How High Can A Washing Machine Drain Hose Be?

How High Can A Washing Machine Drain Hose Be

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With washing machines becoming a regularity in homes, it is crucial to understand the technicalities behind some components of a washing machine and how you can install it properly to get the best of it. The draining hose in a washing machine is one of the most vital parts of a washing machine. It takes used water away from the washer bowl into the drainage system available.

The wrong connection of a drain hose can cause damage to the walls and floor of a room due to the constant spilling of water; it can also cause the motor pump to overwork or not work at all. Hence the question:

How High Should The Washing Machine Drain Hose Be?

The washing machine drain hose can be about 30′ in height and at least above 8 feet from the ground to drain efficiently. It should always be higher than the water level inside the washer. Most times, the hose diameter determines the exact height placement of the drain hose.

The requirements of installing a drain hose are not very complicated, but if done wrongly can cause a lot of harm. This article provides all knowledge about washing machine drain hoses and how you should install them.

What Is The Maximum Length For A Washing Machine Drain Hose?

Pumping water out of a washing machine is probably one of the essential parts of washing, so it becomes essential that the machine’s components facilitate draining work efficiently. The maximum length for a washing machine drain hose is quite tricky to give an exact number of inches.

This difficulty is because it is harder to pump water vertically (upwards) than to pump horizontally (at a flat level). The maximum height for a washing machine drain hose is dependent on the washing machine’s pump capacity. Usually, the height of a drain hose should be above the machine’s water level, but to discover the best height for a drain hose, you can do a test drive to find out at which height it pumps faster.

Hold the drain hose at a specific height and check how fast water comes out. The water flow will be higher at some heights and slower at others. Determine the best height and check that the machine’s bowl empties at a cycle. Hang the hose on that height, and that will be the maximum height for that washing machine drain hose.

Greater heights make a washing machine pump at a low capacity when the bowl is almost empty, and this is because of less head of water on the inlet side of the machine. Greater heights can also cause overworking of the pump motor, and it can get hot, affecting the lifespan of your washing machine. Though some pumps have duty cycles and an overheat thermostat installed, it is necessary to hang the drain pump at the perfect height to avoid complications.

When a pipe is not at its maximum height, it causes a backflow of water in the hose into the washing machine when the pump stops—especially when there is no non-return valve in the drain hose, or a faulty non-return valve. A non-return valve will keep the water inside the hose, but a non-return valve can also affect the water flow valve. So it is best to test and determine the best height for the drain hose.

Height issues in washing machines are very complicated; it’s best to get an expert to help you install the washing machine to get the best performance.

How Do You Keep The Drain Hose Of A Washing Machine In Place?

Sometimes the washing machine hose can slip out of the drain pipe. The slip will cause flooding of water on the laundry room floor. Properly keeping the washing machine pipes in their place will prevent water from flooding so it doesn’t cause a mess for you to clean up. Here is how to secure a washing machine drain hose:

  • Gently push the washing machine away from the standpipe region to give you space to work.
  • Check if the drain hose is at the correct height to drain water efficiently, the drain hose should be above the machine’s water level to work correctly.
  • Check out the length of the drain hose to confirm that it’s not the reason for the slipping. The local code requirement for a water machine hose length is 34 inches, so if the hose is less than that, you will have to extend the hose to the correct length. Several drain hoses have pre-bent ends that fit snugly into the drain pipe, but you can continue on to the next step if yours don’t.
  • You can wrap the hose together with the drain pipe with duct tape at the point where they meet. Ensure the surface of the pipe and hose is dry before covering the duct tape so it can stick properly. The duct tapes should hold the hose and keep it in place.
  • You can also utilize a hose clamp if the duct tape is messy or unkempt. Get a hose clamp and a screw, insert the drain hose into the pipe, put on the clamp around the hose five or six inches from the pipe’s top, and tighten the clamp. Attach the end of the clamp to a wall stud with the screw if you have one. If the wall has no stud or is drywall, drill a hole, insert a screw anchor, and screw in the clamp hold to an anchor in the hole.

Using both a clamp or duct tape will work alright, and hold a drain hose to the drain pipe. You can also call a technician if you can not do it yourself.

How Long Can The Washing Machine Waste Pipe Be?

We recommend that the drain pipe not be more than 1.4 meters long away from the drain point. If there’s a need to elevate, you can add two extra meters. If the waste pipe is extra long, the drain pump will have too much load and might not pump efficiently, shortening its life span.

The length of the  waste pipe of the washing machine determines how well it removes water. The washing machine waste pipe should be as short as possible. However, most washers might need the pipe to rise before coming down inside the standpipe or sink to avoid siphoning (water back flowing into the washer).

Shorter washing machine waste pipes give faster water draining, and longer ones restrict the water flow. The drain hose length inherently inhibits the water flow, and shortening it will result in a faster draining of the machine, so you need to ensure that your sink or standpipe has sufficient capacity to cater to this factor of increased flow – rarely a problem.

Using a standpipe ensures the hose end is a loose fit within the pipe, and if siphoning still occurs, you may need to introduce an air break. The washing machine waste pipe can result in a foul smell in the washing machine due to the remaining standing water in the hose running on the floor. A washing machine’s wastewater contains debris that, when it accumulates, will give off a very foul smell, this accumulation is called a trap.

What Is The Best Position For A Drain Hose On A Washing Machine?

If you position a washing machine drain wrong., it can result in siphoning and overloading of the pump meter. Therefore you should ensure its position is correct. The best positioning for the drain hose on a washing machine is “from the exit point at the machine, it runs at least three to four inches upwards than the water level in the washer.

This positioning is ideal because a direct run from the floor can lead to standing or stagnant water and debris inside the hose(trap). A trap causes a smelly odor inside the washing machine, which might get on the clothes while laundering.

Most times, the elevating of the hose may need some hold to prevent it from sagging. Some clips can help with that; they can be attached to the ceiling or held with some ropes. Just keep it hanging and descending for the best performance of a drain hose.

Why Does A Washing Drain Hose Need To Be Elevated?

A washing drain elevates before it connects with the standpipe or drainage point. The drain hose is held in place and should be about 30′ in height and at least 8″ feet high with an outside diameter of 114 to function correctly. The washing hose is elevated to prevent the wastewater from flowing back into the washing machine.

If the drain hose does not elevate, there’s a possibility of the water running the wrong path through the drain hose and causing stagnant water at the bottom of the washer. The hose needs the high pressure caused by gravity to prevent any siphoning.

While installing a washing machine, ensure the drain hose elevates at the right height and has the right length to function effectively. You can use the help of a professional to get things right.

Can A Washing Machine Drain Hose Be Too High?

Even though a washing machine hose should be positioned high, it might not function well if too high. So, yes, a washing machine drain hose can be too high. It must be at least 8 feet off the ground but no higher than 12 feet. The extra feet can make it impossible for water pressure to push the water up through the hose. 

Sometimes, how high a drain hose goes depends on the inner and outer diameter of the hose. The standard diameter is OD114 and ID1/2. Determine the hose diameter while installing and calculate the best height at which to position the drain hose. You can do this with the test method we have explained, or you can source the installation work from professionals.

Where Is The Drain Hose On A Washing Machine?

The drain hose is a pipe in the washing machine that carries water from the washer into a disposal unit, either a sink, bathtub, or a sewer. It is usually short and elevated and descends into the drainage point. The drain hose is a vital part of a washing machine, and a washer is not complete without the drain hose functioning as a water outlet.

The drain hose is always at the back of a washing machine, and it is always accompanied by two other pipes at the back, the hot and cold water supply pipes, bringing in hot and cold water, respectively.

How Far Long Can You Extend The Washer Drain Hose?

When you may need to extend the length of a washing machine drain hose, or a remodeling action causes you to move the washer to a farther position from the drain. You do not have to upset the plumbing system. You can extend the washer drain hose for up to ninety-six inches long.

Also, you can attach it to your drain hose with a hose thread connector of ¾ inch. Extending the drain hose is not difficult because you can easily use a drain hose extension that clamps into the existing hose. We do not recommend extending a hose; instead, you can bring the standpipe or drainage system close to the washer. Extension of pipes can cause a trap, which will cause a foul odor.

Also, most washer pump motors are designed to pump to the specification of the pipe and not more than that. While extending the hose, ensure the washer is off and keep a bucket to catch water remaining inside the hose.

Conclusion

Proper installation of a washing machine’s drain hose will help the washer to operate at its best capacity. It is likely to give any draining issues or loose pumping power. It pays to do things the right way, so we have taken the time to explain all about drain hoses in this article.

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