Your basement floor drain is located at the lowest point of your basement, and its job is to direct any water safely away from the house and to the sewer system or municipal storm drain system .
Where should floor drains be placed?
You can put your drains in the center of the floor , but it can make the floor slippery. Or you could put the drains in along each side about two feet in, so that you won’t drive over them and they are out of the way.
What do you do with the floor drain when you finish a basement?
Any floor drains should go to plumbing buried under the floor . You can’t just relocate them without a lot of destruction. If they exist, they were put there for a reason. You generally don’t want to simply remove or cover them.
Should I be able to see water in my basement floor drain?
There is no “typical” level of the water below the floor level. The water level in the trap will be at whatever point the drain pipe is located. If the pipe is high the water level will be close to the floor surface, if it is deeper, then the water level will be that same distance below the floor surface.
Do laundry rooms need a floor drain?
Technically a floor drain is not required in the laundry room by code , but you would be silly not to have one. ... Although a floor drain alone wouldn’t help you avoid water damage with that much water being pumped out, the floor drain would help keep that mess from becoming a huge problem for the rest of the house.
Do floor drains need a trap?
All plumbing fixtures, including floor drains, are required to have traps . A trap looks like a “U” shape pipe. If you look below your kitchen or bathroom sink, this will give you an idea of what a trap looks like. A trap is simply a fitting that provides a liquid seal to stop the emission of sewer gases.
Can you cover a floor drain in the basement?
There are two main options for covering a basement floor drain: cement or a lid or cap . While a permanent option may be the way to go when finishing a basement, a temporary cap or lid is ideal in other situations.
What is the best way to finish a basement floor?
- Paint. (Under $10/sq. ...
- Epoxy. ...
- Tile. ...
- Rubber tile or rubber sheets. ...
- Vinyl planks or tiles. ...
- Sheet vinyl. ...
- Engineered wood flooring.
Why does my basement floor drain smell?
A strong sewer smell coming from your basement is most often caused from a dried out floor drain , a bad ejector pit seal, improperly vented appliances or fixtures, or even a damaged sewer line. ... Most floor drains also include a cleanout plug inside that sometimes doesn’t get replaced.
How do I raise my basement floor drain?
THere is no “typical way to extend it”, because there is no “typical” floor drain. If it is cast iron, the strainer may unscrew to raise it, but that is only one way to change the elevation, assuming it is the “correct” type of cast iron drain. With other drains there is NO way to raise them properly.
Can you use Drano in basement floor drain?
Liquid drain cleaner rarely works, and only makes things more toxic and difficult to deal with. In the case of clogged floor and basement drains in particular the clog–often household debris or even tree roots invading damaged pipes–won’t even be affected at all by the cleaner. ... So don’t use liquid drain cleaner .
How do you unclog a basement floor without a snake?
Start by pouring a pot of boiling hot water down the drain, followed by 1⁄2 cup baking soda. Let that sit a few minutes, then pour a mixture of one cup of vinegar and one cup of very hot water on top of the baking soda. Let it sit for five to ten minutes, then flush it one last time with another pot of boiling water.
What is the difference between floor drain and floor trap?
The floor drain has an area which bypasses the trap , which will allow a tool to be inserted into the drain.
Does main floor laundry add value?
Do laundry rooms add value? Yes , and it is ideal if you have multiple floors in your home to invest in a laundry room. Investing in a laundry room will resonate with prospective buyers. It’s not too expensive, plus it possibly could seal the deal when selling.
Why is my floor drain backing up?
When water backs up out of a floor drain, it usually means there is a clog in the drain line , not the floor drain itself. When there is a clog in the main building drain and water is run down a drain from an upper fixture, water will back up in the drain line until it finds somewhere else to come out.
Do all floor drains have traps?
All drains and gutters shall be installed with traps and vents approved by the Department .
