Can You Cover Up a Basement Floor Drain is often raised when homeowners remodel their homes, especially when adding features like home theaters, man caves or office space that need an additional means of draining away water. While you might be tempted to cover over your drain simply out of convenience or outright covering it altogether – doing this would almost certainly lead to back ups of sewage into your home and worsened health risks for yourself and family members.
At home, basement floor drains typically connect to either the city sewer system or septic tank. Depending on where your house is situated, this drain may also connect to sump pumps or sewer pits with an ejector pump – regardless of its configuration, keeping this drain clean is key for avoiding clogs and backups.
If your basement floor drain becomes blocked, there are a few ways you can try to clear it yourself. Starting with using a plunger to clear away debris or sediment that might be present; failing that, pour a pot of hot water down it to flush the line; alternatively you could use a drain snake if the problem is more severe; otherwise a professional drain service should likely be contacted for removal and diagnosis of your clog.
Clogged floor drains can be extremely hazardous and even toxic if left untreated, so if your basement floor drain becomes blocked it’s wise to call in professional drain services immediately. They will install new drainage, unclog out your old one and seal it to prevent sewage or other materials from seeping back into your home again.
Clean floor drains will help eliminate foul sewage smells in your basement and protect it from clogs, so it is crucial that you spend at least 15 minutes each month maintaining them. Simply open up your basement floor drain’s cover, remove debris, and flush at least 1 gallon of hot water down it so as to fill its P-trap and prevent the release of sewer gasses.
Basement floor drains are typically concealed beneath the slab and out of sight from above, or covered by a removable grate for future maintenance purposes. Some homeowners choose to frame around their basement floor drain when turning their basement into living space – decreasing square footage slightly but keeping drain channels out of sight from living spaces.
Basement floor drains can be an ideal way for homeowners who wish to turn their basement into living space. While remodeling may seem like a daunting project, an experienced contractor can make the process less daunting and produce an end product with added features that add value and finish their basement in style.