Clogged basement floor drains can present many difficulties for homeowners. These include water that accumulates around your home, an accumulation of salt-like residue on basement walls (efflorescence), and mildew/mold growth in your home.
A French drain, also referred to as corrugated drain pipe or basement drain tile system, channels water away from your foundation underground and away from it – these systems can be installed both in new homes as well as existing residences.
Cable Machine
Experienced plumbing technicians should always be called when the drain tile of your interior basement becomes problematic. From water pooling in the floor to an unpleasant smell emanating from clogged drains, clogs indicate it may be time for professional help.
Many homeowners may be tempted to employ DIY solutions such as pouring drain cleaner down their pipe, however this can result in irreparable damage to both your drain pipe and floor below it. A better choice would be renting a plumbing auger snake (commonly known as a drain snake). These long rods are fed into your drainpipe to break up clogs with their spinning action.
Before going to a rental store, it’s essential that you know which size auger will suit your needs. Your rental agency should ask about symptoms and location to determine an apt size recommendation; for underground drain systems they may recommend renting larger diameter augers.
Begin by unplugging the cleanout plug from your basement floor drain, which may require some elbow grease as you attempt to twist loose any corroded steel or cast iron fittings. If that fails, use a cold chisel and hammer after spraying penetrating oil onto it for effective results.
Hydro Jetting
Your basement drain tiles, commonly known as perimeter or weeping drains depending on their construction, serve to collect rainwater from various areas of your home and channel it underground for disposal away from your property. This prevents pooling around the foundation of the house and helps avoid flood damage as well as basement leaks. However, over time these tiles can become clogged causing drainage issues, leakage problems, as well as any number of other issues.
Many homeowners rely on store-bought liquid drain cleaners to address their clogged drains, but these chemical solutions may do more damage than good. Instead, try hydro jetting regularly to maintain optimal drain functioning – using high-pressure water jets to free up and remove clogs without harming the pipes themselves and save yourself money in the process by keeping drains open and flowing freely. Hydro jetting uses non-toxic methods that use hydro-jetters, making this an inexpensive long-term investment by keeping drains open and flowing smoothly – unlike chemical solutions used by chemical solutions used for this task alone.
To use a hydro jetting machine, first locate and open the ground-level access point for your drain tile. Feed a cable snake through until it reaches either its endpoint or encounters an obstruction such as tree roots. Once this has happened, power on the machine and watch as its spinning action clears debris and unclogs clogs from its path.
Baking Soda
Baking soda provides several cleaning benefits that make it an effective alternative to store-bought drain cleaners. Its alkaline properties help break down most food-based and greasy clogs while its mild abrasiveness scour away porous tile grout surfaces or surfaces of sinks and vanities. Furthermore, baking soda’s absorbency properties allow it to capture any odors around the drain and can also absorb them!
If your drain clog persists, try pouring half a cup of baking soda down your sink followed by half a cup of vinegar – the combination will react and form a bubbling fizzing action to help loosen any stubborn blockages. Cover your drain to concentrate the reaction downward and let sit for 10 minutes before flushing with hot water from a pot.
Use the end of a wire hanger bent into a hook as an effective and simple method for fishing out gunk from your drains. If your clog is particularly stubborn, repeat this process several times to completely clear away all gunk.
If your basement floor drain frequently clogs, installing a backwater valve could help avoid sewer backups and potential damages to your sewer system. Incorporating this DIY method or any of the others listed can help minimise future clogs while keeping your home running efficiently.
Vinegar
Clogged basement drain tiles can lead to water and sewer backup in your home, leading to serious flooding issues. They typically become blocked with dirt, soil, and debris that collects in them over time.
If you have a large clog, baking soda and vinegar may help break it up. First, boil some water to pour down your drain before mixing together one cup each of baking soda and vinegar in equal proportions; this mixture should fizz and bubble when it contacts any obstructions; let sit for 15 minutes and flush away with hot water afterward.
Snaking the drain with a manual plumber’s snake may also help. Though difficult, using such an instrument requires strength and rubber gloves/goggles should always be worn when conducting this method. If clogs do not dissolve easily enough then an electric snake may need to be used instead.
If your basement floor drain is having issues, it is crucial that you first diagnose the cause before trying to find solutions. There could be many causes behind why it might be backing up such as an uncleaned or missing P-trap; professional assistance will be invaluable in finding an answer and offering solutions. Incorporating regular drain cleaning as part of home maintenance routine will further help decrease risks of clogs while keeping your drain operating optimally.