pipe in basement floor not draining?
#1
01-31-17, 07:56 AM
pipe in basement floor not draining?
In my basement, under the laundry tub, there is a floor drain which has a horizontal pipe running under the cement floor to the main plumbing/sewer pipe that goes out to the street.
I ran a jetter with hot water through the pipe and cleaned it really good and then ran a camera through the pipe. I only ran the camera about 10 feet more or less. The camera was underwater. I did not push the camera far enough to get to a spot where it came out of the water.
I could leave this, as-is, because it more or less drains ok, but, the sludge does accumulate where the water sits in the pipe so it needs to be cleaned out now and then, and I do have a jetter to clean it out so that's not too bad. But, it bugs me that something is not right with this pipe. I feel like I should get a concrete saw and cut out some of the basement floor and try to replace this pipe. Any opinions on replacing this pipe and how difficult that might be or leaving it as-is are much appreciated.
I ran a jetter with hot water through the pipe and cleaned it really good and then ran a camera through the pipe. I only ran the camera about 10 feet more or less. The camera was underwater. I did not push the camera far enough to get to a spot where it came out of the water.
I could leave this, as-is, because it more or less drains ok, but, the sludge does accumulate where the water sits in the pipe so it needs to be cleaned out now and then, and I do have a jetter to clean it out so that's not too bad. But, it bugs me that something is not right with this pipe. I feel like I should get a concrete saw and cut out some of the basement floor and try to replace this pipe. Any opinions on replacing this pipe and how difficult that might be or leaving it as-is are much appreciated.
#2
01-31-17, 09:23 AM
Member
Cutting a pipe out of the floor is a big nasty job, did you try a snake to get all the way to the main drain?
#3
01-31-17, 10:14 AM
I didn't try to go further because it doesn't seem like the pipe is blocked. Water passes through the pipe very well, even large volumes of water. I just think the pipe dips between the floor drain and the location where it enters the main sewer line. It is possible that the pipe slopes downhill in a straight line to the main sewer and then is partially blocked near the main sewer line. I will try the jetter and camera again and try to send the camera further next time. At some point the camera has to come out of the water. It just occurred to me, I need to check the camera to make sure the camera is not getting water in the lens area.
#4
01-31-17, 10:28 AM
I agree with Marq, unless you're having a problem, you're definitely opening a can of worms with cutting the slab and having to join back into the main line. Some problems are better left un-touched 
The water you're seeing is either caused by a blockage or a belly in the pipe. A belly wouldn't be a huge deal with a floor drain.
The water you're seeing is either caused by a blockage or a belly in the pipe. A belly wouldn't be a huge deal with a floor drain.
#5
01-31-17, 10:53 AM
"belly in the pipe" that's the term I was looking for. I'm fairly certain that it's a belly in the pipe. The worst that could happen if I leave it is that the pipe needs to be cleaned once a year. The worst that could happen if I dig up the basement floor is that I could have a lot of trouble connecting a new pipe to the main sewer pipe.
I definitely need to get that camera further along the pipe. I will do that and report back.
I definitely need to get that camera further along the pipe. I will do that and report back.
#6
01-31-17, 01:47 PM
Member
but, the sludge does accumulate where the water sits in the pipe so it needs to be cleaned out now and then
What is being washed down the drain to plug the line, maybe that is what you need to fix!
#7
01-31-17, 02:17 PM
If the horizontal pipe has a low area where water sits, anything that gets flushed down the pipe passes through except the last part which sits in the low area. Any crud sitting in the low area will slowly build up over time (I assume).
#8
01-31-17, 07:12 PM
Group Moderator
I have to agree with Marq.
Usually a floor drain is there for water spills and to protect from floods.
Are you running the laundry down there ?
Usually a floor drain is there for water spills and to protect from floods.
Are you running the laundry down there ?
