I feel like a right plonker and hoping for some help! I have a new Miele washing machine, it was plumbed into a standpipe but the standpipe was far too small (it's only around 12 cm long and is about halfway up washing machine), this is what the fitters told me. So I thought I would plumb it into a spigot below the sink with a jubilee clip and thought that would be straightforward, I bought the new sink trap with spigot from screwfix, atatched with jubilee clip and...it didn't seem to work at all, when I looked at it - the spigot appears to be below the trap exit if that makes sense - is that why it didn't work? It came like that from screwfix so maybe that's why. And then I tried to go back to how it was but it doesn't seem to drain as well as before - looking at the end of the waste pipe just inside there is a hard black bit of plastic which when you press down seems to increase the waste flow. Is this supposed to be there and have I damaged anything? Appreciate this probably doesn't make much sense but any help appreciated. All the best
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Is your waste hose from washing machine running at high level under worktop before connecting to spigot on trap? Thats the prefered method of connection... As for the black rubber piece. That looks lile it ahouldnt belong there?
Hi, thanks for your help, the whole thing is driving me mad! 🙂 I should have just got a professional in but I thought I could do it. Yep the waste line goes along the top of the machine and then down slightly into the trap in the sink next door to it. I'm just trying to decide whether the problem was the trap (see attached photo, hopefully you can see that the spigot is lower than the trap exit - would this mean water couldn't flow through?). I've taken the trap back off now which is why it isn't attached to anything. Just trying to decide if that black bit just inside the waste hose should be there or not? I tried ringing Miele but no technicians in on a Saturday. It definetely changes the flow when you press it. Don't want to mess with it if it should be there!
Never personally fitted a miele washing machine. Have you removed transit bars? Take it the machine spins and works just doesnt drain??
That trap is cheap but adequate. Some manufacturers have their spigots lower than the outlet and some dont. Dont understand what that black washer is doing in the waste house unless its a non return valve. Have you tried removing it?
That trap is cheap but adequate. Some manufacturers have their spigots lower than the outlet and some dont. Dont understand what that black washer is doing in the waste house unless its a non return valve. Have you tried removing it?
The trap will do the job besides it is easy to change at a later date should you wish to.
The spigot the hose fits on to isn`t blanked off is it?
How do you know the water flows better when you press it, I`m lost on that bit.
Thanks for all your help.
Yep the machine spins, works etc and drains when I just leave the drain hose in the sink basin, it just wouldn't drain when I fitted it to the spigot. That's when I undid all the work and refitted the original, non spigot trap and started noticing the black thing in the hose. You're right to check the spigot wasn't blanked off - it wasn't. I have a slight fear that perhaps what's in the hose was originally in the spigot but I didn't see anything when I did it (I am sleep deprived mind with kids!). Surely anything stuck in there that shouldn't be would come out under the water pressure? I could try pliers but I don't want to remove something that should be there - hence calling Miele but they couldn't really help, perhaps I'll have more luck Monday.
When I say pressing the black thing changes the water flow, right now I've given up on fitting the spigot and simply have the drain hose draining into the sink basin so I can drain the washing machine and play with the weird black valve thing
Yep the machine spins, works etc and drains when I just leave the drain hose in the sink basin, it just wouldn't drain when I fitted it to the spigot. That's when I undid all the work and refitted the original, non spigot trap and started noticing the black thing in the hose. You're right to check the spigot wasn't blanked off - it wasn't. I have a slight fear that perhaps what's in the hose was originally in the spigot but I didn't see anything when I did it (I am sleep deprived mind with kids!). Surely anything stuck in there that shouldn't be would come out under the water pressure? I could try pliers but I don't want to remove something that should be there - hence calling Miele but they couldn't really help, perhaps I'll have more luck Monday.
When I say pressing the black thing changes the water flow, right now I've given up on fitting the spigot and simply have the drain hose draining into the sink basin so I can drain the washing machine and play with the weird black valve thing
It isn`t from the trap. Again tell us what you`re pressing and how do you know for certain it helps water escape faster.
So when the waste hose is literally just placed in the sink basin the water flow out of the drain hose is pretty slow, when I put my finger up into the drain hose there is a black plastic piece which when you press it, the flow of water increases markedly
Just some images to show you why I started all this in the first place - is that a dodgy setup with such a small standpipe and also it goes beyond the trap so open to the sewers? It does smell a bit in the room occasionally. Any ways that's just an aside so you know why I wanted to try and make it a bit better than the previous owners.
Now I wish I'd never started messing! I really appreciate you two taking the time to help though
Yeah white cap. Did you take a cap off the spigot originally?? If not its more than likely stuck in the hose where that black washer is...although ive never seen a spigot cap with a washer init before. As for the original standpipe.. bet it stinks in there
..best to cap off with solvent weld 40mm coupling and 40mm inspection eye.
..best to cap off with solvent weld 40mm coupling and 40mm inspection eye.
Sounds like a one way valve, possibly inserted into the hose the wrong way, check the manual under installation.
I don't remember a cap on the spigot, i did saw the smaller bit off. Thanks for the tips on the standpipe, at least my reasons for starting this were valid!!
What I could really do with is somebody from Miele taking a look at one of their pipes and letting me know if there is some sort of valve at the end, but might have to wait till monday for that
Why would somebody have done such a pants installation to start with in regards to the standpipe?! Drives me bonkers how people don't just do a job properly. I've already had to replace the wiring to he tumble dryer so I guess they just did things a bit dodgy!
I think the black item in the end of the Hose is a non return valve and it's being jammed in by the spigot on the trap.
Either don't push the hose on as far as you have been doing before tightening the clip or measure how far up the hose the vavle is and cut the waste spigot down to that length minus about 10mm. (so there's a gap between the end of the spigot and the valve)
Either don't push the hose on as far as you have been doing before tightening the clip or measure how far up the hose the vavle is and cut the waste spigot down to that length minus about 10mm. (so there's a gap between the end of the spigot and the valve)
Thought that earlier but then it shouldn`t be able to be pushed down the hose so scrapped that idea.
UNLESS, the valve flap has been forced back passed the seat when the OP first fitted it to the spigot, If so a very small screwdriver and try and get the valve flap back out so it opens outwards again 😱
OP: You were right to meddle as your original standpipe is wrong in many ways. By all means cap it off.
When the Miele manual refers to a non-return valve, does it mean on the fresh water side, or on the drain? I'd be surprised if the waste hose were designed to contain any kind of valve, to be honest.
When the Miele manual refers to a non-return valve, does it mean on the fresh water side, or on the drain? I'd be surprised if the waste hose were designed to contain any kind of valve, to be honest.
Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it. And nice to know it wasn't acceptable as it was, as I've been wishing I hadn't started, so at least it's been worth doing. I've read the manual a few times and to me it's just not super clear, it would be great to get Mieles opinion or somebody who's seen a similar hose. But it's reassuring to hear that such a valve is unnecessary from what I've read. I'll have another mess with some pliers on said bit of plastic - from what I can see it's actually a fairly big bit of black plastic about an inch or so in length. It hardly moves. Once I get a bit of time I'll try putting the spigot trap back in and having a play to see if I can get it to work. All your advice really helpful thanks very much
Aaarrrgghhh it's driving me mad. I have the waste pipe just free in the sink, so no issues with spigots etc it's simply a waste pipe in a sink basin. Drains super slow, but if I press the black thing in (it moves around 3mm) I get full, super fast flow, let go and back to a trickle. The black bit is definitely a solid bit of plastic, maybe an inch or so with a tiny gap round the side. I've even tried to pull it out wth pliers but no joy. I think time to admit defeat and see if Miele can come up with anything on Monday or even send someone out as I can't see what I've done to make it do this. Thanks for all your help will sleep on it
So just an update!
Problem solved!
And it was, as I'm sure you've all already guessed - completely self inflicted!
See attached photo for what was inside the waste pipe, over to you guys but I guess this is a blanking cap which would have already been in the spigot, and must have been transferred to the waste pipe at some point when I put it on. I don't remember it but it must have been there when I sawed the spigot down to size. What a muppet I am. At least, with your help, I figured it out before the Miele engineer arrives on Friday as I'm guessing they would not have been amused....
Apologies for taking so much of your time with such a trivial thing, it did cause a load of stress this end with a brand new washing machine so I'm really grateful for your help.
Problem solved!
And it was, as I'm sure you've all already guessed - completely self inflicted!
See attached photo for what was inside the waste pipe, over to you guys but I guess this is a blanking cap which would have already been in the spigot, and must have been transferred to the waste pipe at some point when I put it on. I don't remember it but it must have been there when I sawed the spigot down to size. What a muppet I am. At least, with your help, I figured it out before the Miele engineer arrives on Friday as I'm guessing they would not have been amused....
Apologies for taking so much of your time with such a trivial thing, it did cause a load of stress this end with a brand new washing machine so I'm really grateful for your help.
If I could just trouble you all for one final bit of advice regarding capping off the extremely stinky standpipe (the reason I started all this malarkey in the first place). Thanks for the tip on the quick fix - a carrier bag over the top. Presumably it needs to be airtight so could I cling film over as well as a temp fix?
And then when I permanently cap it - if you were doing it would you do it right at the end of the standpipe or would you do it at the compression fitting under the sink - see 2 photos attached. I'm a bit at a loss of which bit to buy
Gaffer tape will last for years, but yes, clinglfilm and a rubber band, whatever really. It just needs to be airtight to stop drain smells coming out. Not really worth capping 'properly' as you may as well take the whole dodgy branch and flexible section out at that rate.
Ideally take the tee (arrowed) out and replace with a straight section.
Easier - cut on my scribbly line, making sure you leave enough to get the cap on this horizontal run and use your cap here. You can't cap at the compression fitting under the sink as this is the outlet - you'd be capping off your sink.
Easier - cut on my scribbly line, making sure you leave enough to get the cap on this horizontal run and use your cap here. You can't cap at the compression fitting under the sink as this is the outlet - you'd be capping off your sink.
Thanks for the advice - is there a diagram with your scribbly line on it - I can't see it? When I said compression fitting under the sink I wasn't talking about the one directly under the sink but the one in this photo where the weird flexible pipe attaches - top right of photo.
Capped! That whole dodgy stretch should probably just come out but no time right now
Many thanks again
Many thanks again
There should have been a picture. I was going to suggest cutting that branch back to before the flexi ie under the sink slightly more left of where the 'weird flexible pipe attaches' and capping there, but quite honestly what you've done is fine.
Yeh you can cut the wastepipe before the tee piece under your sink then use a compression 40mm coupling and use abit of the old pipe you cut out to make up the distance from coupling to trsp.
Your suggestion is better still, Sammathias, if the OP doesn't mind buying a coupling. But then it will look too professional and will be open to criticism 😉
Plumbing problems can be really annoying. So for a stress-free way of dealing with such issues, I would highly recommend that you hire an expert
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Really? The OP was just unlucky, if they follow your advice then the forum may as well close down now.
Absolutely - problem all solved thanks to some great help on here, for which I’m very grateful, I’m all for calling in the professionals when needed, but it’s nice to try stuff for yourself when you can, it’s rewarding.
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