Are You Required to Have a Washing Machine Drain Tray?

Requirements

• The International Plumbing Code mandates that professional installers use a 2-inch standpipe and trap for washing machine drains; the trap must be removable for cleaning or have a removable plug. The code further stipulates that the top of the standpipe be a minimum of 2 feet above the trap and must also be above the top of the part of the machine that contains water when it is working, properly called the “flood level rim.” The drain must be vented. The code does not require the installation of a drain tray. Municipal codes may differ; it is imperative to check with your code enforcement office for confirmation before updating an installation or installing a new machine. Codes are far more stringent for laundry facilities located on second floors and above than for those on ground floors.

Lower-End Drain Trays

• The type of plastic drain tray sold by home improvement warehouses does not drain. These are typically the same size as large drip trays that catch and hold water from minor leaks and spills. Drain trays should be checked for water after every cycle that the machine runs.

Limitations

• The rims of drain trays are generally quite shallow -- 1 inch or 1-1/2 inches is the norm -- and do not, therefore, retain much water. A major leak will fill a tray in seconds, after which water will overflow onto the floor beneath the machine. Trays made from plastic often crack soon after installation. Being fairly slick, they also encourage the machine’s tendency to “walk” or shift around when heavy loads are in the spin cycle. Further, the lip makes leveling some washing machines more difficult.

High-End Drain Trays

• High-end, galvanized metal drain trays are available from plumbers’ supply stores. These trays have a drain facility -- usually a side-outlet nipple -- from which water that spills is diverted through a hose to a floor drain. This design will handle a catastrophic failure, such as a rotted hose rupture, with no inconvenience to the user beyond the cost of wasted water.