What To Do About A Clogged Laundry Room Drain: An Edmonton Homeowner’s Guide

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Your laundry room is one of the most important spaces in your home. They don't require much, as long as the washing machine is working properly, the dryers are drying peacefully, and there are plenty of detergent and dryer sheets available. One of the most vital components of your laundry room is the laundry drain. When you have a clogged laundry room drain, it can lead to a range of issues, from water overflows causing extensive water damage to even foul smells. If you have a slow-draining washing machine or an exceptionally clogged drain, our Edmonton plumbers are here to guide you on the simple steps you can take to tackle that clogged laundry room drain.

In this article, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton will take you through the variety of factors that contribute to clogged laundry room drains. From soap scum buildup and the buildup of lint to issues with your plumbing system, our professional plumbers will provide you with effective methods to dislodge the clog. If your own attempts don't succeed, you can always count on our licensed plumbers for professional assistance.

Warning Signs You Have a Clogged Laundry Room Drain

So, how can an Edmonton homeowner tell if they have a clogged laundry room drain? The first, most telling sign of a clogged floor drain is when water backs up into the washing machine or water pools on the floor. The second sign that your laundry room drain is clogged is a washing machine drain that is slow to drain or will not drain at all. Lastly, if you smell strange, foul odours coming from your washing machine are likely caused by bacteria and stagnant water. If you are experiencing any of these inconveniences, you likely have a clogged laundry drain.

Reasons the Drain in Your Laundry Room is Clogged

The most common cause of clogged laundry room drains is lint buildup, soap residue, and other bits of debris in the drain pipes or the drain hose. Over a period of time, these stubborn blockages prevent water from draining properly. This combination of soap scum and lint forms a unique challenge commonly causing clogged drains in laundry rooms across Edmonton.

Methods You Can Take to Tackle a Clogged Laundry Room Drain

When faced with a clogged laundry room drain, Edmonton homeowners will want to address this issue as quickly as possible. Neglecting these drainage issues can lead to damaged pipes and a wide range of future issues that could be costly to repair. Furthermore, neglecting to take the right steps to unclog floor drains will only add to an already major disruption to your daily routine, so take these proactive steps to address the stubborn clog in your laundry room floor drain:

  • Grab A Plunger: Just like you reach for this plumbing tool after Taco Tuesday, you can use a plunger to dislodge a blockage. Seal your plunger over the drain, and plunge vigorously to help break up the drain clog. This will work best if your laundry drains into a floor drain.
  • Hot Water: Pouring a cup of boiling hot water down the drain can help melt the soap scum that is causing the clogged laundry room drain. However, this isn't a guarantee. Hot water can be effective for relieving minor clogs but is not ideal for most types of drain pipes.
  • Baking Soda and White Vinegar: Your grandmother has probably told you that the solution to everything is a cup of vinegar. And for the most part, she's right. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is a natural and non-toxic combination that can be effective in breaking down clogs. You can start by pouring a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar down the drain. Let the mixture bubble before flushing with some hot water.
  • Drain Snakes: With a clog deep within your pipes, you can use a drain snake to dislodge and remove the clog in your floor drain. Simply insert the plumbing snake into the drain, and rotate it, applying gentle pressure to catch and pull out hair clogs, soap buildup, and other debris from the drain. You may want to use rubber gloves and a mask for this task, as it's messy and smelly.
  • Professional Drain Cleaning: Before you pour those chemical drain cleaners down your laundry room drain, stop. Immediately. Chemical drain cleaners are terrible for your drainage systems and often cause more harm than good. Instead, contact our plumbing company for a professional drain cleaning. Our HydroScrub® Jetting uses high-pressured jets to effectively remove complete blockages. With hydro jets, debris is washed away, preventing future clogs from forming again. We even combine our HydroScrub with Bacterial Drain Care treatments, which is an environmentally friendly solution that prevents soft deposits from developing in the pipes.

Avoid Clogged Laundry Room Drains in the Future

So, if you've successfully managed to remove the clog from your laundry drain, you may be wondering, how can I avoid this nightmare in the future? Well, Edmonton homeowner, here's how:

  • Empty Your Pockets Before Doing A Wash Cycle: Make sure your pockets are object-free before throwing them in for a wash.
  • Limit How Much Soap You're Using: With detergent, less is more. Usually we use far more than is needed.
  • Regular Maintenance: You can flush your drains with hot water every so often to prevent buildup, and invest in drain cleaning one to two times a year for proper drainage.

Is the Drain in Your Laundry Room Clogged? Count on the Expertise of Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton

If you are struggling with clogged laundry room drains, and our solutions didn't seem to dislodge the issue, reach out to Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Edmonton. Our local and licensed plumbers can conduct a plumbing inspection to find where the clog is and provide an effective solution for its repair.

Contact our exceptional customer service team today to learn more about clogged laundry room drains and what our team can do to help. Whether you’re in St. Albert, Empire Park, or Fort Saskatchewan, we’ll deal with your washer drains.