[NatalieA]

Hi- I bought this washer from a used appliance store today. I want to divert it out of my sump to pump up the wall about 5 feet to outside drywell. ( in existing setup, sometimes my sump pump float "sticks" ( i think from the force of all the wash water) and I am mopping water off the floor, and now I am refinishing basement so..) and I don't want to go into septic either.

Currently this is how the old washer has been set up since I moved here: The hose goes into drainpipe which then goes into a 1 1/2 in pvc pipe that runs at downhillish angle about 30 ft. around perimeter of basement then empties into sump that gets pumped outside to drywell.

With this new machine, I wanted to omit the sump and have it pump out to outside, but this would mean traveling along that 30 ft or so then going up pvc pipe about 68 in height, to outside.

Is it possible for this washing machine to do this, i.e, pump "up" ? It says something in installation instr. about maximum standpipe height being 96" but I don't know if this is same thing??

If it is possible, do I need to put a check valve somewhere in the pipe that goes up to outside?
thanks,
NatalieA

[denman]

Frigidaire does say it will pump 96 inches so the height should not be a problem. The trick is going to be getting a water tight seal at the pvc pipe to washer drain hose (that will take the pressure).
My calculations figure you will get about half a gallon or so of water draining back into the washer once the drain pump shuts off.
I don't think adding a check valve will do much, the pump would just have to work harder to overcome the back water pressure on this valve.
Also I think it would be a little harder on your pump.

Have never done this so it is all hypothetical.
Perhaps someone else has experience with this type of setup.

[NatalieA]

Ok- what about if I put the drain pipe up higher say about 72 in then the other side that has to pump to outside which is now at 58 onch height...would that possibly work?

[denman]

Could work.

The only problem I can think of is that there will be some delay before the weight of the water in your 72 inch stand pipe overcomes the inertia of the water in the drain system. This may cause it to overflow from the stand pipe.

I would try 82 inches or more, if that works you can always cut it down till you get to a point of minimum height without any overflow. A larger diameter standpipe would also help, I think.

A 1.5 inch diameter pipe holds 0.1 gals of water per foot approx.
A 3 inch diameter pipe holds 0.35 gals of water per foot approx.

[NatalieA]

hi- thanks for your help but I think I have to give up! The water kept backing up out of the standpipe..I guess I could try to somwhow get a tight seal there but the installation manual says to leave an air gap to prevent siphoning action (?) so I don't know if you are supposed to put a tight seal there or if it would ruin the machine.