Saturday, February 4th, 2023

Basement floor drain backups – The draining details…

It can be alarming to walk down to your Cincinnati basement, only to discover a pool of water on the floor. And getting to the source of the backup can be challenging, especially if you’re not familiar with your basement’s plumbing components and how they work together to keep your basement dry. 

Water can collect on the basement floor for a variety of reasons, but often times the culprit is a clog in the basement floor drain. They key, once you determine it’s the reason for the backup, is figuring out how it happened in the first place. Here’s five common reasons basement drains clog. 

Heavy rainfall

One of the most common causes of basement drain backups is heavy rainfall, especially during months with above average rainfall, or after a particularly strong weather system rolls through Cincinnati. Simply put, rain can overtax home plumbing systems, and the public sewer system, too. The FEMA Flooding Maps website is a great place to learn about your home’s risk for flooding.

Additionally, water from melting snow can cause a backup, which is why you should check that your basement drain is free and clear of debris before a winter or summer storm. 

Damaged pipes

If you live in a home with older plumbing your basement drain might be at greater risk of backing up. Over time, pipes can become defective, break or become weak and brittle and crack. If they can no longer move water through your home’s plumbing system effectively, it can cause a backup – including a backup in the basement floor drain. 

Clog in a drain in close proximity

Even drains in homes with stellar plumbing systems are at risk of getting clogged, especially if someone flushes something like a baby wipe, paper towel, or a feminine hygiene product down the toilet or a sink. Overtime, these products can create a blockage, and if it’s in a sink or a toilet on a lower level, close to the basement, it can lead to a clog in the basement floor drain. 

Septic tank issues

If you’re living in a home with a septic system, it’s important to know when the last time your septic tank was cleaned out. Over time, septic tanks fill with solid waste, and once they are full, they need to be pumped out. If they aren’t it can lead to a backup in your basement floor drain, and a particularly smelly one at that. 

Roots in the sewer main

When tree roots grow around or into your pipes, they can become weak and damaged. As the roots grow deeper into the pipes, it can cause wastewater to escape and erode the soil around it, causing a main sewer collapse. One of the first signs that you’ve got roots in the sewer main is a clogged basement floor drain. This is a plumbing emergency and should be addressed by a professional plumber immediately. 

See water in the floor drain?

Don’t be alarmed. In fact, if you spot water about a foot into the drain that means the U-Joint is doing its job. This joint keeps any smells from working backward in the system. 

Notice an odor from the drain periodically?

That means it’s time to pour water in the drain to flush and fill it. 

If you’re concerned you’ve got a clogged basement drain, the team at Allied Reddi-Rooter is here to help. We can perform a video sewer line inspection to identify and address the problem. Get started with an over-the-phone price that we’ll stand by. No overselling ever. Check out our present coupons for even more discounts