Washing Machine Drains Into Sink (Reasons & Solutions)

By - Ron Singh

Updated -

A washing machine and a utility sink in the same room can make work easier.

However, some people don’t attach a utility sink to their washing machine’s drain. There are two ways to install a utility sink next to your washing machine. 

Your utility sink can either be installed directly above the washer or nearby the washing machine so that you can quickly rinse out clothes after they are removed from the washer. And you won’t be bothered by running water while doing laundry.

If the laundry room is close to the kitchen, the kitchen sink might be the shared drain between the washing machine and sink. You can do this permanently or temporarily. The setup is known as wet venting. It allows two drains to pour into a flush waste pipe and be pumped back through the same pipe. 

Can Washing Machine Drain Into Sink?

Washing Machine Drains Into Sink

You can attach a washing machine and a sink to the same drain. Typically, the same pipe can be used by the washing machine and kitchen appliances in some homes.

Draining the washing machine in the same pipe is possible, which is typical in many homes. 

It is advisable to Make sure the sink has enough space to accommodate and drain the volume of water being pumped from the washer.

Connections for the discharge from a washing machine and sink can be linked to the same waste pipe, although they can’t all be connected directly.

Why Is My Washing Machine Draining Into My Sink?

When your Washing machine drains into the sink, it is normal.

However, like the arrangement of a significant highway, Every drain from a piping fixture in a house, such as the one from the washing machine, must be connected to a 3- or 4-inch flow pipe.

This pipe exits the house and goes to a water tank or storage tank With numerous on-ramps connecting to it. 

A washing machine must connect to the primary sewer pipe to drain the kitchen sink. A stoppage is located somewhere between the link to the sink drain and the connection to other drains.

If there is a clog before the kitchen sink, it will lead to the Washing machine backing up water in its drain. 

Hence there are multiple connections. For example, you can experience a backup in the shower or toilet if there is a blockade after connecting with other fixture drains.

Excellent Way To Drain My Washing Machine Into Utility Sink

The best way your washing machine and sink can share one drain is using aTee” connection. 

Most laundry rooms have a sink that serves as a washing machine drain. This is done mainly by attaching the drain hose from the washing machine to the edge of the sink.

Water from the washing machine can run directly in the sink once this is set up, then it can leave through the sink’s drainage. The washing machine drain hose connected to your sink drain pipe is  2-inch.

Unfortunately, the water volume discharge of a washing machine cannot fit through small drains, so to prevent water from backing up, you will have to install a separate P-trap and standpipe.

How Do I Stop Washing Machine Backing Up Into My Sink? 

If your sink backs up water during Draining, it is because either air or water movement is obstructed.

This can be due to debris or any other thing that causes clogs. Carefully maintaining your drains and watching what you throw down your sink can help prevent this issue from occurring

Some actions to take when your washing machine gets clogged are listed below. 

#1. Make Sure the Trap is Clean

 Cleaning the trap comes first. Put a bucket underneath the trap after grabbing it. To drain the water and debris, loosen the tap’s bottom seal.

Unscrew it Completely, then wash it below the faucet. Shut or connect the trap back to the drain when you are done. 

#2. Use Boiling Water and Soda to Rinse the Drain

Take a bucket with hot water and a package of baking soda before attempting to unblock a clogged drain.

First, remove the washing machine’s drain pipe, and use a funnel to discharge the water into the drain. Later check and see after a few minutes have passed to see if it continues to drain. 

#3. Try Removing Blockades Using the Drain Snake

A congested washing machine drain can be cleared using a drain snake. You can start by removing the trap from the sink first, then inserting the drain for a better effect.

When You’ve reached the blockage and can no longer advance the drain snake, rotate the drain snake clockwise and counterclockwise to remove the clogs. 

#4. Using A Drain Cleaner

Selecting a cleaning solution appropriate for your drain’s material is an important step. Liquid or granular drain cleaners are two of the wide varieties.

Other cleaners come in pairs of two parts, which you pour one after another down the drain hose. 

#5. Using A Powerful Pressure Washer

Using a powerful pressure cleaner to unclog your washing machine’s drain takes a unique tool called the sewer hose.

To use the sewer hose, You have to move it down the drain while mounting it to your high-pressure cleaner.

Then, after using the pressure cleaner, you must pour water down the drain to clear the obstruction. 

#6. Increasing the Washer Drain Pipe’s Drainage Capacity with an extra pipe. 

All washing machines require a 2-inch drain pipe. Therefore, a P-trap is required for every plumbing fixture and appliance, including the drain pipe for a washing machine. 

Adding a utility sink to your washing machine can be done by the following procedures.

#7. Getting The Tools

First, you need the tools to help you perform the task effectively. 

ToolsUseCheck Price
PVC hand sawTo easily cut the PVC pipeCheck Price
Pipe splittersUseful in splitting pipesCheck Price
PliersFor holding fixtures into place during operationsCheck Price
Plumber’s glueFor attaching PVC and other materials.Check Price
Measuring stickTo determine lengths of pipesCheck Price
PVC Y-fittingAdds to the structure and integrity of the drain pipes.Check Price
Sandpaper or deburringTo smoothen pipe edgesCheck Price
WrenchTo tie the bolts and holds into placeCheck Price
A cold and hot flexible tubingEffectively connect the drain pipes

#8. Getting The Correct Measurement For The Drain

When you have the required tools, the next thing you will need is a correct measurement for the drain. This can be done by; cutting off the water supply.

Next, you have to measure The drain pipe for the sink from where it connects to the wall or the ground.

Once you have a correct measurement of the utility sink drain pipe, measure the washer’s drain line from the bottom up.

When you are done with the measurement, mark the pipe. You will have to install a Y- y-fitting at the marked spot. The Y-fitting helps separate the two drains. 

#9. Cutting the Drain Pipe of the Washing Machine 

You must cut the pipe from any point along the venting pipe. If You have a T-fitting where water from the drain turns and flows in the exit direction. That horizontal T-fitting needs to be cut.

After cutting the pipe, use sandpaper to remove any uneven edges that might prevent the lines from being connected correctly.

#10. Connecting the Sink to the Washer’s Drain Pipe

This procedure requires attention as it involves many steps. The entire process will fail if you skip steps or do something incorrectly.

Install a PVC Y-fitting to connect the drain pipe from your washer first. Then connect the venting pipe above the fitting’s top arm.

One of the side arms should join the horizontally flowing water tube, and the other arm should join the sink drain line.

When you are done, apply a plumber’s glue to avoid leakage. This glue helps in tightening the joints. 

#11. Locating Water Sources 

You must connect the water lines when you are done with the drain.  Before hooking up a sink, you must first adjust the water source.

Next, you need to look for the location of cold and hot water pipes in your washer.

Two pipes run a fitting located on the water pipes. Next, disconnect the water line at the cold and hot hook-up points. Sometimes the fitting might not be inside the water pipe. 

In this case, Find a bucket and place it beneath the water pipe you plan to cut. Cut the water pipe in the middle between the laundry room sink and the washer when cutting.

It is advisable to smoothen the edges of the pipes after cutting for an easier Connection. 

#12. Installation of a Pipe Splitter

When cutting and smoothing the water pipes, you use a two-headed pipe splitter to help split the cold and the hot water lines.

Use a wrench to secure the splitter firmly. Reconnect the washer to the pipes after tightening the cold and hot water lines. And then use a wrench or a plier to reconnect the tubes

#13. Fixing A Hose To The Utility Sink 

After reconnecting the tubes, connect the splitters to the cold and hot water tubing. Make sure the tubing is in reach with the utility sink.

Next, connect the hot water line with red flexible tubing and the cold water line with a blue one. It is easier to differentiate them when they have different colors.

When you are done, use a nut to tighten the connections, you can do that easier with the help of a wrench. 

#14. Connecting The Sink Faucet Hooks And The Flexible Water Tubes

Connecting the tubes to the sink’s faucet hook-ups comes after fixing the splitters to the flexible hot and cold pipes. Make sure to tighten and seal every connection.

Open the main water supply once you’re done to ensure the connection is flawless. Keep an eye out for any leaks and patch them.

Don’t forget to turn off your water’s main supply when redoing a step or plugging a leaky drain.

Your utility sink Installation should be successful if the water flows fast and smooth after the connection.

Conclusion

You can share your washing machine drain with your utility sink. This can be due to the possibility of multiple connections.

However, there can also be Washing machine backing up problems as well, that is, if the installation is not done correctly.

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