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Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2170
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 9:59 am: | 
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I've been familiar with dryer lint, but what is it with washer lint? I never had it before living in this house. The washer has a drain hose going into the slop sink. The sink clogs with lint from the washer, and the sink fills up. I have to stick my arm into freezing water and clear out the lint several times in order to clear one sinkful of water. Today I pulled out fistfuls of soaking lint from the sink's sides.
At one point, my wife tied the end of a stocking to the end of the hose, but that had to be cleared, too, and it eventually fell off.
What's the normal way of catching and dispensing with this lint? There must be a better way.
Thank you.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 166
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 10:43 am: |
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There are metal or plastic mesh sock-like filters that go over the end of the hose. You can get them in any hardware store, and even in some supermarkets. They do a great job of trapping the lint, but you still have to change them before they get so full that they fall off. I don't know how you've escaped lint up to now--it's always been there. Don't let it go down your sink. You could end up with a backed-up sewer line and a major plumbing bill. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2172
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 10:45 am: |
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I lived in apartment before this, and it had its own washer and dryer. I had to remove the dryer lint but never the washer lint. I don't even know where the washer drained!
But thanks, lizziecat. I'll get the gadgets you mention.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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jem
Citizen
Username: Jem
Post Number: 905
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 12:06 pm: |
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I was never aware of washer lint either until we bought a house with a washer hose that drains into a slop sink. Our plumber told us to be sure to get a filter - it is absolutely amazing to see how much lint gathers in it. We're on our third filter since November. They attach with a sort of plastic tie, and you just cut the tie and throw out the filter when it gets gunked up enough that the water starts to spray out randomly (often onto the wall and floor if you wait too long!). They're inexpensive - probably easiest to find at Bunchers or some other small hardware store, but Home Depot has them too - you just have to look really hard for them there, or at least, I did. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3473
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 12:17 pm: |
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You never saw it before because you never used the slop sink before. The sink allows lint to trap in the drain then plug the sink.
A direct connect drain to the sewer provides no restrictions and the lint flushes away, into the sewer with the waste water.
If you want to solve the problem, install a direct connection drain pipe with 'P' trap and use your slop sink for other things.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.
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Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2177
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 12:19 pm: |
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George, whats 'P' trap? And why won't the lint clog the sewer line as lizziecat says?
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
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barbara wilhelm
Citizen
Username: Bartist
Post Number: 152
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 2:16 pm: |
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Tom,
I cut a portion of a metal screening (left over from re-screening my widows) and use it to line the bottom and the sides of the sink. Catches everything.
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Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2491
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 3:03 pm: |
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We have the kind of connection George recommends and we have never had a washer lint problem. in the more than 20 years we have been in the house. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3475
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 3:37 pm: |
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A 'P' trap, also called a 'U' trap is the 'U' shaped thing under any sink you have.
It holds a slug of water in the pipe and thus keeps sewer gasses from entering your home.
The washer lint will not clog the sewer because it is much smaller than the waste you flush from your toliet. The sewer is sized to carry waste away. Only a sewer pipe with an existing problem will clog with washer lint.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.
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DLB
Citizen
Username: Messyartist
Post Number: 10
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2004 - 9:49 pm: |
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I am actually having a problem with my dryer lint. The vent leads out to my deck and it get cover in lint! It gets particularly messy when it rains. The rain doesn't wash it away, it just makes a sticky mess on my deck. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2497
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 7:14 am: |
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Tom, what a pain... I know what you’re going through buddy...
Listen, if you don't want to install a P-Trap, run your dirty clothes through your dryer once or twice before you wash them to remove any lint. I've also had good luck removing the lint with my tank vacuum; only this works best if you use a steamer to soften the material first. |
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 979
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 10:21 am: |
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If you tumble dry your dirty clothes, you risk setting stains in permanently.
We have a "nonstandard" (larger than normal) size pipe going into our slop sink and I just fasten one of those mesh bags around it to "screen" the lint. When it gets full or disgusting (once or twice a year) I just discard it and put a new one on. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 2499
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 1:17 pm: |
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Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2505
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 4:34 pm: |
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Checking and cleaning your lint filter regularly should help with the lint accumulating on the deck problem. You should also clear the lint from the vent line regulrly. Failure to do both these things could cause the lint accumulating in your dryer to catch fire.
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Maplemom
Citizen
Username: Maplemom
Post Number: 102
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 7:42 pm: |
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However mundane this thread may seem, it really helped me out. I moved from new construction to here and had never seen a washer drain into ANYTHING. It was just piped away. My washer drained into our old sink and the filter constantly clogged (often causing a sprinkler effect on my floor).
We recently installed a new slop sink, and after consulting with George via privatline, it looks like I don't need those crazy external filters, my new P-trap will be able to handle the yuk. Yay!
Thanks for all the helpful advice. |
mwsilva
Citizen
Username: Mwsilva
Post Number: 389
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 26, 2004 - 8:21 pm: |
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Maplemom,
Funny that you posted your comment.
We had a simular problem and George, jgberkeley@aol.com solved it for us. Now our lint just flushes away.
Give him a ring. |
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