Reasons Why Your Basement Drain Backs Up

Reversing the flow of their basement drain can be one of the worst experiences a homeowner can go through, causing significant damage and an untidy cleanup, not to mention serious health risks. While the exact cause might not always be apparent – hidden within its underground drainage line could lie the culprit! Typically simple DIY solutions will alleviate small blockages or maintenance issues, while professional services are necessary for an in-depth diagnosis of larger blockages or maintenance concerns.

Back-up of basement floor drains typically occurs due to clogging or backing-up in the main sewer line, forcing water or sewage to seek its lowest point of escape, usually the floor drain.

So it is no surprise if the first sign of backup comes in low-lying plumbing fixtures such as your showers, tubs, or toilets. A clog in your basement drain could either be in its physical structure itself, your house trap system, or in the sewer main itself causing it to back up.

In most instances, opening the street side plug of the main house trap and allowing city sewer wastewater to escape will quickly clear out your trap and remedy basement drain blockages. If this doesn’t work however, removing the plug in the belly of the drain itself may need to be undertaken instead – a hazardous and complex task best left for professionals as doing it could unleash an unexpected flood of city sewer waste into your basement.

Basement drain backups may also be caused by various other causes, including tree roots infiltrating your sewer line, pipe deterioration, or flushing improper objects down your toilet. If your basement drain is backing up but no plumbing fixtures appear clogged up, cracked, or damaged sewer piping may need to be repaired or replaced; older cast iron and clay pipes tend to crack more frequently than newer PVC versions – when this occurs tree roots that seek out nutrients in sewage may exploit any weak points to gain entry and cause backups resulting in backups!

No matter its source, one quick solution for basement drain backups is shutting off all water in your house. This will relieve pressure at its source and allow you to assess damage more accurately before making repairs or adjustments as necessary. Avalon Home Inspections offers home inspection services and can check whether or not your basement drain is functioning efficiently during their inspection service – contact us now to book one!