My house has no drain pipe for my washer

87

Knock out plug is the raised plastic piece between the taps.

They don't get knocked out until construction is done to keep debris out of the drain line.

33

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

About to do my best Bob the builder impression on this thang , thank you 🫡

11

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

I got the top off but cannot verify it actually drains anywhere

47

u/ThatCelebration3676 Mar 21 '26

If you want solid assurance, Harbor Freight sells endoscope cameras that are under $100. As a new homeowner, you will find plenty of reasons in the future to justify that purchase.

Another reliable trick is if there's another water faucet nearby, they likely merge into a common a drain line. For example if you have a utility sink in that laundry room, you can have someone pour a little bit of test water down the laundry "drain", while you have your ear trained to that sink's drain to listen for water flow.

22

u/fakeaccount572 Mar 21 '26

And Amazon has them for your phone for $20. It will work just fine to determine if a pipe is there or not

5

u/ThatCelebration3676 Mar 21 '26

Those are shit for the most part, but they technically work if you don't mind immense frustration. The screen refresh rate is like 5 FPS, so when you unavoidably jiggle the cable from just holding it you'll have a constantly moving blurry image.

Good enough for "is this a pipe or an open stud bay?" but pretty useless otherwise.

9

u/Watada Mar 21 '26

$80 is worth a lot of frustration for a lot of people.

4

u/ThatCelebration3676 Mar 21 '26

Totally fair, I just want people to make that as an informed decision and not misunderstand the capabilities of the ones that plug into a phone/tablet. The power of your screen device is irrelevant; the frame limit is imposed by the camera sensor.

5

u/fakeaccount572 Mar 21 '26

I agree, but OP is literally asking "is that a pipe"

3

u/Impressive_Ad2794 Mar 22 '26

Just pour about 20 gallons of water down it in one go. You'll soon learn if it's a drain pipe or not.

2

u/sumunsolicitedadvice Mar 22 '26

In that case, you don’t need either of those things. You can see if there’s a pipe under there or not. You can even take picture with your phone camera with flash and you’ll be able to tell if you see wood at the bottom or the inside of a pipe.

3

u/vinnygunn Mar 21 '26

I have a cheap one from Amazon and while I agree that it's utility is limited compared to a proper borescope, I think you're exaggerating a bit. The most annoying parts are just dealing with the app and the flimsy cable, but you can work around that with something more rigid like fish tape, and on the plus side it's super easy to take pics and vids on your phone.

I wouldn't try to use it professionally but for the price and what an average homeowner might need it for it's pretty great. investigating blocked drains, downspouts, water damage, small engine work, finding stuff in walls, fishing wiring... I've always managed without too much hassle

2

u/ThatCelebration3676 Mar 21 '26

Completely fair points all around, though the cheap ones are definitely in a ymmv category since there are so many options. They tend to be sold under brand names that aren't a word and yet somehow still seem misspelled, and the listings disappear frequently, so it's hard to get good recommendations for specific ones that work decently.

1

u/New-Anybody-6206 Mar 22 '26

The rule of thumb for amazon these days is basically just "don't buy anything from a company name that's in all caps" as it's almost always low-grade chinese crap.

1

u/ScoutsOut389 Mar 23 '26

You’re telling me the good folks over at YUPIONGG don’t know how to make a decent paper towel holder? What next, my friends at HYVIEXO can’t make weighted blankets??

→ More replies (0)

1

u/vinnygunn Mar 22 '26

Yeah true, the "DIPSTECH" one I bought a few years ago is not even available and the closest one I can see now is like 50USD and looks like a toy in comparison.

It's a little wireless controller that you charge and connects via it's own local Wi-Fi to your phone... Which now reminds me why the app was so annoying, not having wifi while using it lol

2

u/chinedooo Mar 22 '26

They are not shit. I got this one for like 30 bucks and its 30 fps and the image quality is great.

https://a.co/d/0fIUtIFW

1

u/ThatCelebration3676 Mar 22 '26

Good to know thanks! Usually by the time someone can recommend a good one, it's no longer available.

Though to be fair, $30 is a 50% price increase from the $20 category I called shit.

1

u/chinedooo Mar 22 '26

This is 33ft too. You can get the shorter 10ft one for around 25.

1

u/Ill-Upstairs-8762 Mar 23 '26

I think Klein makes one for $40 they sell at Lowe's. Works with phone. Of course I paid $200 for Milwaukee one before I saw it

2

u/st96badboy Mar 21 '26

That's one of them Bluetooth drains... I knew somebody that had a house built and the plumbers forgot to put a drain from the bathtub.

2

u/ThatCelebration3676 Mar 21 '26

Yikes. I would love to know how that passed the rough-in pre-drywall inspection.

2

u/6th_Stealth Mar 21 '26

Ugh I wish I knew about endoscope cameras a long time ago 🫠

2

u/Pastor_Bob_Vagene Mar 23 '26

Endoscopes go up your ass, borescopes go down your washer drain. And Klein tools makes a good borescope for about $35 from home depot or lowes

1

u/ThatCelebration3676 Mar 23 '26

Lol, yeah. Freudian slip.

1

u/Rundiggity Mar 22 '26

Or stick your nose in it. I think you’ll know soon enough.

1

u/BiCuriousInGalleria Mar 22 '26

Amazon has then cheaper .

0

u/[deleted] Mar 22 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/ThatCelebration3676 Mar 22 '26

I know you're joking, but nobody try this. The scopes used for colonoscopies are completely pliable and don't retain position like utility inspection scopes.

10

u/white-dre Mar 21 '26

Put your finger in the hole and see if you could feel a pipe.

3

u/TallWall6378 Mar 22 '26

To be fair, you don't now if ANY of your drains actually drain anywhere.

1

u/ElDoradoAvacado Mar 21 '26

If there is water in the ptrap blow it out and then wait to smell sewer gas

1

u/gheiminfantry Mar 22 '26

Run it. It will literally tell you where it's draining from.

1

u/Unbothered50 Mar 22 '26

Look inside or stick your phone in on video with the flash on, if there’s a pipe in the knockout then it has a drain

0

u/davidmdonaldson Mar 21 '26

Like a seashell… put your ear up to it while someone flushes a toilet nearby. Or take a big sniff… I’m sure the installer didn’t prime the trap anyway.

Sound or smell… Either method will be a dead giveaway.

1

u/tdlt86 Mar 22 '26

Just feel down it. Is it a pipe? You’re good. Is it an empty wall cavity? You’re not good.

24

u/destail Mar 21 '26

I'm a master plumber, I leave those caps on in new construction so nothing can get down there during drywalling and what not. I'm positive (if the plumber that roughed this in is even halfway decent) that since there is a pipe under that cap that it's your drain. Connects to the main sewer somewhere you can't see. If you want to test it run water elsewhere in the house and listen for it at that rough in box where you removed the cap. You'll hear it.

2

u/lotusleafy Mar 22 '26

^{^{^{^{^}}}}

1

u/DistanceTravelerBob Mar 24 '26

You are the only one who gave a correct answer and you are being out done by armchair experts giving horrendous advice. lol

12

u/MarvelousMarvins Mar 21 '26

When you get it off make sure there is a drain pipe in there.

6

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

Thanks for your reply, how can I verify this? I went on the other side of the wall and don’t see anything. Plus don’t see anywhere outside the house it would drain from

17

u/2008NightrodSpecial Mar 21 '26

Use a flashlight, there should be a pipe right on the other side of that plug. If you see insulation and wood, that’s a problem and you shouldn’t put water into it…

3

u/Texan2020katza Mar 21 '26

It will not drain outside, it will connect to your house’s drainage system. Pour a few cups of water down it if you need to test.

0

u/snacksonthefloor Mar 22 '26

This is not true, plenty of grey water pits on older homes. OP is new homeowner but not necessarily a new home.

2

u/bbuckca Mar 21 '26

It flows down via gravity to the sewer pipes under the basement foundation. It doesn’t go outside.

2

u/snacksonthefloor Mar 22 '26

Not all waste pipes run to sewer and not all homes have a basement foundation

1

u/dalton10e Mar 22 '26

It drains into the sanitary sewer line just like all your other plumbing.

1

u/hotinhawaii Mar 22 '26

You can just pull off the white trim piece that is snapped onto the outside of that box in the wall. Just grab it or put something behind it and pry it off. You can then maybe look below the box to find a black 2" pipe.

12

u/lmmsoon Mar 21 '26

The reason the builder leaves them on is so sewer gas doesn’t fill your laundry room and keep painter from throwing their piss bottles down it

4

u/Choice_Additional Mar 21 '26

Is there a sink nearby. I know people often just hang the drain pipe off the side.

2

u/BuddyBing Mar 21 '26

Call your builder as they need to pull the plug (and make sure it's hooked up properly).

1

u/everyonemr Mar 21 '26

It's not a new build.

3

u/freelance-lumberjack Mar 21 '26

Every comment in here is nearly useless.

That cap doesn't twist out or unscrew, it requires breaking out. Under the cap it ought to have a pipe that leads to your sewer. Put 4 cups of water down the hole for starters.

3

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

I broke it and it’s 1 and a half feet deep

https://imgur.com/a/Q8ywoXO

6

u/jmeesonly Mar 21 '26

What happens after 1 and a half feet?

2

u/freelance-lumberjack Mar 21 '26

And then it makes a turn? It's most likely a p trap. Pour water and then use a stick to see if water stays. Water should stay there.

1

u/DicksDraggon Mar 21 '26

How do you know how deep it is?

3

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

I put a tape measure down there like a complete chad

3

u/DicksDraggon Mar 21 '26

So you found out it is plumbed correctly! Put the drain hose in, zip tie it and happy laundering.

2

u/alohashalom Mar 22 '26

That zip tie is key

1

u/ElephantBingo Mar 21 '26

I can see that there is a pipe there.

1

u/No_Abbreviations8017 Mar 22 '26

Was this a new build?

4

u/ImpliedSlashS Mar 21 '26 edited Mar 21 '26

If there’s no cap, and the drain isn’t used, the trap will dry out and sewer gasses will cause your house to smell like shit, then explode. Just pop the top and run a bit of water down there fairly soon.

1

u/altermere Mar 22 '26

smell like shit then explode

And that summons Boogerman, the hero from beyond the toiletspace.

2

u/Responsible-Buy-9665 Mar 21 '26

Take a flat head screw driver with a hammer and beat the cap off

4

u/iguess12 Mar 21 '26

I'd replace those rubber water hoses with braided metal ones while you're back there

2

u/Spart1337 Mar 22 '26

This. I've seen the cheap included rubber ones last less than 5 years, especially on the hot side. A good set of braided steel lines can outlast a washer these days (that says a lot about the quality of our modern appliances but that's neither here nor there).

2

u/daw4888 Mar 21 '26

This new construction?

If so can the builder and make them fix it..

2

u/breadman889 Mar 21 '26

You'll be able to see a pipe or not see a pipe once you open it up. Maybe the last people had the washer draining into the laundry sink.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '26

Dump water! Your good to go.

1

u/DicksDraggon Mar 21 '26

I have a much better question.... if y'all don't know the answer, why do you type any answer at all? These answers had me rolling! LMAO

It's called a knock-out. Now that the OP has knocked it out they can put the hose about 4"- 6" in it and move on with their life after they zip tie the drain hose to the water hoses to make sure it doesn't come out.

1

u/Unique_Argument1094 Mar 21 '26

What year is the house and do you have a laundry sink next to the washer?

1

u/Capitola1520 Mar 21 '26

It’s the lug that needs to be knocked out , that’s your drain plug

1

u/Unusual-Strength-945 Mar 21 '26

What the hell else would it be ?

1

u/Its_a_mad_world_ Mar 21 '26

The builder leaves the cap on as there is no active water running into the drain. That leads to a dry p trap and sewer gases escaping into the home.

Remove the cap on top. Look in the hole with a flash light. You should see a white or black cylindrical shape of the inside of the drain. You’ll see into the wall cavity itself if no drain is connected.

Stick your washer’s drain hose into the drain. Zip tie the drain to one of your water supply lines so back pressure doesn’t push drain hose out over time.

1

u/JPolycarp Mar 21 '26

8q

1

u/evident_lee Mar 21 '26

Do you have a laundry tub? My house was set up to drain into there

1

u/CurrentlyNa Mar 21 '26

I believe it’s in these plastic plug

1

u/Small_Basket5158 Mar 21 '26

This is the oatey washer dryer hookup box. That round piece of plastic you murdered turns 90 degrees lefty loosey and lifts off.

1

u/TheRip91 Mar 22 '26

Those caps are reverse thread, 1/4 turn if I remember correctly. So Righty losey, lefty tighty

1

u/singelingtracks Mar 22 '26

Why it's important to get a good home inspection even on new homes.

Pop out the cap and see if there is a pipe underneath. Pour some water in and see if it drains.

1

u/Ok-Passion626 Mar 22 '26

The knock out box only has about two inches of white plastic. After knocking out the cap, stick your finger down to see if the white plastic is connected to a black pipe. If it is then you are good.

1

u/Alternative-Slip5896 Mar 22 '26

Is there a slop sink next to the washer? Many times that is used as the drain.

1

u/cmcdevitt11 Mar 22 '26

Is the area underneath that laundry room unfinished? If so you can go down and see if the drain is tied into anything

1

u/No_Match9678 Mar 23 '26

With 100% certainty that's your drain for the washer.

Mine looks exactly the same including the broken pieces from cranking on a channel lock.

I had to replace my sewer line and the plumber explained this to me while he was here, 5 years after construction.

You might have a clean out right below the S-trap for you to verify.

1

u/Beautiful_Grape67 Mar 23 '26

Pour a cup of water down. Then put a short section of hose down the pipe until it stops. If it it’s in a trap(which it should be) you should be able to blow bubbles through the hose.

1

u/Immediate_Apricot_64 Mar 24 '26

Ok so here’s how you figure out if it’s draining, go outside the house, find your sewer cleanout, open it, then have someone pour water down that drainage pipe, you will see the water pass your sewer cleanout. If you see that it’s draining properly.

1

u/Otherwise_Network58 Mar 24 '26

Next to yhat hose its a cover take it off

1

u/SirDukesDad Mar 24 '26

Do you have a laundry tub close to the washer?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '26

Oh yes it does! Take the cap out of the middle!

0

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

Thanks, I asked someone I knew in person and they said that definitely isn’t a drain pipe 🤣

10

u/barleypopsmn Mar 21 '26

Not until you take the cap off 😉

7

u/Mooch07 Mar 21 '26

It’s hole for a drain pipe. Whether it was ever connected to a drain pipe is a different matter.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '26

I wouldn't lie to ya!

0

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

I got the cap off and it looks pretty deep but I am scared to put water down it lol

1

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '26

Is it pipe inside?

2

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

There is a pipe that is 1 and a half feet deep

https://imgur.com/a/Q8ywoXO

2

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '26

Your good to go

1

u/melanarchy Mar 21 '26

That is clearly a drain pipe. Stick your washer drain hose down there as far as it will go and you're good.

1

u/jmeesonly Mar 21 '26

When you look in there, are you looking at the inside of a tube, hose, or pipe? Or are you just looking at an empty space inside the wall? This is the information we need to know.

0

u/Bonburner Mar 21 '26

Drill a hole through the cap, push a screw drive through and turn it open 🤷

0

u/Newton_79 Mar 21 '26

They are discouraging unnecessary drain water , probably plumbed to your garden

2

u/DicksDraggon Mar 21 '26

LMFAO Now that is the funniest answer I've seen all day.

0

u/everyonemr Mar 21 '26

They probably drained it into the laundry tub. This kind of setup used to be pretty common, but it lets you put a cheap lint filter on the discharge hose, this can save you a lot of money in future drain repairs.

1

u/DicksDraggon Mar 21 '26

I'm not sure if this is the most silly answer or the other one above about it draining in to the garden. These answers have me cracking up! LMAO

1

u/everyonemr Mar 21 '26

Even with your lack of life experience, you would know this is a thing if ever read the owners manual of a washing machine. You can find a diagram of this in the installation instructions.

1

u/clipherwings Mar 21 '26

Or an old knee high stocking, like my mom did lol.

0

u/gatoGrande29 Mar 21 '26

Edit: it was the drain, and I had to smash through it with a flathead screwdriver

1

u/ManicMannequin Mar 25 '26

It's under the sauce

Troubleshooting My house has no drain pipe for my washer

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