Likely, the most unappreciated drain in your home lies right under your feet, the floor drain. The floor drain swallows up all of the grime and flooding that can occur in the basement and all of the water that passes through the other drains in your home. It does all of this, typically, without the cleaning and care your other drains are likely fortunate enough to receive on occasion.
However, this drain is incredibly important due to its placement and its job in preventing water buildup in your basement. When this drain does clog, it can cause severe damage and flooding from this drain, which can quickly build up. So, if a clog does occur, it is important to clear it up right, and here is how.
Turn Off Any Faucets
The floor drain is directly linked to the main drain, and if it is clogged, any other water drained in the home will pass through it. If it is cogged, this means that any other water that runs through a drain can increase any flooding.
Remove Standing Water
Standing water needs to be removed quickly; otherwise, mold can start to spread within days. Unfortunately, this is not ordinarily covered by insurance policies, so it is critical to clean it up right away to prevent costly mold remediation.
If the flooding is minor and on a solid surface, it can be removed with towels and a mop. For carpeted areas, towels, a wet/dry vacuum, and a fan can be used to dry it up. Afterward, continue to monitor for moisture and ensure everything is dry.
Clear the Drain Trap
Now use a wet/dry vacuum to suction out water and debris from the drain trap. Sometimes, this will be enough to clear a small clog or one located near the drain’s opening. If you do not have a wet/dry vacuum, often these are available for rental at hardware stores. If this does not solve your problem or you cannot acquire a wet/dry vacuum, then move on to the next step.
Use a Plunger
This can be a powerful strategy to clear floor drains due to the flat easily accessible opening. First, smear the area around the rim of the plunger with petroleum jelly to help create a good seal.
Next, line the plunger up with the opening and press away several times to break away any clogs. Afterward, carefully pour some boiling water into the drain to clean away any remaining buildup. If this doesn’t solve the problem, go on to the next step.
Use an Electric Snake
If nothing else has worked, it is likely a powerful buildup has happened due to the wide variety of runoffs going into the floor drain. Due to this, often, the only way to solve these clogs can come down to an electric snake. Since you likely do not have one of these on hand, you would need to rent one from a hardware store. Always be cautious using one of these devices; they are powerful and can be dangerous.
Here is how to use one.
- Plug the electric snake’s power cord into a grounded socket using an extension cord if necessary.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the grating.
- Insert the end of the drain snake’s cable into the drain.
- Use the automatic feed to work the cable into the drain. Do not do this too quickly, or it may bunch up and become stuck.
- Once the cable seems to meet a lot of resistance, it has reached the clog. Once it is here, let it coil here and move it back and forth in this spot until the clog is cleared. Don’t try to rush it and move too quickly; this process can take some time and push the clog deeper in.
- Slowly remove the cable by reversing the feed, and after removal, rinse off the cable and remove any stuck-on debris.
Final Thoughts
Your floor drain is an often under-appreciated part of your plumbing system, but it serves an important function. A clogged floor drain can lead to flooding and severe damage to your home. Though a clog in one of these drains can be a difficult plumbing fix, with some time and work, these can be solved, and your home’s plumbing can return to normal in time.
Contact Us
Sometimes a clog in your floor drain can be too hard to clear on your own, or you may not have the time to work it out on your own. When you need someone to solve your clogged floor drain, contact J Griffin Heating & Plumbing. With more than 30 years of plumbing experience, you can trust us to solve any and all of your plumbing issues in no time. Call us at 781-520-1212 and connect with us on Facebook.