In order for a washing machine to properly wash clothes and ensure that they get clean, the clothes need some time to soak and rinse in the water.
After all, we want to ensure that our washing machine fills, and then it stays filled until the spin cycle when water should drain.
However, some homeowners have to deal with the fact that their washing machine is draining much too fast.
This is a frustrating issue to have and something that can usually be fixed with the help of a plumber.
If you are good at DIY projects, there is a chance that you can fix some of these issues completely on your own.
Let’s look at why a washing machine drains too fast and some possible fixes to help get your clothes clean and get the most functionality from your washing machine.
Washing Machine Drains Too Fast (Possible Causes, Fixes)
The number one reason for a washing machine to drain too fast is a drain line that is not big enough to support the washing machine.
This happens quite often with the increase in washing machine technology and functionality that we have seen.
This is an issue that can be fixed, as long as you can install a flow restrictor.
However, in addition to the wrong drain size, there are other reasons you may notice that your washing machine drains too fast.
These issues include buildup in your drain lines, cracked or broken drain lines, and tree roots that could be invading your drain lines.
Let’s take a more in-depth look into each of these issues and what can be done about them.
1. Drain Not Big Enough To Support
Most homeowners believe that the latest and greatest washing machines are the way to go.
It is great to have brand new technology in your home, but some older homes are not equipped to handle this new technology.
New washing machines will have much larger pumps and greater speed and functionality than old washing machines.
Remember, when you hook up a new washing machine in your home, you are connecting it to older plumbing.
Most of the time, homeowners will simply disconnect an old washing machine and connect the new one.
If you do your first load of laundry and find that your washing machine dumps loads of water into your laundry room, chances are the drain and the washing machine are not a good match.
The larger pumps in the brand-new washing machines end up pushing water out way faster than an older drain line can manage to keep up with.
When this happens, the water has nowhere to go, and it ends up in the laundry room.
There won’t be much that you can do to fix the actual drain in your home.
However, there are things that can be done to restrict the flow of water out of the washing machine.
Most of the time, if you can slow the water down as it comes out of the washing machine, the drain will have time to catch up, and it can flow out properly.
This is a rather common issue that happens when people upgrade their laundry room appliances.
If you call a plumber, they will be able to come to your home and fix this issue for you.
However, there is a chance that you can work on this yourself.
The Fix
To fix the issue of a washing machine that it’s draining too fast, you will need to install a flow restrictor.
If you do a search on a home improvement website, you will be able to find plenty of different flow restrictor options.
To install the flow restrictor, you will need a plumbing reducer, a screw, some basic tools like a screwdriver.
You may need to buy several pieces so you can make sure that you have the proper sizes and fittings.
The parts are typically very easy to find, and the overall installation is not complicated either.
Once you have everything you need ready, you will put a hose clamp on the washing machine drain hose.
To clamp needs to be installed in an area that will push it far away so that it is not going to restrict the connection of the washing machine.
The hose clamp will restrict the flow of water, but you will need to be careful about just how much you restrict it.
Once you install a reducer fitting and then tighten the clamp, you will be able to reinstall the drain line into the drain.
Sometimes you will run into trouble with the hose clamp not fitting into the drain, but you may need to fix this by adding another smaller hose to the reducer.
This process is not an exact science.
If you don’t have any experience with plumbing issues like this, then you may want to consider hiring someone to complete the job.
The overall process is not difficult, but you must understand the way that water flow is going to come into play and how that will impact the functionality of your washing machine.
Remember that restricting water flow will help your laundry room not fill with water, but it may throw off the actual wash cycle of your washing machine.
The wash cycle is typically timed, and if it takes a lot longer for the water to drain from the main washing machine tank, the overall timing of the wash may get thrown off.
This means that when your spin cycle starts, your actual washing machine may still be filled with water.
Many of the new washing machines on the market will offer suggestions on how to deal with the situation, considering many older homes have the same issue.
One of the first steps we recommend one looking to install a flow restrictor take is to contact your washing machine manufacturer.
Let them know that there is an issue that you were experiencing and see what their suggestions are for fixing it.
As we have mentioned, if you install a flow restrictor and it ends up causing issues with the timing of the washing machine, it could end up breaking the machine.
Therefore, if you have a warranty on your washing machine, you may lose that warranty by installing a flow restrictor.
This is why the best option is to talk to the company first and see what their suggestions are about fixing the issue.
If your washing machine is still under warranty, there is a chance that they will come to your home for you and fix the issue without having to hire a plumber.
The next time you purchase a washing machine, try to consider the pump size and power.
As these pumps get more and more efficient and powerful, these issues with the drain line are continuing to come up.
Homeowners who have just installed a new washing machine should watch it very carefully for the first few loads to make sure that the washer draining too fast is not a problem.
If you have already determined that the drain is not what is causing the washing machine to drain too fast, then there could be other issues making this happen.
2. Buildup In Drain Line
Another reason that your washing machine could be draining too fast is that there is a buildup in the drain line.
As the water tries to move down through the drain line, it can’t, and then it’s forced back up into your laundry room.
The buildup in the drain line is actually very common.
Even though there are ways to keep debris out of the drain line, at times, things like lint or tissues and just overall buildup are going to get in the way of the water flowing through the drain line.
If you are good with fixing issues like this, you can snake your own drain line.
However, there are other options for fixing this issue.
For many homeowners, this is one of the first steps to try before you put a flow restrictor on the washing machine.
As we mentioned, the flow restrictor can cause some major issues with the functionality of the washing machine, and therefore, starting with cleaning out the drain line could be a much better long-term solution.
The Fix
If you have ever had a clogged drain or even a clogged toilet, you know that the biggest need is to try and move the clog along the line.
If you can push the clog out of the way, then chances are the water flow will get quite a bit better.
There are two ways to fix a clog in a drain.
The first is to remove it chemically, and the other is to remove it physically.
The chemical way is much easier in that all you need to do is pour a solution down the drain and allow it to eat away at the debris that is in the drain line.
However, there are issues with these chemicals, and if they are used often, they will cause damage to your plumbing system over time.
In addition, some of the chemicals that are used are harsh, and people would sometimes rather keep them out of their homes.
If you have had luck with chemical-type drain clearing solutions in the past, feel free to try and use this in your quest to fix your washing machine drain Issues.
However, if you are wanting to stay away from the chemical-type solutions, then you can look into snaking the drain line.
A snake is an auger, a tool that is pushed down into the drain line and used to break up any debris that may be causing issues with your washing machine.
After snaking the drain line, you will run water through to try and force out any of the debris that was now loosened from the sides of the drain line.
This is something that most homeowners will hire a plumber or a drain specialist for.
However, if you feel comfortable, this is a good first step in trying to fix your washing machine drain issues without messing with the washing machine itself.
Over time, debris is going to build up in the drain line, especially if you are not careful about how you use your washing machine.
Making sure that all pockets are empty every time you put clothes in the washer will help ensure that you do not have to perform this process all that often.
3. Cracked Or Damaged Drain Lines
If you live in an older home, there is a chance that you have cracked or damaged drain lines in your laundry room.
Sometimes this is not caused by anything you have done, simply materials that are deteriorating through the years.
New homes are built with products that are going to last for a lifetime.
However, depending on when your home was built, there could be a chance that your plumbing systems are starting to deteriorate.
Most families use their washing machines almost daily.
As you can imagine, this is quite a bit of wear and tear on the pipes and the drain lines that are connected to this area of your home.
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if you have a cracked or damaged drain line without the help of a plumbing specialist.
These specialists have cameras that can go down into the drain lines and see if there are issues that need to be fixed.
Unfortunately, the fix for this type of issue tends to be quite a bit more involved than some of the other things that we have described on our list.
The Fix
The fix for a cracked or damaged drain line is to repair or replace the drain line itself.
As you can imagine, this is going to be a rather involved project and will require the services of a professional.
Sometimes there is a product that can be put inside an old drain line to try and help fix this issue.
Other times, a new drain line will have to be dug out and replaced.
You can expect that this project will cost quite a bit more than doing something as simple as installing a flow restrictor.
Unfortunately, for some homes, there really won’t be any way to avoid this.
If you have never before experienced a washing machine draining too fast, and all of a sudden, your laundry room is filled with water, it could be that the line was cracked or damaged.
Most of the time, people will start to see warning signs when there is a slight buildup or if the drain itself is just a little bit too small.
However, if one of these machines goes from perfect functionality to complete disaster, sometimes, there could be a crack or a break in the pipe.
For the situation, we would recommend calling a plumber and having them come out and see if they can get to the bottom of the issue.
4. Tree Roots Invading
Last but certainly not least is the issue of tree roots invading your washing machine drain line.
Think about how tree roots expand under the ground.
There is really no stopping them as they will keep growing and take over your entire yard.
As great as it is to have the shade and coverage of trees, you do need to be careful as to where these roots are heading and how they’re going to impact your home.
Tree roots that intersect a drain line for a washing machine will start completely blocking the drain line.
Therefore, when your washing machine tries to drain the water from it, it will hit the tree root instead, and then, the water will back up into your laundry room.
The tree roots invading is something that happens over time, and it can be challenging to know whether or not this is happening.
For some homeowners, you will see an area around your drain where tree roots are rather large and taking over.
Trimming tree roots and keeping certain trees and plants away from the home is a great way to help prevent this issue from happening.
However, once the tree roots have invaded your drain line, you will need a more immediate solution.
Having an idea as to where all plants and trees are on your property and how their roots will expand and move towards your home is an innovative and responsible thing to do as a homeowner.
The Fix
If you have already reached the point where a tree root is invading your drain line, then you may need a professional to come out and fix or replace the drain line.
Some homeowners try to use a chemical solution to kill the roots working their way through the drainpipes.
However, this does not really work. It may be a temporary solution, but the long-term issue is not going to change.
Typically speaking, killing one root on a large tree will not have any impact on it.
Most of the time, more roots will grow, and they will grow in other directions while still having an impact on your drain line.
The best way to do this is to make sure that you clear out an extensive area around your drain line when it is installed.
Most people don’t realize what is happening underground, especially if they have bought a house that is very old.
Older trees have roots that extend large distances and never leave room for the pipes and underground wiring that can be buried around your home.
The situation is an unfortunate one because it could require a plumber to come and fix or replace the drain line and a landscaper to come and take the tree down.
Sometimes you can get creative about where the drain line is moved to so that you can keep the tree but still have a washing machine that functions properly.
Without the help of a plumber and their camera, you may have no idea that tree roots are destroying your washing machine drain lines.
Unless you have some very good tools, chances are you’re going to need a professional for any of these issues.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now feel as though you can start to find a solution for your washing machine draining too fast.
This is something that you should focus on fixing sooner rather than later.
Not only will your clothes not be washed properly, but your laundry room is in danger of flooding and suffering water damage.
The hardest part of this process is to diagnose the actual issue.
If you are having a hard time deciding what it is that is causing the trouble, don’t be afraid to call in a professional to get their advice.
Leave a Reply