Let me ask the question first--before I describe the sad saga:
Is it safe to continue using my clothes washer with the siphon break bypassed?
Now for the details: I'm having new LVT tile installed in my laundry room and adjacent room. I happened to notice that the crew pulled the washer out of its cubbyhole without disconnecting the lines. I thought that odd, but I didn't say anything. Later, after I thought they were about finished, I looked in to check on the progress, and the new floor was covered in water. The guys said the washing machine broke. He handed me the broken part, which I later found was the siphon break and the broken elbow. Apparently, the elbow broke when they pulled the machine out, and it then poured water on the floor when they plugged it back in. After I figured out what the part was, they told me they had fixed it. That seemed strange, since I was still holding the siphon break and broken elbow in my hand. Apparently, they just bypassed the siphon break. I wonder if they would have ever mentioned it if I had not happened to walk in before he had a chance to "fix" it. It will cost me a hundred bucks or so to get it fixed, but back to my original question: Is it safe to continue using my clothes washer with the siphon break bypassed? My drain hose is a rubber U-shaped hose that fits into the drain in the wall, and the sewer line and septic tank are below the washer. It seems to me like it would be unlikely for sewer water to back up into the tub, but then I'm no plumber.
My plumber is closed for the day, and my wife wants to wash the bedspread where the dog yacked last night, so I thought I would see if any experts here might volunteer some advice. And BTW: what is that little thing where the arrow is? It looks and feels a lot like a candle wick.
Thanks,
Charlie
Is it safe to continue using my clothes washer with the siphon break bypassed?
Now for the details: I'm having new LVT tile installed in my laundry room and adjacent room. I happened to notice that the crew pulled the washer out of its cubbyhole without disconnecting the lines. I thought that odd, but I didn't say anything. Later, after I thought they were about finished, I looked in to check on the progress, and the new floor was covered in water. The guys said the washing machine broke. He handed me the broken part, which I later found was the siphon break and the broken elbow. Apparently, the elbow broke when they pulled the machine out, and it then poured water on the floor when they plugged it back in. After I figured out what the part was, they told me they had fixed it. That seemed strange, since I was still holding the siphon break and broken elbow in my hand. Apparently, they just bypassed the siphon break. I wonder if they would have ever mentioned it if I had not happened to walk in before he had a chance to "fix" it. It will cost me a hundred bucks or so to get it fixed, but back to my original question: Is it safe to continue using my clothes washer with the siphon break bypassed? My drain hose is a rubber U-shaped hose that fits into the drain in the wall, and the sewer line and septic tank are below the washer. It seems to me like it would be unlikely for sewer water to back up into the tub, but then I'm no plumber.
My plumber is closed for the day, and my wife wants to wash the bedspread where the dog yacked last night, so I thought I would see if any experts here might volunteer some advice. And BTW: what is that little thing where the arrow is? It looks and feels a lot like a candle wick.
Thanks,
Charlie