Do you have a problem with leaking laundry drains?
We understand that it’s a disturbing feeling to see water spill out while washing a load of clothes. Apart from being icky, water leaking from the washer can damage floors and walls and leave huge stains. Water coagulates also lead to mould and fungus, becoming a huge health hazard.
However, there could be a multitude of reasons behind a leaking sink. The washing machine outlet box could be the culprit, with its clogged drain line doesn’t allow water to pass through. Or, the water line or tap could have sprung a leak, making the laundry sink gush water.
So if you’re asking yourself, "Why is my laundry sink leaking?" here are some ways to solve that problem!
Why Is My Laundry Sink Leaking?
A washing machine outlet box is situated above and behind the machine and fosters the supply valves that help the machine run smoothly. It works to shut down the water supply and usually has a standpipe hole for the drain.
The dirty water is pumped out as clothes are washed, and clean water rushes in. After that, the contaminated water is expelled via a hose connected to the main sewer.
Interestingly, the majority of leaks occur around the washer box. One of the first things to check is whether the hose is connected correctly to the box. If that’s a yes, inspect the hose further to check for any cracks causing the water to seep through.
If none of this helps, the leak could be due to a blockage in the hose. So, what is it precisely that’s clogging your hose? Some of the most common clogging agents are:
1. Lint
Fuzz from fabrics can sometimes go into the utility sink from the washing machine. When that happens, the lint tends to clump together since it is wet. Lint is one of the most common reasons for a drain clog, but it is easy to identify and extract.
2. Hard Water
Hard water is when there’s a high magnesium and calcium content in the water.
Apart from being unsafe for consumption, it can also cause clogs in your hose. Hard water occurs when it mixes with detergent powder, soap, and other cleaning supplies and creates a thick lump that doesn’t allow water to pass through. Since the water can’t get past it, it bubbles back up and starts to leak.
3. Laundry Detergent
Certain detergents solidify when mixed with water and lines the pipe’s walls. This means impaired drainage since there’s less space for the water to pass through. It gets exacerbated when lint or hair gets stuck to the soap and creates an even more significant blockage.
4. Scraps From Pockets
Some of us tend to toss clothes in the washer without checking our pockets. We recommend constantly checking any clothes you might want to wash because items like tissues, loose change, and plastic wrappers can block the appliance hose if they enter the washing machine.
When the clothes are being washed, the water pressure pushes these odds and ends down the drain via the utility sink. More significant pieces can entirely clog the drain and make it difficult for water to pass through.
Now that we know about some of the things that can clog our drains let’s look at what we can do to prevent this.
Steps To Avoid A Laundry Sink Blockage
Here are some steps by which you can unclog your drain or prevent a clog from happening:
1. Using A Washing Machine Hose Lint Catcher
Placing a lint trap at the tail end of the washer hose will prevent debris from reaching the drain.
2. Using A Hair/Lint Catcher On The Drain
If you don’t have a lint catcher at hand, or even if you wish to add an extra layer of protection, using a lint catcher on the drain is a good idea. Using it is pretty easy, and it can effectively block lint and hair from entering the drain.
3. Correcting Problems Regarding Hard Water
Hard water won’t just lead to drainage issues but also a host of other problems if it is left unchecked. So, investing in a whole-home water softener would be helpful since it can solve multiple plumbing issues at hand.
Even though the steps mentioned above have proven to help prevent drainage issues, sometimes, a clog may occur despite the best efforts. A licensed plumber is a go-to person for resolving such problems in such a case. They will open the drain, remove the clog using specialised tools, and allow the water to flow freely again.
A DIY job might save you money, but it can often create problems in the long run. So, a professional will be your best bet to get rid of plumbing issues.
Here are a few ways in which a licensed plumber can help you:
1. Drain Inspection
The plumber will perform a professional diagnosis of the problem and determine the source of the clog by thoroughly inspecting the drain.
2. Clog Removal
The best way to remove existing clogs is to use chemical drain cleaners, but these can be a safety hazard. If you’ve got little to no experience using them, a wrong move could threaten your health, which is why a professional will be able to handle them best.
A plumber usually removes the debris by blasting water with very high pressure into the clogged drain. As a result, all the collected trash gets ejected out the drain effectively.
3. Buildup Reduction
A leaky drain may not always be wholly clogged but might be close to a severe drainage problem. If there is a layer of detergent lining the pipes and making them slimy, or if there is grime stuck to the walls, a plumber can clean it for you. This dramatically reduces the odds of the problem recurring in the future.
Fixing The Leak In Your Laundry Sink
Though clogging is one of the most common reasons for a laundry sink leak, other issues can be. Old pipes that have reached their life expectancy, a main sewer line blockage, a malfunctioning water valve, and even low water pressure can cause a leak.
In some of these cases, you may have to contact the council since water pressure and sewer line problems are out of the control of regular people. On the other hand, problems with the machine will have to be handled by the manufacturer. However, for plumbing issues, a licensed professional is needed.
We’ll conclude our informational guide with this, and we hope it helped figure out why your laundry sink might be leaking. Take care and stay safe!
