I'm not the most handy when it comes to plumbing so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I really don't want to have to pay for a plumber to address this, but I will if needed.

I noticed a lot of water flowing out this morning as our washing machine was draining. This drain is on the same side of the house as the laundry room. My guess is the washing machine drain line is blocked and this is an overflow or backflow drain? If so, do I just snake the line from the washing machine or start elsewhere?

Any help is appreciated.

So the only time you have noticed it flowing is when the washing machine is on? You should have a Y connection in that drain line at the wall or access with a vent line on the roof over the top of this area where you go straight down. You could try drain cleaner, but I would bet you would need to snake it to get it clean. Pretty similar to getting lint backup in your dryer vent.

If you tried to snake that backwards to the washing machine, probably wouldn't do much.

maybe your primary drain for the house is clogged and your washing machine is the first thing to back up - have you tried running a shower or tub also and see if this drains?

That appears to be a clean out (which should be capped). I would think the logical thing to do would be to run a snake down starting there.

It is probably open because the cast iron drain is gone. Kitchens and laundry cast iron usually fails first.

What city are you in?

jt2hunt said:

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It is probably open because the cast iron drain is gone. Kitchens and laundry cast iron usually fails first.

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This happened to me. Assuming the worst possible case, you have a collapse somewhere in the drain line. A sketch of your existing under-slab piping would help this board diagnose your issue.

Thanks y'all. I was traveling today and managed to get a plumber out before I left. He ran an auger from outside and was able to clear the clog.

We're in Houston and it's an old house (1966). This is something I'll have to keep my eye on.

I see this often on older cast iron plumbing drains especially on washing machine drains. This works good as a preventative on drains


https://www.lowes.com/pd/Zep-Drain-Defense-Pipe-Build-up-Remover-64-fl-oz-Drain-Cleaner/3745757

Boats and Hose said:

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Thanks y'all. I was traveling today and managed to get a plumber out before I left. He ran an auger from outside and was able to clear the clog.

We're in Houston and it's an old house (1966). This is something I'll have to keep my eye on.

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Fleetood?

We bought a 1966 house and had to replace all the sewer lines (cast iron) recently. They were still working, but in some places, it was just ditches and pipes were disappearing fast. Yours could be in good shape, but they are coming to the end of life.

Just a friendly tip. Since they are working, you can wait, but If you ever going do anything big to the house, replace all the sewer lines. It is a mess digging under the house, digging around the house, and backfilling. It will destroy the yard.

Here is a photo of a sewer replacement at one my properties a few years back. Notice the collapsed corroded pipes they pulled out.

I also have a 1960's home in SW Houston. The previous owner's replaced the sewer pipe on the bathroom side of house, but the kitchen and laundry room still have the original cast iron. The wall cleanout on that side of the house was open like the OP's and I couldn't screw a cap onto it since the threads were old and corroded. I purchased a test plug to cover it up and it's worked like a charm for 6 years. They come in different sizes, but here's an example.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-Gripper-3-in-Plastic-Mechanical-Test-Plug-33402/100168770

4 years ago, I had a clog in the line between my kitchen and laundry room. I rented a snake from HD and ran it back and forth for a while to break loose anything that was in the line. It was like $60 for 1/2 day rental and had no issues clearing the line. It was something like this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Electric-Eel-Mfg-Co-Inc-Auto-Feed-Drain-Cleaner-75-x-1-2-Z5K-1-2IC75-AF/316821481

I also put these enzyme sticks in my drains every month. I don't know if they are actually doing anything, but I haven't had any more clogs since I started using them 4 years ago.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Green-Gobbler-Bio-Flow-Drain-Cleaning-and-Deodorizing-Strips-12-Pack-G0658D/301889468

I know that the pipes will eventually need to be replaced, but I'm trying to put that off that expense as long as I can.