I am having trouble draining the water in my washing machine so I think this is a plumbing?

Question

I have a blockage between my washing machine drain and the kitchen. What diameter cable can I use to safely clear the blockage? The quarter inch cable ( or I think that is the diameter) seems too flimsy. I tried it but it gets stuck about 10 feet in

Answer 1

Sounds like about 10 feet in is where the clog is. The snakes are made to be twisted when you push on the cable. Not hard but just firmly. You can feel when the cable is bending back and just lighten up your touch a little. It will take some in and out here to get the clog dispersed. Have patience. You may need to get a bigger cable in the end but 3/8s is about the largest size I would use here. The larger ones do not go around bends in smaller pipe as well. Hope you have success.

Answer 2

If the drain pipe is overflowing when the washer is draining you have a clog.If not your washer pump may be stopped up.You can find out easily. Pull the washer drain tube out of the drain pipe,stick it in a 5 gallon bucket run the washer if it starts draining into the bucket the drain line is plugged up. Use a spinner type snake to clear this this it will s***w itself thru the clog. If the washer doesn't drain the pump is clogged up.You can use a stiff putty knife on each corner of the washer between the crack in the top and the front of the machine, Pry up and  the front will pop off.The pump will have a incomming hose and a outgoing hose. Remove these and clean the pump out this should solve the problem.

Answer 3

You need a good pipe snake,and force it to twist through the clog.