The small chrome device on the sink is a dishwasher air gap, and it exists to keep dirty water from flowing back into the dishwasher. When water shoots out of it, the drain line needs attention.
The job
The air gap is a physical break between the dishwasher's drain hose and the sink drain, so a backup in the sink can never siphon into the dishwasher.
The overflow
Water coming out of the air gap means the drain line below it is clogged, and the water has nowhere to go but up and out.
The clog
Food and grease in the hose, the air gap body, or the disposer connection are the usual blockage points.
The code
Air gaps are required in many areas, and removing one to stop the overflow is a code violation. rain and older housing stock mean corroded fittings and slow drains show up often In Federal Way, they are a common sight above the sink.
The clog
Water spraying from the air gap means the line below is blocked. Clearing the hose and the disposer connection fixes the overflow and keeps the protection.
The call
Clear the line and keep the protection. Call 888-217-3585 and Federal Way Plumber Connect will match you with a Federal Way pro.
Plumbing in Federal Way: what to know
In Federal Way, rain and older housing stock mean corroded fittings and slow drains show up often. Pros in our network know the local quirks and bring the right parts on the first visit.
Across Pierce County — from Milton, Pacific and Des Moines to ZIP codes like 98023, 98003, 98422 — homeowners deal with the same kinds of issues. The tips above apply locally, and when a job goes beyond a quick fix, a vetted local pro is only a call away.
Need a hand in Federal Way?
If a plumbing issue is beyond a quick fix, don't wait for it to get worse. Call 888-217-3585 and Federal Way Plumber Connect will match you with a vetted local pro — usually within minutes. Learn more about plumbing help in Federal Way.