Smelly washing machine!!

[mjgreen60]

Hi All,

Firstly, please be gentle with a plumbing newbie!

We have a problem with a smelly washing machine. I have tried all the usual tricks of cleaning filters, powder tray etc all to no avail.

The problem seems to be worse after we have used the dishwasher and I wondered if the problem is due to the plumbing. It is a new house and so shouldn't be a problem but thought I would ask the experts.

I have attached a photo of the setup under our sink and labelled it. Hope it makes sense.

I would be really grateful if you could help me out as it's becoming a real problem.

Thanks very much,

Matt

 

[WHPES]

I would first suggest that you undo all the trap assembly (the ribbed nuts at the connectors marked in yellow plus the nut for the dishwasher drain attachment which isnt visible on your pic), and be careful not to lose any washers - don't remove the sink wastes!) and give the entire thing a right good clean out in hot water and detergent. Unfasten the other nuts on it to separate the sections also when you are cleaning it.

Reassemble and see how it goes. It is probably full of rotting debris.

The overflow pipe from the sink is often the main culprit for stinks so give that a right good clean too.

 

[Puddle]

Well first thing you could try is lifting both machine waste pipes just before they enter the spigots on the main waste,they should be looped up to stop waste water from other machine and sink just draining back down them
Take it the main waste flowing ok

 

[WHPES]

There's normally a plastic loop at the back of the washing machine and the dishwasher which the hose loops over. Are these missing?

 

[mjgreen60]

Thanks for the rapid replies.

Both machines are built in so not sure if the loops are there or not - will try and investigate though.

I will also clean out the pipework too. Do I need to turn off the mains water supply first? Sorry for being thick!

Thanks again,

Matt

 

[WHPES]

No, as long as nobody opens any taps with the pipework out!

You will need a bowl and a load of old towels to mop up residual water as you open the fittings.

 

[REDSAW]

bad design basically,
the w/m d/w hoses are back filling from each other and the sink waste.
invert both pipes higher than there out-lets should improve the situation, simular to wheps mention of the hose formers.

 

[armintamzarian]

Hi everyone,.First post

I have the same kind if problem,the clothes from the washing machine are stinking,and the smell coming from the sink is as well. The sink is one of those sink and a half ones,.and when it was installed(by me) the fittings were not all there(B&Q),so i cobbled it together to get the sink at least working. I'm no expert but i think it should at least have a trap,.the pipework doesn't even fit together properly,but it doesn't leak.I will be able to post a picture soon so you can see yourselves,.. don't laugh,.its got me this far.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

this is quite simple,the dishwasher outlet is before the trap the plumber who fitted this is a numpty

 

[stevetheplumber]

this is quite simple,the dishwasher outlet is before the trap the plumber who fitted this is a numpty

stick with gas m8 this is the correct way to connect a washing macine it goes in before the trap to prevent smells

what is wrong with this install is the washing machine hose needs to be brought in the top of the unit and run down to the trap
as it is the sink waste is running down into the machines if there is enough slack to pull the hoses through and lift them to the highest point in the unit and fix there
if not you will have to remove the macines drill in to unit at the top and feed hoses in at high level then down to the trap you may need some extra hose and a joiner

 

[armintamzarian]

OK so this is my under sink pipework,the washing machine waste comes in where its labeled,.it may not be too obvious by the pic,but goes downhill all the way to the machine,and there's no trap,.so any advice would be welcome ,.cheers A.T

 

[REDSAW]

bad design basically,
the w/m d/w hoses are back filling from each other and the sink waste.
invert both pipes higher than there out-lets should improve the situation, simular to wheps mention of the hose formers.

its a botched together franke pipework and hasn't even got a bottle trap.

 

[helpsy]

I SINK zis plumber has gone down ze drain!!!!!

 

[dontknowitall]

What on earth is Floor Dressing? None of my business!!

Not too difficult to fix yourself, believe it or not. Check the final pipe going through wall is 40mm (1½") then take that photo down to your local plumbing merchants and they will supply you with the necessary and a trap to stop the smells coming up.

Be prepared for two trips to the shop, but it should be cheaper than asking a plumber to come out (who, ironically will probably make one trip to see you and measure then go shopping then visit you again and fix!) We plumbers carry traps but they never seem to be the correct ones!! Or maybe it's just me?

Hmmm ... waiting for a pile of posts saying, "It's just you" ...

 

[Puddle]

What on earth is Floor Dressing? None of my business!!

Not too difficult to fix yourself, believe it or not. Check the final pipe going through wall is 40mm (1½") then take that photo down to your local plumbing merchants and they will supply you with the necessary and a trap to stop the smells coming up.

Be prepared for two trips to the shop, but it should be cheaper than asking a plumber to come out (who, ironically will probably make one trip to see you and measure then go shopping then visit you again and fix!) We plumbers carry traps but they never seem to be the correct ones!! Or maybe it's just me?

Hmmm ... waiting for a pile of posts saying, "It's just you" ...

Its just you

Ps
Floor Dressing is an acrylic emulsion dressing developed to give a long-lasting and tough protective coating and intended to be used in conjunction with a Floor Maintainer.
....well thats what it says on the box,so there !!!! ;-)

 

[secret squirrel]

Well, not to disappoint..........

Its just you,

And me..... whatever I have its just not the right one.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

stick with gas m8 this is the correct way to connect a washing macine it goes in before the trap to prevent smells

what is wrong with this install is the washing machine hose needs to be brought in the top of the unit and run down to the trap
as it is the sink waste is running down into the machines if there is enough slack to pull the hoses through and lift them to the highest point in the unit and fix there
if not you will have to remove the macines drill in to unit at the top and feed hoses in at high level then down to the trap you may need some extra hose and a joiner

sorry i think my eyes are going

OK so this is my under sink pipework,the washing machine waste comes in where its labeled,.it may not be too obvious by the pic,but goes downhill all the way to the machine,and there's no trap,.so any advice would be welcome ,.cheers A.T

they are back again that is a mess

 

[armintamzarian]

What on earth is Floor Dressing? None of my business!!

Not too difficult to fix yourself, believe it or not. Check the final pipe going through wall is 40mm (1½") then take that photo down to your local plumbing merchants and they will supply you with the necessary and a trap to stop the smells coming up.

Be prepared for two trips to the shop, but it should be cheaper than asking a plumber to come out (who, ironically will probably make one trip to see you and measure then go shopping then visit you again and fix!) We plumbers carry traps but they never seem to be the correct ones!! Or maybe it's just me?

Hmmm ... waiting for a pile of posts saying, "It's just you" ...

Hey, thanks dontknowitall,.better get on it,i take it the trap goes somewhere on the down pipe,before it joins the out pipe,.if you know what i mean?. A.T,..And i believe puddle has answered your first question very accurately.

 

[piperdave]

lol armintamzarian you have taken over mj greens thread a little bit! in mjgreens picture is it just be or is the waste falling back in the trap? giving the muck nowhere to go and just building up causing smells ?

 

[dontknowitall]

I don't understand half the jokes going on here!!

Thanks Puddle - you learn something everyday.

Armintamzarian

That's the idea - pipe joins to sink, then trap, then off to outside pipe through wall. Have a look under a basin for a much simpler affair - all you're doing in this case is adding another sink and washing machine before the trap.

 

[armintamzarian]

sorry i think my eyes are going



they are back again that is a mess

Indeed it is a mess,. i will get onto this weekend, hopefully,.and post a new pic,.then you can post and congratulate me,.or say " no ,you t**t,not like that" we will see A.T.

 

[moony]

OK so this is my under sink pipework,the washing machine waste comes in where its labeled,.it may not be too obvious by the pic,but goes downhill all the way to the machine,and there's no trap,.so any advice would be welcome ,.cheers A.T

lol madness