OVERSUDSING

[LEEHUSTON]

I have been in my new store for about 4 months. I have a good deal of trouble with my Speed Queen washers oversudsing, usually only the 25 and 35 pounders overflow on the first and sometimes 2nd extract. I know the customers waste huge amounts of soap all the time and I try to educate them on the problems with over sudsing with some success.
I cannot control every customer by any means in a 5,000 square foot store however!

In my other store the machines never overflow even though they are oversudsed just as much as my new store! The machines are Wascomats and the same Speed Queen machines. The only difference I can see is that the drains in the bulkheads in my new store have been trapped because of some studid plumbing ordinance. This makes the water drain slower and does not allow the excess suds to get out. Are other operators having this same ordinance shoved down their throat? Are the manufacturers aware that this is a big problem, due to the damage to electical components, especially in the door switches, and are they trying to address this issue? Not to mention the pain in the neck that mopping up suds represents. What is this trap ordinance supposed to prevent anyway? Another worthless government intrusion is all I can see!

[Gambero]

I will open a new laundromat in one month with all Speed Queen washers and also am being forced to trap each machine. I hope I don't have similar problems. What's the hardness of the water in your area? Are you using a water softener which may be causing too much sudsing?

[PeterH]

Because SQ washers have a "direct-in" soap dispenser (the dispenser empties directly into the top of the outer tub), you might always have some suds percolating up out of the machine. On the other hand, if the machine is spinning in the wrong direction (clockwise), suds and water will shoot up into the dispenser and out. Be sure your washers are spinning counter-clockwise. If not, check the electrical connections for proper "phasing".

Wascomat dispenses and fills from the bottom, so suds remain in the tub or go down the drain.

-ph

[LEEHUSTON]

I never thought about the difference in the soap dispensing! Even so I don't think I would have the problem if not for the trapped drains. Speed Queen needs to work on this problem. I think i will write them a letter. This is a little secret my machine supplier failed to tell me about. Does that surprise anyone?

[LEEHUSTON]

Oh yes we did check all the machines out and they are spinning in the right direction , that is another good point. I do not have a water softner in use. Our water is pretty good by itself. Thanks for the input I really appreciate it!

[Gary_Crosby]

I put up a few sign saying use only 1/4 cap full of soap, that seemed to help. Also I tell people to use less if they are doing sleeping bags and comforters. That seemed to reduce the suds problem. Then you have the people that want all those suds no matter what you tell them. what can you do. :)
Gary

[TKLaundry]

I have 6 SQ 25lb machines, the only time I have problems with suds overflowing is when 1., someone over soaps, the overflow occurs behind the machines in the drains or 2., when someone overloads, then the overflow comes during the first fill process then stops. I don't have a trap in my drain so it could be you are on to something there.
I think a letter to SQ is probably a good idea.

Dave Faneuf

[petefritz]

when i built my new store six months ago, traps were required by the city. However, we showed them the lint trap (500 gal) was p-traped so they let me direct drain the washers. Maybe you can show your local code enforcement your lint trap will act as a p-trap if it is set up right.

I had a soaping problem with some old SQ-supers at another store, and simply added a few extra air vents to the drain line, a place for the soap to back up into, so to speak. Cured the problem.