What Is the Proper Depth of a Washing Machine Drain Line?

Depth

• When inserting the drain hose into a drainpipe in your home, you must be careful not to insert the hose too deep. You should not insert the hose more than approximately 8 to 12 inches into the drainpipe. Inserting the hose too deep may prohibit airflow through the connection. If air cannot flow through the connection, water may back up into the appliance and not drain out.

Height

• The washing machine drain line should not extend more than 96 inches above the bottom of the washer. When the washer spins, it pushes out the water into the drain hose. In most instances, your washer will not provide enough force to the water to be able to push it up to such a height. Because the water is unable to escape the drain hose, it runs back into the appliance, and the clothes in your washer remain soaking wet.

Extension Kit

• You can purchase an extension kit for your drain hose if the hose is not long enough to reach the drainpipe. If you take this approach, you should not extend the drain hose more than 72 inches. The farther water needs to travel through a hose, the less the water pressure can fully expel the water from inside. When water does not drain, it falls back into the washer, preventing the machine from reaching the optimum spin cycle speeds.

Elbow Bracket

• Most washers come with an elbow bracket that attaches to the end of the drain hose. The elbow bracket allows you to lightly hang the drain hose on the drainpipe without needing to cram it inside. The elbow bracket should be within 4 inches of the end of the drain hose. If it is farther than this, microorganisms or mold could spread into the interior of the dishwasher.