Clogged Laundry Room Drains

Your laundry room plays a critical role in keeping your family happy and healthy. The average Canadian family washes and dries between eight and 10 loads of laundry every week. Considering that each load takes about an hour and a half to complete, that means someone is spending more than a full workday sorting, loading, unloading, and folding the family’s clothes each week!

It’s safe to say that a laundry room malfunction, such as a clogged drain, would cause a major disturbance for the average family.

Here’s what you should know before your laundry room drain is clogged up:

Washing Machine Drain Clogged

As your washing machine agitates, loose fibers come off your clothes and get rinsed down the drain. Plus, think of all the gum wrappers and receipts you remove from pockets before washing the family’s clothes. Now imagine how many pieces of trash were not found before someone tossed their jeans in the wash. All those bits and pieces can accumulate inside drainpipes and create clogs.

A laundry hose strainer will help prevent your washing machine drain from clogging up. You can get one at any hardware store; they’re affordable and easy to install, and they will help prevent future clogs in your drainpipe.

Laundry Room Floor Drains

The first thing to know is that not every home has a laundry room floor drain. Some building codes do not require them, and older homes almost never have one. That being said, a second-floor laundry room should always have a floor drain. If your upstairs washing machine’s main drain clogs up, a second-floor flood can double the extent of your property damage.

If you need to have a laundry room floor drain installed, the experts at Mr. Rooter® Plumbing can get it done for you.

Utility Sink Drain

You may use your utility sink for pre-soaking fabrics or washing out the filthiest items in your home. Just like every other drain in your house, your laundry room sink is susceptible to clogging from debris. Because your utility sink handles heavy-duty jobs, it’s a good idea to put a screen in the drain to prevent large bits of debris from washing down the pipe and creating clogs.

On the other hand, some people rarely use their utility sinks. If that sounds more like you, remember to run some water down that drain once a week. When the water in the sink’s P-trap evaporates, it can allow sewer gases to waft up the pipe. If you don’t want your laundry room to smell like an outhouse, running the faucet for 15 seconds each week will prevent foul fumes from invading your house.

Need Help with Laundry Room Drains?

When you run into trouble with your laundry room drains, Mr. Rooter stands ready to help. Our expert plumbers provide friendly, outstanding service in your neighborhood. Click to find your local Mr. Rooter or call us.