This article may contain some affiliate links and if you make a purchase after clicking on any of teh links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
How high can a washing machine pump? That is a valid question that every homeowner who wishes to buy a washing machine will ask. You’ll want to determine the strength and quality of what you’re buying, no doubt.
If you review the documentation that showed up with the washer, it should include the main drain height. Normally, the full height is around 39″ (99 cm).
Newer washers always have a drain hose perpetually connected, which is constructed to make the drain structure foolproof. The supplied drain hose reveals actually how high the washer can release.
How to Increase Your Washing Machine Pump Capacity
Only one thing to do, lift the washer. This depends largely on the machine, and whether or not you’re utilizing a pedestal already, you may be equipped to lift the whole machine, to achieve what you want.
The supreme height though is not height above sea level, it’s the height above the underside of the washer. So if it’s possible to do so, lifting the machine a few inches would be the solution. If yours is a front-loading washer; and you’re not already utilizing a pedestal, you may be eligible to buy or erect a pedestal to lift the machine.
Otherwise, you may have to contemplate erecting a raised floor to lift the whole area.
See Also: Where Should Washing Machine Be Kept?
How to Fix Your Washing Machine Pump
Most washing machine makers will catalog the lowest apex of the “top” of the StandPipe. Normally 30″ from the floor.
The International Plumbing Code for the real 2″ Stand Pipe is 18″ lowest and 48″ highest from the trap. As regards the “sealed trap”, the piping being put up together, “is” against code.
The Stand Pipe itself is not accountable to the “Air Gap” code, but it is to the “Air Break” policy. Suggesting that the washing machine release hose can be fixed “into” the Stand Pipe, no more than 5″- which jumps into the Indirect Waste category of the plumbing code.
The washing machine releases maximum height is 96″ for top and front-loading machines. Yet, putting in the extensive height above the washing machine could result in that extended height of water dripping back into the washing machine.
This results in excess water settling in the machine, damp clothes, and a brief life span of the drainage pump in the appliance. One resort is to utilize a laundry pump whether it has a sink or not. A Stand Pipe can be launched into the laundry pump itself. Local codes authorize of course.
For the drain hose on your Top Load washer to operate appropriately, the drain must be at least 30″ up from the floor and smaller than 8 feet high.
And for the drain hose on your Front Load washer to operate suitably, the drain must be 24″ up from the floor and a little less than 8 feet high. GE and Hotpoint Top Load, Front Load, and Unitized washers have effective drain pumps that can pump water vertically as impressive as 8 feet above the floor.
Spacemaker or Space-Saving compact washers can pump up to the length of 5 feet.
The Flow Rate of a Washing Machine Pump
That largely depends on the elevation of the drain pipe.
The Top Load washer pump is capable of pumping water at a ratio of 15 gallons per minute. The Front Load washer pump can release water at a proportion of 10 gallons per minute.
For each 1 foot of extra drain pipe ridge, the flow rate will be lessened by roughly 1 gallon per minute.
The drain pipe should be at least 1-1/2″ I.D. (inside diameter) to guarantee adequate draining. The washer drain hose is a 1-1/4″ O.D. (outside diameter).
To be hopeful that no siphoning of water will happen, the drain plumbing must be at least 30″ high for Top Load washers.
Siphoning implies that the washer will cram and drain at the exact time. This occurs when the drain height is extremely low.
Siphoning can also happen if the drain hose is propelled too far down into the drain pipe.
For recent Top Load washers, the drain hose shouldn’t be more than 5″ down into the drain pipe. For Front Load washers, the drain hose should be less than 7″ down into the drain pipe.
Related Questions
Can a washing machine drain be too high?
Yes, and it’ll cause an overflow. And when it is too low, it’ll cause a backflow.
How far can I extend my washing machine drain hose?
Washing machine manuals generally stipulate the lowest height of 39” for the drain hose and a maximum altitude of 96” (8 feet).
How high should a washing machine standpipe be?
Laundry standpipes must be adequately high to expand past the washing machine’s overflow line—typically 30-36” in height, or 18”-30” above the trap.
How long can washing machine water hoses be?
About 3 feet to 12 feet
Can you connect two washing machine hoses?
Yes, but it will require a coupler.
Conclusion: How High Can a Washing Machine Pump?
If the duct for your Top Load washer is not 30″ tall, contained in the installation packet with a recent Top Load washer is a drain hose clip, at times called an anti-siphon clip that binds to the hose and the rear of the washer to hoist the drain hose up higher.
This is not required for a Front Load washer because of the structure of the unit. How high can a washing machine pump? Check your owner’s manual.