A lot of things can cause your basement floor drain to get clogged. A basement floor drain backup is almost certainly not caused by a clog in the basement floor drain itself. The basement floor drain in every home links to the home’s mainline. Clogs in this main drain line are often caused the floor drain to back up.
If there is a clog in the main drain, any discharge that could not leave the main drain line will back up into the home. Liquid spills always take the pathway of least resistance. Since the basement floor drain is the lowest opening in the home’s drainage system, it is the number one place that backs up when your main drain line is clogged. In other words, the main drain line clogs are the major source of floor drain backups.
What Other Thing Causes a Basement Floor Drain to Back Up?
In most cities, for example, New Haven, the stormwater and sewers are binds into each other. If New Haven is getting a lot of rain, the sewers can contain that stormwater. As a result of this, your home’s main drain will not drain properly into the city’s sewer because any water you use will back up via your basement floor drain.
A faulty sewer backflow preventer can also cause your basement floor drain to back up, although it is infrequent.
What Causes a Main Drain Clog?
A lot of things can result in your basement floor drain getting clogged. Below are the most frequent ones that may hinder your drainage system.
Tree Roots: How Do They Get in the Main Drain Line?
Tree roots typically grow towards any moisture; therefore, if you have any cracks or weak points in your drain line, tree roots will find their way in.
Tree roots are more common in older homes and can be detected from the gurgling sound produced in the waterline.
Cleaning the Main Drain Line
- Using a hydro jetting method to clean your sewer line is always the best. The hydro jetter is capable of keeping the tree roots away for five to seven years.
- Using auger is also a great way of removing roots from your home’s sewer main. But, the auger doesn’t get all of the roots out of the drain line like the hydro jetting method. As a result of this, they will grow back much faster.
- Tree roots can damage your home’s main drain line. These roots are so powerful to the extent that they can crack and eventually destroy your sewer line.
Deteriorated Pipe: Why Does an Old Sewer Main/Main Drain Line Clog More?
The main home drain is just like every other thing that has an expiration date. As your home’s main drain gets closer to its expiration date, you can experience some problems.
Overtime scale and waste build-up on the inside of the pipe’s walls. If the main drain is produced with cast iron, it will corrode.
- As the inside walls of the pipe corrode, the pipe continues to reduce gradually. This reduces the amount of liquid that can pass through the tube. If the main drain is given more than it can contain, it will flow up through the basement floor drain.
- This builds up, and rust is also very rough. Anything soft can stick to the pipe’s wall.
What Are Some Solutions?
Jetting
- The hydro jetting method uses high-pressure water to gust the rust, scale, and waste of the main drain’s walls.
- The hydro jetter is capable of flushing all the gunk and nastiness out of the main drain line due to its high volume of water.
Lining and Replacement
- Pipelining or trenchless replacement is a great way to replace a pipe without digging the ground. This is great when digging is not desired. Replacing the pipe by digging is usually cheaper than lining but needs digging a large trench.
Break or Separation in the Home Main drain Line
A separation or break in the main drain is a horrible situation. This is the most expensive and needs a costly pipe replacement or lining. The broken part is the only section that requires a replacement; however, many times, homeowners will prefer to replace the whole line.
Bellies in the Main Drain Line
A belly is a flat dip or spot in the main drain line. This can occur over time as the ground settles. You may want to ask, how can I fix a belly in a sewer line?
- The only way to fix a belly is to dig it up and replace it.
- Routine preventative jetting will not repair the belly but can prevent unforeseen clogs. Most homeowners prefer this route because it is much cheaper than a full sewer replacement.
Abuse – Flushing More Than your Main drain Line Can Handle
Flushing more than your main-drain line can handle is the most common cause of floor drain backups. The best way to avoid an unforeseen clogged is to be careful about what you flush into your toilets. Do your best not to flush baby wipes, paper towels, and feminine hygiene products.
Getting Help from a Professional Plumber
If the above-suggested methods failed to unclog your basement floor drain, or you think you can’t handle the task yourself, it is time to call a professional plumber. Although their services can be expensive, that amount will seem little when compared to the damage of seeing your basement floor drain backing up.
When your essential belongings, papers, or photographs stored in your basement get damage with dirty drain water, you will wish you spent the fund to get the issue resolved immediately.
Conclusively , it is evident that to unclog a basement floor drain correctly; you need to know the step-by-step procedure. And, since we have explained everything in detail, all being well, you will know what needs to get gone. Please give it a trial. If the issue is solved, great! If not, call a professional plumber to help you out.