Washing Machine Drainage coming up through Hot Water Heater Drainage????

My basement flooded the other day. I quickly came to realize that when the washing machine drained it came up through the black pipe that was coming out of the ground under the hot water heater. This is not attached to the hot water heater but I guess its there acting as a drain.

The washing machine and hot water drainage pipe are no more than 10 feet away from each other. My thinking is that the drainage for the washer got clogged and is coming up through the drain of the hot water heater as they are attached. It only happens when the water is on spin cycle draining the water.

How would I go about freeing this clog up? Run a drain snake through there?

Any other ideas or suggestions??? Any would be much appreciated.

 

Yes, you have a partial drain clog downstream of where the floor drain at the HWH and the clothes washer meet. Because clotheswashers push a lot of soapy water at one time when they discharge this is a common problem. If you can get a snake downstream from either the floor drain or the laundry standpipe that is where I would start. There is also a chance that this is an issue with your building sewer or septic tank but if the toilets can be flushed repeatedly without the floor drain overflowing then it sounds like just a clog in the branch serving the laundry/floor drain.

 

Okay great, Thank you.

Where the washer drain pipe meets the floor there is a screw on cover with a male ended square. I believe from looking at it it unscrews off. What tool is needed to remove this?

 

What size snake should I buy? Ie: 10 ft or 25 ft? Will I need to go down far?

 

I like 3/8" diameter cables for this Size drain. I'd try to rent one with at least 50'.

If the square on the cleanout cap is below the floor you are probably going tot he hardware store or you will need to get creative to rinse something sturdy and snug enough to fit over it so a wrench can be applied above ground.