How to unclog a floor drain in basement?
Unclogging a Basement Floor Drain
- Plunger A bathroom go-to, this easy solution to bathroom issues is a classic. ...
- Gentle Abrasive Cleaners Similar to if you were trying to get a stain out of a shirt or remove some grit from your tile grout, a gentle abrasive can ...
- Drain Snake
What to know about your basement floor drain?
Basement floor drains don't get a lot of attention until the sewer backs up or the basement smells like an outhouse. Many basement floor drains tie directly to the home's sewer system, but in some communities, local building codes require floor drains to run to a sump pit, where a pump lifts the water to the exterior surface of the house.
How does a basement floor drain work?
The following are the components of a basement floor drain system:
- Catch Bowl A catch bowl is a basin underneath the cover grate which as its name implies catches debris preventing them from clogging drainpipes away from the floor drain ...
- Plumbing Trap If your basement floor drain is connected to the sewer line, you will need to have a plumbing trap, also known as a P-trap or drain trap. ...
- Drainpipe
How do you unplug a basement floor drain?
How to Unclog a Floor Drain
- Clean the Trap. The first step in getting your floor drain to work as it was intended is to clean out the trap. ...
- Try Baking Soda and Vinegar. Sometimes, baking soda and vinegar can unclog a drain if the blockage isn’t especially stubborn. ...
- Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners. ...
What Is A Basement Drain Hole For?
The main purpose of a basement drain hole is to eliminate unwanted water from your home. Basement drain holes function as an outlet for leaking water and wastewater. In some cases, basement drain holes can connect to the sewer system of your house.
What happens if a basement drain hole is in the sewer line?
If your basement drain hole connects with your sewer system, it can drain various appliances in your home. For example, it can take care of excess water associated with washing machines, water softeners, and basement laundry sinks.
Why is my basement drain backing up?
The three most common causes of backup are clogged drain lines, sewer line clogs, and sewer line damage.
What is a drain hole in a basement floor?
The drain hole in your basement floor acts as an outlet for unwanted water and debris in your home. It’s made up of a drain cover grate, a catch bowl, a drain pipe, and a plumbing trap. It might connect with the sewer system, a sump pit, or a sewer pit with an ejector pump.
How does a sump pump work?
The sump pump sits inside the sump pit. When water enters the sump pit, an activator turns on the sump pump. Then, the sump pump moves the water out of your home using pipes. The pipes move the water so that it runs away from your house’s foundation and doesn’t lead to water damage.
What is a plumbing trap?
A plumbing trap is another part of the basement drain hole. It is a curved piece of piping that can be found underneath the drain. Plumbing traps are sometimes called p-traps because of their shape.
What can drain from basement?
Basement drain holes most often connect with your house’s sewer system. When this is the case, it can drain multiple appliances in your home. These include basement laundry sinks, washing machines, and water softeners.
Why is a basement floor drain important?
Without it, there would be no place for water to exit, leaving your lowest level in disarray. Knowing how your basement floor drain works, and why it is important, is essential for when an emergency strikes.
Why do drains smell bad?
However, if the trap beneath the drain is dry, or if the plug for the cleanout is missing, you might smell something unpleasant. You can solve this issue by replacing a missing cleanout plug, or by pouring a pitcher of water down the drain every couple weeks.
What is the third connection in a basement drain?
The third connection is if your basement floor is lower than where the main sewer line leaves your home. Here, your drain will connect to a sewer pit with an ejector pump. This is not the same as a sump pit, so draining a washing machine or sink is suitable in this situation. For your home’s basement floor drain, ...
What is the purpose of a basement drain?
At the lowest point on your basement floor, the floor drain acts as the outlet for any unwanted water, whether it’s from a heavy rain, condensation from your HVAC unit, or a leaking water heater. The drain can connect to one of three things, either to the sewer system or to a sump pit.
What happens when a drain is connected to a sewer?
When the floor drain is connected to the sewer, backflow is a concern. A clog in the main drain can force sewage to seep up through the floor drain, but that can be stopped with a backflow valve. When water or sewage backs up, a float in the valve will rise with it and seal the drain.
Where is the drain hole on a floor?
There may be an additional cleanout for your floor drain, which will be a second outlet when you remove the grate. The large drain hole is at the bottom, and a smaller one with a plug is on the side. Newer drains come from PVC piping, particularly the catch bowl and drainpipe.
Can you drain a washing machine with a sump pit?
Drains connected to the sewer system are suitable for draining a washing machine, water softener or a basement laundry sink. If you connect the drain to a sump pit, it may be against your local ordinance to drain any water with detergents, salt or chemicals.
What is the purpose of floor drains?
3. Floor Drains. Floor drains are most often installed during original construction, often in the utility area, to drain away excess water in the basement. The concrete floor around the drain gently slopes towards it, encouraging water to collect there and drain out.
How deep should a trench be for a basement drain?
A trench approximately 1-foot-wide and 1-foot deep is necessary to contain the drainage pipe and the gravel. While some drains are covered with a grate, which can be removed for future maintenance, others are left uncovered if the basement is used only for storage.
How high does a pedestal sump pump sit?
A pedestal sump pump attaches to a pole and sits an average of four to eight inches above the collection pit. A float—much like the one in a toilet tank—rises with the level of the water and then, when it reaches a certain height, activates the sump pump to push the water to the surface.
How does a sump pump work?
When the water in the collection pit reaches a certain level (usually a few inches), the sump pump kicks on and pumps the water through a pipe or hose to the surface of your yard, where it drains away naturally. Submersible sump pumps are the more powerful of the two options, and their price reflects that.
How deep should a sump pump be?
A submersible sump pump is placed in a collection pit located below floor level. Most pits are approximately two feet wide and one-and-a-half feet deep , although pits up to three feet deep can be installed if groundwater is a problem in your area. A small pit will fill up more quickly, causing the pump to cycle on more frequently, but a deeper pit is more difficult to clean out and maintain. When the water in the collection pit reaches a certain level (usually a few inches), the sump pump kicks on and pumps the water through a pipe or hose to the surface of your yard, where it drains away naturally.
How much does it cost to break out concrete?
Concrete must be broken out, which requires drilling through the floor and using a jackhammer. Plan to spend $7,000 to $15,000, or more, depending on the size of your basement and the thickness of the existing concrete.
What is an interior French drain?
2. Interior French Drains. Interior French drains are often installed when existing homes start to have basement water problems. But, if you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, it doesn’t hurt to install one when you build your home, too. Similar to exterior drain tile, an interior French drain features a perforated pipe ...
HOW DOES A BASEMENT FLOOR DRAIN WORK?
The basic idea behind a basement floor drain is extremely simple – you install a drain in the lowest part of your basement, which then siphons the water out of your home to prevent flooding. The drain is covered with a grate of some form so that the basement remains a usable space in your home.
Why do you need a basement drain?
If so, you don’t have a choice and will be required to install one. It limits flood damage.
What are the concerns when installing a basement flood drain?
If you are installing a basement flood drain, either as part of a new build or as an addition to an existing home, there are some central concerns you need to address in order to ensure it works as well as possible: 1. Prevent odors. Anything that provides access to the sewer is susceptible to bad odors.
Why does my basement drain smell bad?
Anything that provides access to the sewer is susceptible to bad odors. Similarly, if you use the floor drain as part of the process of cleaning a basement, then it’ s likely that materials will eventually begin to decompose in the well of the drain, which can lead to bad smells.
How much does it cost to install a basement drain?
The average cost of installing a basement floor drain is $3,000. However, this number can fluctuate significantly depending on the state of your specific basement drainage system. If you simply need a new drain and some de-clogging, it will cost you between $150 – $300. If you need a team of professionals to break ground and build ...
What is the most common connection to a sewage system?
THE SEWAGE SYSTEM. This will be the most common connection since it involves taking the pipe and connecting it to the sewage pipe at the edge of your property. This is suitable if you are draining a washing machine, water softener, or a laundry sink from your basement.
What is the best way to keep water out of your basement?
As discussed below, if you live in an area prone to flooding, then a basement floor drain is your first line of defense against water entering your home. Although it may not be able to deal with extremely large volumes of water, the drain will help to remove it quickly when the waters do recede and prevent a situation where there is standing water in your home.
What is a floor drain?
Situated at the lowest point on the basement floor, the floor drain serves as an outlet for water from a leaking water heater, condensation from an HVAC unit or even seepage due to heavy rain. If the drain connects to the sewer system, it's suitable for draining a washing machine, water softener or basement laundry sink.
How to stop sewer smell in floor drain?
If nothing drains into the floor drain, prevent sewer odor by pouring a pitcher of water down the drain every couple of weeks. If the cleanout plug is missing, replace it with a rubber expansion plug from a plumbing supply store.
What is a backwater valve?
You can install a backwater valve, also called a backflow valve or check valve, in the drainpipe. When sewage backs up, a float in the valve rises and seals the drain. If you install a backwater valve on the floor drain, install additional valves on any other basement fixture drains, such as tubs and showers.
What is the catch bowl in a basement?
From the basement, only the cover grate is visible. A catch bowl, drainpipe and plumbing trap lie beneath. If your floor drain has an additional cleanout, you'll see two outlets when you remove the grate; a large drain hole at the bottom and a smaller one, with a plug, on the side. The catch bowl and drainpipe are typically made from one of three types of material.
Can a basement drain be used for a washing machine?
If the drain connects to the sewer system, it's suitable for draining a washing machine, water softener or basement laundry sink. If the floor drain connects only to a sump pit, it's probably against local ordinances to drain any water that contains detergents, salt or chemicals. If the basement floor is lower than the spot where ...
Do basement floor drains have to be run to sump pit?
Basement floor drains don't get a lot of attention until the sewer backs up or the basement smells like an outhouse. Many basement floor drains tie directly to the home's sewer system, but in some communities, local building codes require floor drains to run to a sump pit, where a pump lifts the water to the exterior surface of the house.
What Causes a Basement Floor Drain Clog?
Common causes of water in the basement include a leaking HVAC system or water heater, or a leak in the foundation caused by heavy rain.
Why does my basement drain clog?
A basement drain may also clog because of a mainline clog, broken or damaged pipes, or water flow problems.
Why does my basement floor get water?
This keeps your basement floor dry and prevents flooding, which may damage personal belongings. Common causes of water in the basement include a leaking HVAC system or water heater, or a leak in the foundation caused by heavy rain. Just like any drain in your home, basement floor drains are prone to clogging, even more so because dirt, pet hair, ...
What to use to unclog a floor drain?
If the plunger doesn’t do the trick for your floor drains, pour a box of baking soda and a small amount of white vinegar down the drain to see if it unclogs the drain. For serious clogs, a mechanical drain cleaning machine is needed.
Can you use chemicals to clean a clogged basement drain?
Never use harsh chemicals to treat clogged basement drains, as they will usually only make the problem worse. Standing water in the lowest level of your home can cause a number of issues, including: Damage to floors and walls.
Can a B&W drain be cleared?
If you want the job done right, B&W recommend s contacting a local plumbing company to clear your basement floor drain. We know that clogged basement floor drains can create serious issues, so it’s important that the clogged drain is cleared quickly. Contacting a professional is the only way to be sure the job is done right and the drain clog is completely cleared. If you’re handy, you can consider trying the following tips to clear a minor drain clog and prevent future ones from occurring.
