The Manufactured Housing Forums

I have bought a used mobile home but every time I use the washing machine, the kitchen sink drains makes horrible noises and I have suds coming up through them. I could live with that for a while, but now I have the washing machine backing water out of the hose piping every time it empties the water and it over flows out of the piping.
I have been told it may not be vented properly. I don't know what this means or how involved of a job it would be to have this taken care of. Could you please explain this to me and would it be an easy fix or is it complicated and expensive?
Thank you. Any information would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Lois

When you open a can of liquid, it is necessary to punch a hole in the other side of the can for the liquid to flow out. This is the same condition with plumbing. For the washer to discharge efficiently, there must be an entry for air to occur. This is called venting, and is usually accomplished with a vent pipe thru the roof. Sometimes it is done with an "air gap", which is a small device with a diaphram located inside to allow the air to enter. This may have been used under the kitchen sink, and if not working properly, can keep the water from draining properly, and if open allows sewer gas to enter the home. It will be screwed into the top of a "T" in the drain system. If the washer discharges more water than the pipe can handle, it will back up in the other plumbing fixtures until the air can enter to let it escape.

That sounds like exactly what is happening! Is it expensive to have a vent installed?? Is it a big job? (going through the roof??)
Should this have been done when the home was originally plumbed?? (It is 15 years old). I appreciate your information so I am somewhat prepared when I call a plumber.

I'm sure the venting was code compliant at the time of installation, but if the diaphram drys out and gets stuck, that only requires a new air gap. This is a $3.00 part available at any manufactured home supply, and easily screwed out with you hand and replaced. If you have a roof vent, it could be as simple as cleaning it out so that the pipe will be clear. This could be done from on the roof with a small snake.

Thank you so much for being so informative. I looked under the kitchen sink and I do indeed have some additional piping, looks unusual, possibly with the diaphram that you have mentioned. I am going to check it out and see for sure. Thank you so much for helping me with this. Wish me luck!!
Take care,
Lois