Laundry room plumbing is one of the most overlooked areas of every home. Unfortunately, this can lead to mishaps such as drain blockages, clogged supply lines, damaged appliances, and even flooding. Luckily, we’re here to help you prevent all this — and more — from affecting your laundry room. 

Dealing with a flooded and dysfunctional laundry room is the last thing any homeowner wants to do. In this article, we give you tips on how to maintain your laundry room plumbing like a pro. 

5 Laundry Room Plumbing Tips to Consider

Most people put off necessary plumbing maintenance for fear of paying expensive laundry services costs. Regardless, regular plumbing maintenance can help prevent problems from affecting your laundry room. Additionally, it can extend the life expectancy of your appliances — saving you more money in the long run.

Use these tips to get the most out of your laundry room.

Tip #1: Regularly inspect hoses.

Washing machines and dryers have all sorts of hoses connected to them. Each one serves a different purpose; however, all of them can wear out over time. It’s best to regularly inspect the machine hoses for cracks, holes, or tears. Not only can these issues cause unwanted leaks, but they could also compromise your washing machine’s electrical components. 

Generally, washing machine hoses should be replaced every five years — or as indicated on your washing machine’s user manual. If you suspect something is wrong with your supply line or drain line, you’ll have to replace the equipment quickly. Visit your local hardware store or plumbing supply store. You could also contact a plumbing professional like us to help you resolve the situation.

Tip #2: Inspect the pipes for leaks.

If your laundry room has exposed pipes, it can be easy for them to acquire cracks and holes that eventually lead to leaking. Water damage is an inevitable result of pipe leaks, so acting quickly in the situation is necessary to prevent further problems. Contact your plumber to conduct regular inspections on your laundry room pipes. 

Tip #3: Flush the p-trap. 

The p-trap is the u-shaped bend that’s that connects your washing machine’s drain to the sewer system. This part of the drain line contains water that prevents sewage gases from re-entering your home. Unfortunately, p-traps tend to dry up when they aren’t in frequent use. When the water inside the p-trap completely evaporates, foul odors can start to seep into your home, causing discomfort and even illnesses to your family. 

If you notice your laundry room is smelling less appealing lately, a quick p-trap flush should do the trick. Pour a bucket of water into the p-trap to create a fresh seal to prevent sewage smells from wafting into your house. 

Tip #4: Place a strainer over the drains.

Wet lint might seem like the least of your problems when it comes to laundry room plumbing; however, it’s actually one of the things you need to watch out for. Wet lint can easily get into pipes and hoses during the draining process. Over time, some stray pieces of lint can get stuck inside the hose walls. This can cause poor drainage and even clogs in your pipes. If not addressed immediately, clogged pipes can also lead to burst pipes — which is not a problem anyone wants in their house.

Luckily, there are strainers designed specifically for washing machine hoses and pipes. These strainers can be bought at any hardware store at relatively low prices. They may also be bought online if you don’t want to make the trip to your local hardware. Experienced DIY-ers can easily install the strainer in their washing machine pipes while some may need expert assistance. 

Contact a professional if you don’t know how to install your strainer.

Tip #5: Only wash full loads of laundry.

As surprising as it might sound, small laundry loads are more harmful to your laundry room plumbing than full loads. Washing machines typically use 40 gallons of water for each load. Using 40 gallons for a single shirt and a few pairs of socks means you’re using your plumbing wastefully. You can extend your laundry room plumbing’s life expectancy by batching your laundry — waiting until you have enough to equate to a full load. If you absolutely need to get a single piece of clothing washed immediately, consider handwashing it as opposed to using your washing machine. 

Maintain Good Laundry Room Plumbing with Kevin Szabo Jr Plumbing!

Here at Kevin Szabo Jr Plumbing, nothing is more important to us than the happiness and safety of our clients. Thus, we ensure that the services we provide are both affordable and efficient. Our plumbing professionals are trained in the latest methodologies to meet industry standards. Whether it’s cleaning the drains or doing preventative maintenance on your laundry room plumbing, you can rest assured that our technicians will handle the job with utmost care and professionalism. 

For more details, please visit our website or send us an email containing your concerns and requests. 

CALL TODAY 708-845-7922

We look forward to working with you!

Guest Contributor: Sophia Young