Basement Drain Tile – How to Fix a Clogged Basement Drain


Drain tile systems are an integral component of any basement waterproofing solution. When your drain tiles become clogged, soil around your home becomes saturated with water that pools around foundation walls and seeps into basement, leading to flooding, mold growth and subsequent water damage that is both costly and time consuming to repair. Neglecting your basement drain system could prove disastrous!

Clogs in basement drain tiles often lead to tub or shower back-up, as well as sewage backup and smelly basements, so it is vital that immediate action be taken to prevent serious complications from developing. It is best to contact a professional immediately in order to avoid serious consequences from occurring.

Before attempting to clear up a basement drain clog, it will first require unplugging it from its source – this may be messy but necessary in order to gain access and clean the drain properly. Once this step is completed, examine what caused the blockage; often it is caused by a P-trap drying out and allowing sewer gases out, which can easily be resolved by pouring water down into it to refill its compartments.

If your basement clog is caused by sediment, using a plunger or auger to break it up may be enough to clear and restore proper drainage in most cases. For more severe obstructions, however, emergency plumber services may be necessary.

A basement drain system typically consists of a pipe running from the wall down into a sump pump basin located under the floor, where water collects before being collected by the sump pump for removal from your home by means of its discharge pipe. To keep it working efficiently and without issue, make sure that debris doesn’t build up in its basin as this could clog it up and stop working properly.

Tree roots can cause serious problems for basement drain tile systems, so it is wise to avoid planting trees near drain tiles, as the root may enter and cause costly damages. Furthermore, it would be prudent to hire a service that provides drain tile inspections before any work begins on your home.

An inspection of your basement drain tile using a camera will allow you to easily determine whether it needs cleaning, unclogging, or replacement. The camera will display its condition on a video monitor so you can easily spot any breaks, plugs or infiltration by tree roots.

Basement drain tile clogs can be an enormous inconvenience to homeowners. Acting quickly to address this issue will prevent soil around your foundation from becoming saturated and will prevent basement flooding and other issues from developing. Although investing in a drain tile system might cost money upfront, its long-term cost-savings make the investment worthwhile – plus it will prevent leaks and water damage to prevent further escalation in costs for your basement leak repair needs! Contact Standard Water Control in Milwaukee metro now.