The Drains You Forget About
Floor drains sit there doing their job until they don't. Then suddenly the basement floods, the laundry room has standing water, or the garage drain won't take the runoff from washing your car. These drains connect to your sewer system and can clog just like any other drain.
In Canton's older homes, basement floor drains often connect to clay tile sewer lines that are prone to root intrusion. Newer homes have better connections but can still develop problems from debris, dried-out traps, or main line issues.
Common Floor Drain Problems
Sewage Backup
When the main sewer line clogs, sewage often comes up through the lowest drain—usually the basement floor drain. It's not the drain itself that's the problem; it's the main line backing up.
Standing Water Won't Drain
Water collects around the drain but won't go down. Could be debris in the trap, a blockage in the branch line, or connection to a dead-end pipe (common in old construction).
Sewer Odors
Floor drains have P-traps that hold water to block sewer gases. If the trap dries out (common with infrequently used drains), you'll smell it. Solution is usually just adding water—but if it keeps drying, we can install a trap primer.
Water Coming Up During Rain
If your floor drain bubbles or backs up during heavy rain, there may be a connection issue with the storm sewer system, or root intrusion that gets worse when the system is overwhelmed.
Types of Floor Drains We Service
- Basement floor drains: The main one for most homes, often the lowest point in the drain system
- Laundry room drains: Handle washer discharge and sink overflow
- Garage drains: For car wash runoff, snowmelt, spills
- Utility room drains: Near water heaters, furnaces, other equipment
- Commercial floor drains: Restaurants, shops, industrial spaces
Our Process
We start by assessing the drain—is it an isolated floor drain problem or a symptom of a main line issue? If multiple drains are affected, we address the main line. If it's just the floor drain, we clear the branch line and trap.
For recurring problems, we can run a camera to see what's causing them—collapsed pipe, root intrusion, improper slope, or other issues.