washer problem

[mistylady]

Hello,
I have a small yet smelly problem. This place was built in 1988 by the original owner and he was creative.

My question: the washing machine drain has no p-trap and there is a nasty smell that rolls out of it if it is unplugged and the washing machine hose hooked up. Should I put a p-trap in? There are no codes to worry about. Country living. :) The washer drain runs into a grey water discharge.

Thank you in advance!

[Mr T]

Ahh another Ohioan... Looks like you are from Eastern Ohio.. I'm in NW also out in la la land..

I'd stick one in. Something else to look at.. You are probably on a well, and I'm sure you know about the quality of the water around here. We had a very bad hard water and iron problem (finally got a filter/softener installed) and it plugged up the dispensers in our washer causing them to overflow and leak.. Water sat in the bottom of the washer and that was causing our smell. May wanna look around the washer too for the smell.

[mistylady]

Thank you Mr.T! Do you know where Coshocton is? I'm near that but not too near!

I learned that the water was nasty the hard way! I have a Brita filter pitcher but it still leaves a bit to be desired as far as drinking it. I use the Brita water for cooking and drink bottled water. I was thinking about a water softener. Its funny but when I looked at the place the first time I tasted the water and it seemed fine. Then the place just sat for four months and now it sometimes smells like sulpher (just got moved in two weeks ago). Do you have a softener for the entire house? I'd love some input! Also did you install yours or is this something that a pro should do?

I'll sniff test the washer itself after I plug up the drain line again. The hot water tank is by the washer. I wonder if the stink could be coming from that? I just assumed the washer drain was causing the smell.

Thank you again for the help Mr.T!

[Mr T]

For the record, I'm not an addict on here by posting on Christmas day. Just relaxing in between rounds of family visits. Besides I got no other time to post on here...

Yup I know where that is, and have been through there a few times. I love that area of the state. No hills up here.

where does this drain discharge? If it discharges out to open area you shouldnt get any fumes backing up through it. If it goes into a longer drain with other feeds, you want a trap. There could also be a slope issue where water is standing in the pipe somewhere. A trap will cover that up, but you should try to find the area if you do have a slope issue. A trap will also seal that drain from the outside and keep bugs and small critters (you got pleny of them down there) from crawling in through the pipe. Also will seal out drafts.

Water heaters dont normally smell. If it's gas, are you getting gas fumes (very dangerous, turn it off immediatly and open windows. get to medical help if anyone gets a unusualy tired or a headache!) Only other way for a heater to smell is if it's failing (about to 'rot' through and flood the place). Check the washer out through. Could get lucky and find a dead mouse or something..

I installed a whole house filter to kill off alot of the iron and sulphur smell. The water then goes through a softener. The whole house is conditioned except for outdoor faucets. Installing a softener itself is a breeze.. Getting the plumbing ready for a softener can be a very complex task. You need to find a area to put the unit that has access to a good drain (they will kick out a few gallons a minute when they flush). The plumbing there also has to be before all the fixtures in your house, including the water heater, but after all your outdoor faucets. Otherwise you will need to rework some of your plumbing.

If you have copper, it's easier. If you have threaded pipe it can be much more complex unless you convert that streach to copper.

You also need to have fairly easy access to this area as will be regularly dumping salt into it..40 pounds at a time.

[mistylady]

Hi Mr. T,
Thank you again!

Yes, it is really pretty here. Lots of trees and hills! And lots of deer.

The drain goes out into the open but its very slow so it must have a problem that hasn't been found yet! And the drain makes this annoying gurgling sound when you run water down it. Other drains run into it above the connection for the washer drain (kitchen sink, bath sink). I didn't know it even ran outside until I found the end of it when walking in the pasture last week. Surprises abound here! If it can be done incorrectly yet be really hard to take apart to do right- thats the code of the farm here! Even some of the mini blinds were nailed up with huge nails through the top of the blinds themselves - why use brackets when you can use big nails?! You just sit back and laugh after a while!

There's no gas to the water heater - its electric. There is propane to the furnace but it was all checked by the proane place and was fine. Thankfully! The smell is coming from the washer line. I sniffed around. Gross. And found that the wall apparently leaks in the basement (its been raining). But the smell was in the washing machine - it was hooked up to the drain. It smelled nasty before I had the washer in and a piece of Saran wrap and tape covering the drain pipe got rid of the smell. Its sewery smelling with just a bit of sulpher. The drain has been left hooked up for a while now and I smell it when I open the wahser to put clothes in. I am glad that the water in the water heater isn't the cause of the smell though! Thank you!


It sounds like I need a trap. I wish I had a camera to show you the mess of the angles of pipes down there. It's going to be interesting.

The pipes are not copper. They are pvc. I have a well room inside the basement I think that would be the best place for a water softener. Can you recommend a brand? You can send it in a private message if putting brand names is a no-no on here. Theres even an electric outlet by it if the softener needs power! :)

I don't think you're an addict for being on here on Christmas! I appreciate the help! I didn't get to check the forum yesterday - had to make breakfast and then the big Christmas dinner for the family. Ham and the fixins! I hope you had a very merry Christmas!

Thank you again!

[Mr T]

Sounds like a nice little mess there. (kentucky engineering (Sorry Dunbar, no offense to you))

If you septic system (hopefully you have one of those) can handle it, i'd get alot of those drains switched over to it. Especially being on a well.

Definatly get a trap installed. Also, try running a plumbing snake down the line from both ends. That may be part of your problem. I'd avoid runnign drain cleaning chemicles down there unless they are evniromentally friendly.

If you think you need a softener, go get your water tested first. Sears does it for free with not much if any sales pressure. Turn a faucet on and let it run a fwe minutes then collect a sample of water in a CLEAN container and take it in.. Go from there.

[mistylady]

Thank you Mr.T! Yep, I find myself singing the theme song fromGreen Acres quite foten! After the first few finds of "Does that really go there?" or "That can't be nailed with a ring-shank" I've learned to just laugh it off!

Can the trap be out of flexible hose? The drain pipe is right behind the washer and has a 90 degree entrance that I have the washing machines flexible line duct taped into ( :) ) but the 90 faces almost up the at the ceiling. Don't ask me why! ANd it points at hot water heater so I don't have any room to run a pipe next to it. I was hoping (fingers crossed) that I could use the flexible hose and put a "u" in it and then go up to the hard pipe from there. DId that make sense? I have this little plastic "u" shaped thing that came with the washer that I could use to make the contraption. The washer and dryer are supposed to sit in this little room that is just big enough for them and the hot water heater. It's a mess.

The man that owned this place claims that the bird bath in the front yard is over the septic tank. I hope he told the truth! I know where the well is and no drains go near it. Thankfully! I wish this guy would have done it right the first time! No wonder he wanted to move! :banghead:

But I love the land! The stream can be heard running from the front porch. And it's beautiful. Besides - too late! Its bought and will be paid for some day - way down the line! :)

Thank you again for all your help!