Connecting the washing machine drain to the bathtub siphon

Sometimes, apartment owners, when installing a washing machine in the bathroom, plan to connect the drain to the sewer through a bathtub siphon. This way you can organize water drainage without major alterations and additional investments. Let’s figure out how justified the use of a common “elbow” is, and what problems you may encounter when choosing this method of connecting the machine to house communications.

Connection problems

By connecting the drain hose of the washing machine to the bathtub siphon, problems cannot be avoided. The fact is that the manufacturer of any automatic machine recommends placing the end of the drainage hose at a distance of 50-80 cm from the floor level. This is necessary so that water does not “run away” from the system by gravity when the pump is not working.

It will be impossible to raise the drain hose to a distance of 50 cm from the floor if there is not enough space under the bathtub; this is the main problem with this connection method.

If you really want to organize a drain by connecting to a common siphon, there will, of course, be a solution. You can purchase a special tee, “build” an additional sewer section (letter “G”) that will come out from under the bathtub, and connect a drain hose to this outlet. Then you can follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

If you ignore the instructions, you should expect unpleasant surprises. We are talking about the siphon effect. Firstly, sewage can be thrown into the washing machine and nasty odors can penetrate. Secondly, another situation is possible when clean water from the machine will flow by gravity into the pipe.

Installing a check valve can help; it will protect equipment from both the penetration of unpleasant sewer odors and water leakage from the washing machine. This device must be installed in the pipe socket if the connection point of the drain hose is below the level specified in the technical data sheet of the automatic machine.

From all that has been said above, it becomes clear that it is best to connect the washing machine to a separate drain fitting installed at a sufficient height. If your plans do not include spoiling the interior of the room with an additional plastic “elbow”, due to which it will not be possible to move the washing machine close to the wall, pay attention to built-in siphons. They are compact, invisible after installation, and perform their functions perfectly.

Built-in siphon

Now it is clear why it is undesirable to connect the drain hose of an automatic washing machine to the “elbow” of the bathtub. If possible, it is better to connect the hose to a separate outlet. Today, more and more often, users are resorting to the use of wall siphons. Of course, in this case you will have to put in more effort when organizing the drain, but the result will be worth it.

The body of the built-in siphon is completely mounted into the wall, and after installation only the compact coupling or fitting of the product will be visible.

Internal fittings can be “walled up” with tiles. However, in this case, if the “elbow” becomes clogged, it will be very difficult to gain access to it - you will have to break the tile. Therefore, it is recommended to pay attention to built-in siphons with a decorative panel. If necessary, the plastic or chrome cover can be removed and the structure can be easily cleaned.

Internal siphons are suitable for connecting washing machines built into furniture; they are placed under the sink unit, and the user has free access to the product. The design can also be used to connect a dishwasher.

The main disadvantage of built-in siphons is the complexity of installation. To install drain fittings, you will have to “extend” the wall 50-60 cm from the floor level, and this is what scares potential buyers the most. Drilling a large hole in concrete is a very noisy and dirty job. But it is in a special recess that the structure is placed. This solution makes it possible to move the automatic machine close to the wall, which is important for many owners.

The siphon is an important connecting element between the washing machine and the drainage system, performing the function of a water seal. To ensure uninterrupted operation of the machine, it is better to immediately take a responsible approach to organizing the drainage. There are a huge number of different drain fittings for washing machines on the market. Therefore, you should not take risks by throwing the hose over the edge of the bathtub or connecting it to a common “elbow” at an insufficient distance from the floor. Connect the drain to a separate outlet point, following the equipment manufacturer's recommendations.

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