The Purpose of Basement Floor Drains Plus Maintenance & Tips

While basements are not nearly as common in Phoenix as they are in other areas of the country, many older and luxury homes do have basements, which means there will be a basement floor drain. Everybody has likely seen floor drains before, most often in public restrooms, showers, and laundry rooms. 

A basement floor drain is designed to collect overflow water from sinks, toilets, baths, and other plumbing around your home. The basement floor drain collects and then directs any excess water safely to a sewer or storm drain to avoid flooding. As with any plumbing, a floor drain will need some regular maintenance to avoid clogs.

Common Causes & Signs of Basement Floor Drain Clogs 

OK, so your basement floor drain is backing up. It’s not an uncommon occurrence. In fact, floor drains tend to become clogged more often than other drains simply because they are on the floor where dirt and debris tend to collect. 

Debris, Hair & Dirt: Debris, most commonly dust bunnies and pet hair, often finds its way inside the drain. When cleaning their floors, many people will make the mistake of sweeping the dirt and debris right into the floor drain, which will lead to more frequent clogs.

Foul Odors: If you find your floor drain is emitting horrible smells, your drain’s P-trap is probably dry. A dry P-trap allows nasty sewer gases to enter your home. Grab a bucket and begin pouring water down the drain to fill the P-trap. Dumping a gallon or two may be enough, but adding about five gallons to the trap should successfully seal off all sewer gases. Additionally, adding water to the drain will let you see if it is working properly or if it is already clogged. Pouring water down the floor drain regularly will allow you to make sure your drain will be ready when it is needed most. 

How to Clear a Basement Floor Drain Clog

If you discover your basement floor drain is clogged, it’s important to clear the blockage immediately to reduce the risks of flooding. Here’s what to do:

Try a Plunger: A minor clog should clear after a few strong pumps with a plunger. Place the plunger cup so it completely covers the drain opening, and then go for it! 

Baking Soda & Vinegar: Plunger didn’t do the trick? Try pouring baking soda down the drain, then chase it with a healthy amount of white vinegar. (Don’t worry, the drain won’t turn into a homemade volcano and create a mess.) 

Snake the Drain: If you have a drain auger, feed the cable into the drain until you meet resistance, then turn the cable and try to reel back whatever is clogging the drain. Remember, the idea is to pull gunk out, not push it further down.

If you are unable to remove the clog from the basement floor drain on your own, contact a professional and a Donley plumbing professional will come to the rescue!

Basic Basement Floor Drain Maintenance

Cleaning drains at least once a quarter will keep them healthy and working properly. If necessary, use a safe, liquid drain cleaner to remove the remaining debris. If your basement floor drains have not been cleaned in a while or you’re experiencing other drain issues, call a professional  to find out what’s blocking the drain, and have them remove any clogs for you. 

Skip Chemical Drain Cleaners in Favor of Homemade Solutions

When you have a backed-up kitchen or shower drain, you just want it fixed. We’ve all seen drain cleaning solutions advertised on TV and online, and they’re usually available at the supermarket, hardware, and other retail outlets. So you head to the store to get a bottle of Super Strength Clog-B-Gone! or some other miracle drain opener. Problem solved, right? In the short term, maybe. Many people believe that the best way to unclog a drain is the one that works, but chemical shortcuts can actually cut the life of your plumbing short. 

While liquid drain openers can be great in a pinch, over the long term, chemical drain cleaning solutions can be toxic and gradually cause corrosion in your drain pipes. When it’s not an emergency (yet), there are many DIY methods to unclog a drain using items you should already have in your home. Best of all? No harsh chemicals, and no plastic residue to end up in the landfill.

Here are five homemade drain cleaning tips for the best way to unclog a drain. If these don’t work, give us a call or schedule a drain cleaning plumber online.

• Boiling water. A great first move to try. It’s an easy and quick way to unclog a drain, assuming there aren’t bigger problems. Boil a kettle of water. Slowly pour the boiling water down the drain. Let the hot water go to work for several seconds in between each pour. 
• Fetch the plunger. Plungers are handy to have around the house, and they’re cheaper than the plumber. Get ready to start plunging. If that doesn’t work, move on to the next step (or call us). 
• Unclogging a drain with baking soda and vinegar: Distilled white vinegar is a great choice, and a cheap way to clean all sorts of things. Pour ½ cup of baking soda down the clogged drain, and then add a cup of heated vinegar. The foaming action will break down greasy buildup. Let it sit for half an hour. To finish the job, pour in some boiling water to wash everything away. 
• Salt and baking soda: Mix 1/2 cup of table salt with 1/2 cup of baking soda and pour it into the blocked drain. Leave it for 10-20 minutes, then follow with boiling water. Salt, baking soda, and boiling water produce a chemical reaction that can dissolve the nastiest parts of most drain clogs. 
• A bent wire hanger can make another simple, but effective tool. Take a regular wire coat hanger and straighten it. Bend one end to create a small hook. The idea is to pull gunk out of the drain, not push it further down. When you’ve finished, flush with hot water. You’ll know quickly whether the clog is resolved.

Finally, if your sinks and drains are clogging regularly, there’s likely something bigger going on with your plumbing. Time to call in the Comfort Heroes! Donley’s trained plumbing professionals will pinpoint the issue, and choose the right equipment and technology to clean your drains quickly without caustic chemicals or causing more damage. By the way – you might not know that regular drain cleaning offers many advantages. This service can save you money in several ways:

-Reducing your energy bills by keeping your water heater operating at peak efficiency.

-Reducing your water bill by locating small leaks that need repair.

-Maximizing the life of your plumbing equipment and appliances.

-Avoiding costly plumbing repairs that can result from the neglect of your system.

Schedule drain cleaning services and drain repair here.