Suds in empty machine

[Duane]

My wife noticed that when a customer had way to much suds in a 35# Maytag washer, suds would start to appear in the 35# washer next to the over suds machine during the drain cycle.

Suds would appear at the bottom of the tub on the empty machine. When ran, the empty machine works fine

The washers are hard piped (no pit) and I checked the drain pipe and it is clear. I ran all machines that use the same drain line (1 50# and 4 35#) at the same time and everything drained properly and all machines worked normally.

Are the drains on the Maytag normally open when not in use?

Is this normal?

The machines are about a year old.

Thanks,

Duane.

[Anonymous]

I have had this on a couple of my Wasco machines as well. This is not abnormal if you have way too much soap in a machine, the suds will go wherever they find a way. You can prevent this by installing individual traps on each drain line, but the downside is you have another area to plug up.

[buddy]

I have similar problem with W74s. Some times when I open up the drain hose on a machine that is off I see suds and foam coming out of the hose from the washer that is running next to it.

[CharlieS]

Duane - Yes - The drains are normally open. The suds are just backing up into the adjacent machines.

Charlie

[Anonymous]

The machines should be trapped and vented or go into a pit that is trapped and vented. I was told this by my plumber and inspector.

[Anonymous]

Traps should be avoided if possible as things like brawires get caught in them and plug things up.

[mike]

I get these soap bubbles too.

I have a row of 12 W124's,

Each machine has it's own p trap,

and I still get suds !!

[Ken]

1, add a 2' 0r 3" pvc P trap,PVC trap doesn't get stock too often.
2,longer drain hose as trap but stuff may get stuck in.
3,pip in overflow
4,do nothing,it not harding anyone.
The only poblem you are going to have:if the next washer is done ,the custemer doesn't take out right away,the suds or water will get to their clothes.
Traps also stop gas from drain to come back,require by a lot citys.

[Duane]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have one large trap for this bank of washers, when building it I thought one trap would be easier to maintain, but yet provide the necessary protection from sewer gases. So far it has been working very well.


When testing the over sudsing I really, I mean really had to put way too much detergent in the washer before it would back up in the next washer. I reviewed the video of the original problem and noticed that the customer had placed a large amount of detergent in the washer and then went to the front of the store and it looks like she asked her husband to go start the washer (he had the laundry card). When the husband started the machine he then also added a lot of detergent.

Thanks again..

Duane.

[Anonymous]

I was able to reduce this problem by dropping my 4" drain line about four feet lower in the basement. Instead of having it up by the ceiling I dropped it to about 4' off the floor, thus I have a four foot down leg from each washer to the drain header which limits the amount of soap backup.

[Anonymous]

Kirby do you have a pit or go straight out to the street.

[Anonymous]

There is no pit as this location has had a mat for almost 50 years.

[Anonymous]

You better watch i seen inspectors come by and force owners to put a pit and lint trap in.

[BWJR]

Where are these inspectors from? Who do the represent?

BWJR