Water coming up into sink when washing machine used?

Question

Hi

When we use the washing machine, when it empties the water comes up through the plug into the sink. When it stops emptying it drains away. No problem with sink, water flushes away fine. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Do you have a septic tank or does it run into the sewage drain? We have that problem quite often at our house, and it's usually because the drains get backed up. You might need to call a plumber and have your lines snaked out. Does the water come up anywhere else, like your shower? If it smells like sewage, then that is definitely your problem.

Answer 2

They installed the drain for your washer too close to the drain for your sink... thus the water from your washer is backing up into the sink.  No big problem, just happens.  They should have kept them separate.

Answer 3

Your waste pipe hasn't been put together properly,call a local handyman to sort it, it's not a big job

Answer 4

my use to shoot spray up into the sink not  problem just what it did

Answer 5

Rather depends on whether it's always done this or just recently.  A washing machine can pump out a whole lot of water real fast, and your drain line might be hard pressed to keep up with it, but if the water doesn't get too high and drains relatively quickly then probably not a lot to worry about, and not worth redoing your plumbing.

However, if it is slowing recently then you are developing an obstruction somewhere which should be cleared, probably best with a snake tool.

Answer 6

call a plumber

Answer 7

Your washer drains into the septic/sewer line in your home. When this drain is used, debris and sediment can accumulate, partially clogging the drain. Then, when sufficient water volume causes a backup, your nearest and/or lowest sink drain is where the water goes, untill the extra drains past the bottlenecked clog.

Use a plumber's snake to help eliminate any clogs via the washer drainpipe and the house's exterior cleanout pipe.

Get it?

Answer 8

the sink is gravity flow and should have a vent pipe for sew gas to excape. the washer is force flow and and should have a 2" pipe  drain. if smaller or partly closed it seaks path of less resistance. if no vent pipe on sink it will force the water out of the trap under the sink into the sink.

Answer 9

In your basement?, chances are your flow pump is gone,

Answer 10

Out of the 15 answers at the moment there are a lot of daft answers, Spiffy is the only one who has got it right.

As you say, it's not a problem, you can either put the sink plug in while your washer is on or forget about it, it's not worth spending money on altering it.

Cal;l a plumber? Have you won the lottery?

Answer 11

Probably a blockage in the pipe not enough to flood the floor, like hair in the drain sort of blockage.  A good drain cleaner should clear the blockage away.

Answer 12

Put a plug in the sink.

Answer 13

the oulet of the sink is to small for the output of the pump of the washer if you can live with the problem it will be ok and it dose not over flow

Answer 14

You might have roots clogging the sewer lines and slowing down the draining process, so when the washer drains the water has no where to go but up the sink drain until it can drain out the sewer.  Call RotoRooter.

Answer 15

yr sink waste is probably a bit blocked. use some mr muscle or other drain clearer and this should solve the problem.u say water goes down ok but the amount of water that comes out the washing machine even  a small blockage can make it do this.

Answer 16

You have a blockage further down the line, causing water to back up into your sink. Time to call for help....sorry.

Answer 17

I think it´s the pipes. You need to call a plummer and he will get a little wire and get it inside the pipes.

Answer 18

plumber will probably be able to fix it. or figure out whats wrong with it at least.

Answer 19

When your washer drains it releases a larger amount of water than when you just run the tap.You probably have a partial clog in the drain line.Try rodding it by removing the p trap from the sink and run the rod through.

Answer 20

you know, the same thing happens with mine. And it really hasn't been causing any damage, just bubbling foam and water up the sink..... but i rent so i figured i don't have to live with it for the rest of my life!

And i think that is a very common thing too....