Why Do I Have Standing Water in My Basement Floor Drain?
If you’ve recently walked down the steps into your basement and noticed standing water in the basement floor drain, it may have come as quite a shock. However, you’re not alone – a clogged basement drain is a problem that many homeowners face and one that will need to be fixed quickly.
In our most recent blog, the plumbers at B&W discuss common causes of standing water in your basement floor drain and how to go about repairing the clog. For all of your home’s plumbing needs, don’t hesitate to contact B&W. We’ve been in business for more than 50 years and take pride in offering the residents and business owners of Indianapolis with quality and reliable plumbing repair services.
What Causes a Basement Floor Drain Clog?
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. This keeps your basement floor dry and prevents flooding, which may damage personal belongings. Common causes of water in the basement include a leaking HVAC system or water heater, or a leak in the foundation caused by heavy rain.
Just like any drain in your home, basement floor drains are prone to clogging, even more so because dirt, pet hair, and other debris may easily be taken down the floor drain when water is present. Some homeowners even make the mistake of sweeping their basement dirt into the floor drains, which is something you definitely want to avoid. A basement drain may also clog because of a mainline clog, broken or damaged pipes, or water flow problems.
Problems With Clogged Basement Drains
If you experience a clogged basement floor drain and need to fix it quickly, address the problem immediately through DIY methods or by contacting a professional plumber. Never use harsh chemicals to treat clogged basement drains, as they will usually only make the problem worse. Standing water in the lowest level of your home can cause a number of issues, including:
- Damage to floors and walls
- Damage to personal property, including furniture and valuable family items, like photo albums
- Mold growth, which may lead to health issues
DIY Tips to Unclog a Floor Drain
If you want the job done right, B&W recommends contacting a local plumbing company to clear your basement floor drain. We know that clogged basement floor drains can create serious issues, so it’s important that the clogged drain is cleared quickly. Contacting a professional is the only way to be sure the job is done right and the drain clog is completely cleared. If you’re handy, you can consider trying the following tips to clear a minor drain clog and prevent future ones from occurring.
- Use a screwdriver to remove the floor drain cover.
- Using rubber gloves, reach down into the drain and pull out any debris around the drain.
- Pour a pot of boiling water down the basement drain and wait 15 minutes.
- Next, grab a plunger from your bathroom. Put the plunger cup directly over the floor drain and give it a few hard plunges. (This step will work well with minor clogs but not on any serious ones.)
- If the plunger doesn’t do the trick for your floor drains, pour a box of baking soda and a small amount of white vinegar down the drain to see if it unclogs the drain.
- For serious clogs, a mechanical drain cleaning machine is needed. Most homeowners don’t own a mechanical drain cleaning machine, and we highly recommend contacting a licensed plumber for this service.
Contact B&W for Drain Clogging Services
If your floor drain is clogged, contact the professional plumbers at B&W for reliable repair services. We offer a full array of plumbing repair, maintenance, and installation services for your Indianapolis area home or business. For problems including sewer line repair, hot water heater installation, and more, the team of professional experts at B&W can help. Contact us today to schedule plumbing service.