywhere in a washer according to the model and type. But most of the schedule, you will find the washer drain at the backside of it. That is a pipe attached to a hose at the end.
Sometimes the hose is tied tightly to the drain, and sometimes you can see it pushed inside. But, there is one thing to consider here. Don’t be confused with the hot and cold water lines coming into the washer. These lines are smaller in size and marked with red and blue colors, where red means the hot water line and blue means the cold water line.
Now, let’s start with the most straightforward way first, the hot water. If the water draining is slow in your case, then the drain might not be clogged completely; it is somehow narrowed. In this case, only hot water can do your job. Try Pouring very water down to the drain. That will melt the built-up soap residue and scums and will clear the drainpipe like it was before. But, one thing to remember.
If you are always running hot water in the washer, this technique won’t work for you. Because you are doing this repeatedly and the washer has already been used to this. When you use cold water most of the time, this method can help you. Besides, hot water can help you when there is any blockage from freezing water or ice. That may happen to extreme cold areas. Try pouring hot water if you think the ice is acting as a clog in your washer.
Another way to get rid of the washing machine drainer clogs is to use commercial drainers. There are several types of drainer in the market. You have to choose the best one for your washer type. Generally, these products are beneficial, but only for small clogs. In terms of more prominent or completely clogged pipes, they won’t work that well. Besides, you have to be sure that the product is suitable for your washer type. Because different models have different types of pipe and drainage systems, it is recommended not to use them; some contain sulfuric acid that is not good for either the PVC pipe or the environment.
Now, if you use commercial drivers, you will need to know how to use them. However, different washer needs different methods. In some washers, the drain line is detached from the machine to send the drainer into the drainpipe straight. Sometimes pulling the tube coming from the drainpipe may work. Even in some washers, you may need to unscrew the drainage tube from the back of the washer. When you are unscrewing, prepare a bucket and towel as water may come out, wet you and the area around.
To apply the commercial drainer properly, don’t forget to read the instructions written in the packaging. The instruction generally tells you to pour the cleaner with boiling water. There is a time limit written on the package you will see. Wait and let the cleaner do its work correctly. When the time is over, flush the drain with enough water to clear out the excess product. Always keep one entity in your mind while using a commercial cleaner, don’t leave the product for a long time. It will damage the drain pipes of your washer. That is how I unblock a washing machine waste pipe.
Snaking a Drain:-
The first activity is to disconnect the hose from the washing machine. If chemicals do not disrupt the clog, a snake will help you the most. To put the snake down to the drain pump, you have to detach the hose. Find the hose at the back of your washer. There is a clamp that attaches the hose to the washer. Use a screwdriver to open it up. As there is clog, there may be standing water and can come out. So get a bucket and keep a towel lay down.
Once the hose is disconnected, put the snake down through the drain pump. You might have known what a snake is. That is a tool having a long and sturdy wire with a handle that can rotate it. There are different lengths of snake you will find in the market. But the most used is the medium-length one. That comes with about 50 to 74 feet or 15 to 30 meters in length. That is ideal for any household needs. There is a key that helps the snake go down through the pipe and feel resistance. After sending the wire down, rotate the handle clockwise when you feel any resistance (that might be the clogged debris). This way, the snake will grab the materials jammed inside the pipe.
Now it’s time to snake the drain. Send the snake to the debris, grab those and pull them out. You may need to do it several times. Pull the snake, clean the debris and again send it down to remove extra dirt. Once you are done with cleaning one area, go more in-depth and look for another clog. There may be another one! Now, to be sure the drain pump is prominent, run some water before attaching the hose again.
Reattach the hose very well. You can fill the washer and drain without any clothes to be finally sure that you have got rid of any clogs. Don’t forget to inspect for leaks in the hose.
Alternative Ways to Clean Your Clogged Washing Machine Drain:-
Want to know how do I unblock a washing machine waste pipe in alternative ways? I t is a very unpleasant task to use your hands and a drain snake to clean the debris manually. But, there is another way. I was using chemicals to unclog the washing machine drain, and those are soda, vinegar, and hot water! Yes, you might not have thought of these, right! But, see, you can. These are very effective for removing the clogs. Generally, a solution of baking soda, vinegar, and hot water is used.
The natural acids present in this solution will help clear out the organic debris effectively if you can use it properly. For removing greases and oil, I would recommend you to use hot water and detergent only.
Though this hack can help your washer get back to the typical draining system, you must be very careful and not use them too much. These things will harm the drainer in time.
My Verdict:-
A clogged washer has always been a nightmare to me. It is so disgusting to clean the debris and fix the stuff back. But, if you manage to know the reason, you can avoid this for a long time. Besides, a short time and effort can fix the washing machine drain pipe clogged issue and save it from further damage. So, consider knowing and fixing the problem. Come on, and the washer is saving you a lot of energy and money. It deserves some care!