⭐⭐ (2/5 – for the situation, not the fix)
Would I recommend ignoring a slow-draining washer? Absolutely not. Call a plumber the second you hear that gurgle. Your floors will thank you.
If your washing machine drain is on an exterior wall, check the cleanout outside. Ours was buried under monkey grass. Keeping that accessible saved us from having to cut drywall.
We have a top-loading washer in our mudroom (typical Houston slab foundation). About two weeks ago, the water started rising in the drum during the spin cycle. It would eventually drain, but you could hear gurgling from the standpipe. Then came the smell – that rotten, sulfur-like Houston sewage scent.
Don’t ignore the signs – my Houston washing machine clog turned into a disaster