Why Is Water Coming Out of Laundry Room Drain?

Identification

• Waterproofing your laundry room can help you avoid damage to other rooms in your home if your washing machine floods or a water leak occurs. Some homes have a curb across the threshold of the laundry room that keeps water from leaving the room. Floor drains are also installed to remove water quickly. Drain lines remove waste water from the washing machine and must be appropriately sized to avoid water leaks. When water is leaking out of laundry room drains, you must locate the source of the problem before water damages your home.

Causes

• Drain pipes that are too small are a common cause of water leaks inside laundry rooms. If these pipes are too small, the washing machine's discharge pump might be too forceful and cause water to leak from the drain. When floor drains have leaking water, clogs in the drain lines are the most likely cause.

Solution

• Install a drain pipe that is large enough to handle the amount of water volume created by your washing machine to avoid water leaks. Many homeowners fail to consider this when they buy a washing machine and leaks are often the result. If your floor drains are clogged, you can use drain cleaners with caution. If water continues to seep out of the drain, hire a plumber to repair it.

Considerations

• It is important to stop water leaks as soon as possible to avoid mold growth inside your home. Mold can begin to grow in 24 to 48 hours after water is present. If mold is visible, you must remove it to avoid adverse health effects and damage to your home. Mold growth can cause sensitive people to experience serious health problems such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, coughing and hives. Scrub mold away with a hard bristled brush and liquid dish detergent. Rinse the area and dry. If water leaking from your laundry room drain reaches the drywall on the walls or your baseboards it can damage the materials and require repair. Mold growth also damages the material it is growing on, making expensive repairs necessary.