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Wenatchee Home Inspections- Taking a Stand

By
Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Wenatchee Home Inspections- Taking a Stand

As a home inspector it seems you get a run on certain items that keep showing up. Recently for me it was the washing machine standpipes.

Force it in there    Hmm, trap what trap

I have been doing several homes from the 40's/50's era where clothes washing was not performed like it is today.

Modern washing machines use about 30 to 40 gallons per full load for a top loader and about 15 to 25 gallons for a front loader. So you can imagine how much water is being discharged in each cycle.

Today's standard for a washing machine standpipe should be 2" pipe. (Years back it was 1-1/2 inches.) Most modern plumbers have the total height of the standpipe to come out at around 42 inches.

The requirement is that the standpipe has to be between 18 and 30 inches above the trap weir. The trap should be 6 to 18 inches above the floor and a minimum of 4" trap arm to the waste/vent stack.

Washing machine standpipe

With washing machine ability to discharging soapy water in greater quantities you can easily overloading the capacity of the plumbing. And we all like to clean up floods in our home, right?

Wenatchee Home Inspections- Taking a Stand

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more...                             

NCW Home Inspections LLC-509-670-9572

www.ncwhomeinspections.com

Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Sometimes we encounter foaults in systems that are so basic you have to wonder how things are functioning.

Jun 04, 2011 03:16 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Don,

Another thing, some of the washing machines, at least older ones, leak down below if you try to pump the water too high. There are standards as to how far uphill they can go. I have seen people extend the hoses and try to go up higher than my head.

Jun 04, 2011 10:32 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Steve,

Plumbing is right behind electrical for DIY'ers who do not have a clue.

Jun 05, 2011 05:28 AM