Washing Machine Drain Pan

Anytime a household appliance acts up, its a problem. But when a household appliance routinely manages gallons of water all in motion at the same time, if that water gets away from the flow control mechanisms, that is more than a problem. That is the beginning of a disaster. Your washing machine is just that kind of machine. When you start a large load, many gallons of water are pulled into that washing machine to agitate and spin out of the drum in the space of just a few minutes to clean your clothes.

That is all well and good as long as the drainage systems for your washing machine work as they are supposed to. But when those protections fail, you can see a lot of water coming out of the laundry room on the floor and into the house. So it is a good idea to make sure the hoses, connectors and the drain pan are all in good working condition with an annual inspection so you know those units are ready to handle the many gallons of water you expect them to handle day in and day out.

Not all washing machines have a drain pan but all of them have a drainage system of some sort. If the drainage pan empties to a drainage hole in the floor, it might be your sole method for getting that dirty water out of your washing machine and down the drain. In some cases, there is no drain pan so you are depending entirely on that drainage hose to pull that water out of the washing machine and out a pipe usually in the wall to empty out to your septic system. Whichever system prevails in your home, keeping all of those water drainage systems in good working order is a must.

Before you have your washing machine maintenance people come to validate that the hoses or the drain pan are all fit to handle this big task, you should consider whether your drainage to the septic system is in good working order. The pipe either under the drain pan or in the wall behind your washing machine can easily get clogged up which will cause the water being drained to back up into the washer and eventually onto the floor. The refuse from the washing process can contain lint, pieces of trash from shirt or pants pockets and other items can clog any drain. So the first step to make sure your washing machine drainage is in perfect condition is to run some tests to make sure those pipes are clear of build up and ready to continue doing their job each day.

A good service checkup of your washing machine hoses and drainage systems is a good step to schedule each year just as you have your car and your air conditioner checked up. By being a responsible washing machine owner, you make sure the hoses and pan are all in tiptop shape to keep doing a good job for another year. That one step not only gives you peace of mind but assurance that you will not face a washing machine drainage emergency any time soon.