When your basement drain becomes blocked with raw sewage, it should be treated as a dire emergency that requires immediate intervention from an experienced professional. A blocked sewer could be one of the worst disasters you will ever face at home – potentially costing you thousands in repairs to flooring, walls and furniture as well as exposing your family to dangerous pathogens that pose health threats.
Clogged basement floor drains are located at the lowest point in any house and serve as a primary destination for wastewater flowing from sewer main to home, should there be an obstruction in that line. Clogs often cause sinks or tubs on ground-level floors to back up.
As long as the cause of the blocked basement floor drain isn’t serious, there are several steps you can take to unclog it. One option is using a plunger cup to ensure all openings of the drain are covered by it; if this doesn’t work, remove its cover and use an electric drain snake instead to clear away clogs.
An additional potential cause may be a dirty or absent P-trap, the section of pipe connecting drains to vents that holds back sewage fumes from entering your house through drains and vents. Without this section of pipe connecting drains with vents, sewage fumes could potentially leak in from basement laundry rooms and kitchen and bathroom sinks if the P-trap becomes disconnected; adding water can help keep it full while cleaning it with dish soap will ensure maximum freshness for longer.
Clogs in sewer lines can lead to basement drains backing up for several reasons, including heavy rains or rapid snowmelt flooding the sanitary sewer system, development around your home putting extra water pressure on it, which causes it to overflow into basement drains, as well as old and deteriorating pipes having problems such as breaks and sags that lead to backups.
An obstruction in a sewer line can be difficult to identify and fix due to its potential hidden nature underground. High-definition sewer camera inspections can be used to locate the source of clogs; then once detected, licensed plumbers, drain and sewer companies can clear them out and repair affected sections of line.
Your basement drains can be protected against becoming clogged by using a drain guard and having a garbage disposal in the kitchen to dispose of food scraps, while not flushing toys, paper towels and feminine products down the toilet. But for maximum effectiveness in avoiding clogs altogether, professional services provide regular drain maintenance service, clearing away obstructions as well as offering advice on effective preventative maintenance strategies tailored specifically to your home.