using the washing machine drain

eric · Jun 18, 2007

Another year, another project. I'm about to move again (long story) to another home. I have to buy a washer dryer but anyway, the washer area has a "drain" into the wall. But that drain is about 4' up in the wall. How the water from washing machine travels "up" to that...I don't know.

But anyway, if I get one of those slop sinks from the Home Depot store and put it next to it, is there a way I can get a hose up from the sink drain to the drain tube on the wall? And how will h2o travel from the sink, up 4' in the air, and down the tube?

It's a rental home so I won't be able to poke a hole and attach pvc to a the drain

wildbill · Jun 18, 2007

Anti-gravity hose. Special order item though. No really though, sounds like a sump pump in the bottom of a garbage can under the sink would be an option.

vinny

grahamp · Jun 18, 2007

The washing machine pumps the water out. You would have to do the same. Or just accumulate the waste into a large bucket and carry it out.

AgX · Jun 18, 2007

Your washing machine has got a pump which will pump upwards. How much, you should be able to look up in the manual. Otherwise try it.

For the drain water from your sink you'll need a pump too. Or use a reservoir and pour it manually into a funnel (with trap) connected to that 4' pipe. Or let it run into your washing machine...

max_ebb · Jun 18, 2007

I had a similar situation in a rental property and I just cut into the wall and used a T to connect in to the lower part of the drain pipe. When I moved out I just capped it off and patched the hole. To patch that large of a hole properly, you need to brace behind it with some pieces of 2x4.

DBP · Jun 18, 2007

If your drain hose extends far enough down the pipe, it should draw by siphon action once you get the flow started. Try a hose with a squeeze bulb like they use for outboard motors.

eric · Jun 18, 2007

max_ebb said:
I had a similar situation in a rental property and I just cut into the wall and used a T to connect in to the lower part of the drain pipe. When I moved out I just capped it off and patched the hole. To patch that large of a hole properly, you need to brace behind it with some pieces of 2x4.

That owners are quite nice and I think my safest bet is to ask that I cut a piece of wall out and do this. I can offer to pay for the sink and pay for materials. Hmmm. This will be the first running h2o darkroom I've had in a long time.

glbeas · Jun 18, 2007

You could also get a grey water pump made for this purpose at Home Depot. I think they make them in smaller sizes for use under a plastic utility sink. Best part about this you can take it with you when you move again.

eric · Jun 18, 2007

glbeas said:
You could also get a grey water pump made for this purpose at Home Depot. I think they make them in smaller sizes for use under a plastic utility sink. Best part about this you can take it with you when you move again.

I did not know this! I will certainly look into it! I can't wait now...running water in my darkroom!!
Pretty soon, I'll have complete darkness in it!

copake_ham · Jun 18, 2007

eric said:
I did not know this! I will certainly look into it! I can't wait now...running water in my darkroom!!
Pretty soon, I'll have complete darkness in it!

Eric,

You will find all kinds of waste pumps at this place - including some you can "drive" with a power drill!

http://www.northerntool.com/?cm_ven...dwords)&cm_pla=nt_brand&cm_ite=northern tools

BTW: I have no connection with the seller except as a satisfied customer. Oh, and their catalog is just fun to look at!

Konical · Jun 18, 2007

Good Evening, Eric,

By coincidence, the darkroom I'm building in the basement has a similar situation: the drain pipe through the wall is a couple of feet higher than the drains from a couple of laundry tubs I'll be using. The plumbing was done earlier today. It involved the installation of a small holding vessel/sump unit which transfers waste water up to the drain. It was a bit expensive to have all the work done by a professional, but doing my own plumbing would probably lead to disaster. Everything seems to work OK. Incidentally, I had an automatic faucet installed on one of the tubs (the one I'll use for clean-up and hand washing) and filters installed on the supply lines to the other tub(the one which will handle the film and print washers).

Konical

ernie51 · Jun 18, 2007

I have repaired appliances such as washers for 25 years. If you can pick up a used washer that still runs, remove the inner agitator and tub. Then use the washer like a laundry tub with a pump.. You will have to manually bypass the lid switch (slip an object in the opening to depress the lever). Set your timer to spin-drain and it will run several minutes in a drain cycle, enough to pump apx. 20 gallons out the drain at a time then repeat if you have more to drain. To take it a step further, disconnect one black lead on the timer motor and it will pump as long as you have the machine turned on because the timer will not advance through the cycle. It is a poor mans laundry tub. I used this system several months while I was constructing a more permanent set up.....Ernie

MattKing · Jun 19, 2007

ernie51 said:
I have repaired appliances such as washers for 25 years. If you can pick up a used washer that still runs, remove the inner agitator and tub. Then use the washer like a laundry tub with a pump.. You will have to manually bypass the lid switch (slip an object in the opening to depress the lever). Set your timer to spin-drain and it will run several minutes in a drain cycle, enough to pump apx. 20 gallons out the drain at a time then repeat if you have more to drain. To take it a step further, disconnect one black lead on the timer motor and it will pump as long as you have the machine turned on because the timer will not advance through the cycle. It is a poor mans laundry tub. I used this system several months while I was constructing a more permanent set up.....Ernie

Red Green would be proud

Matt

P.S. I think this is a great idea!

AgX · Jun 19, 2007

As I posted above you could even use your own washing maching. However I don't know the common type of design of the machines used in Northern America. Here the funnel for the washing agent is at 80cm, quite high to put a hose from a sink into it. Further I don't know the chemicals you are putting down the drain.
That's why I posted it with a wink, but in principle it would work.

using the washing machine drain

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