Weird floor drain issue
#1
10-10-22, 06:08 PM
Weird floor drain issue
This last weekend I had a smell in my laundry room. I removed my floor drain cover and water was up to the top ready to breach the drain. I put a hose in the drain to flush and it would take as much water as I could put in it without the level rising. That floor drain is the end of the run before it goes outside to the house trap. Typically I have 6” from water level in the floor drain, to the top.
In the past, I was told that my house trap could back up into my floor drain because of how it was plumbed. I occasionally flush that drain and add Clorox or I get sewer fleas. My garage floor drain, that’s at the same elevation, did not have any backup.
Today I checked and the water level was normal again. I flushed with water and it took all that I put in it. Throughout this issue, I’ve had no drainage issues. I’m wondering if the issue was at the street and not in my home? If it were a restriction, I wouldn’t have been able to add water without the level rising.
About 15 years ago I had about 60’ of my sewer line dug up and replaced, tree roots had clogged it, that line is 7’ deep. We removed the offending tree and added a clean out. That wasn’t 100% of my outside line, but it was most of it. My yard is pool table flat, I don’t think my lines have much slope. These homes were originally septic and later converted to city sewage
Anyone have any explanations of this issue.
In the past, I was told that my house trap could back up into my floor drain because of how it was plumbed. I occasionally flush that drain and add Clorox or I get sewer fleas. My garage floor drain, that’s at the same elevation, did not have any backup.
Today I checked and the water level was normal again. I flushed with water and it took all that I put in it. Throughout this issue, I’ve had no drainage issues. I’m wondering if the issue was at the street and not in my home? If it were a restriction, I wouldn’t have been able to add water without the level rising.
About 15 years ago I had about 60’ of my sewer line dug up and replaced, tree roots had clogged it, that line is 7’ deep. We removed the offending tree and added a clean out. That wasn’t 100% of my outside line, but it was most of it. My yard is pool table flat, I don’t think my lines have much slope. These homes were originally septic and later converted to city sewage
Anyone have any explanations of this issue.
Last edited by LyndMc; 10-10-22 at 07:10 PM.
#2
10-10-22, 08:13 PM
Group Moderator
You should have a 1/4" per foot of slope based on 70' length.
A trap outside the home... are you sure ?
I was aware they used them on storm drain lines but not on basic sewer lines.
Is this an older home ?
A trap will not stop any flooding. If the street was backed up it would come out in your house regardless of traps. Only a one way sewer flapper would stop returning water.
If they are connected to the same line.... they do the same exact thing.
If one is up to the top so must the other one.
Maybe the garage is not connected ?
A trap outside the home... are you sure ?
I was aware they used them on storm drain lines but not on basic sewer lines.
Is this an older home ?
A trap will not stop any flooding. If the street was backed up it would come out in your house regardless of traps. Only a one way sewer flapper would stop returning water.
My garage floor drain, that’s at the same elevation, did not have any backup.
If one is up to the top so must the other one.
Maybe the garage is not connected ?
#3
10-10-22, 08:53 PM
Trap outside, that’s my assumption, there is an outside vent about 8’ from the inside floor drain. The home was built in 1972. The garage floor drain does drain normally. Being as close to the laundry room floor drain, I assumed they were connected.
Yes, it’s weird that the garage drain wasn’t at the same water level.
Yes, it’s weird that the garage drain wasn’t at the same water level.
#4
10-14-22, 05:29 PM
Member
A trap outside the home... are you sure ?
The garage floor drain does drain normally. Being as close to the laundry room floor drain, I assumed they were connected.
#5
10-14-22, 06:04 PM
So here’s the latest. The next day I removed the floor drain cover and the level was back down to normal 🤷♂️. I flushed more water down through it and it took it no problem. The issue has not reoccurred since!
i had a professional scheduled and he pushed me back a day. By the time he was due to come the next day, I called and cancelled. So far it has not reoccurred. They are replacing all of the sewer covers in the roadway not far from my home. Im wondering if the issue was the system and not my home?
Im keeping an eye on it just to be sure.
i had a professional scheduled and he pushed me back a day. By the time he was due to come the next day, I called and cancelled. So far it has not reoccurred. They are replacing all of the sewer covers in the roadway not far from my home. Im wondering if the issue was the system and not my home?
Im keeping an eye on it just to be sure.
#6
01-12-23, 11:06 AM
UPDATE: So here it is over 2 months later, and it happened again, only worse. I had a black puddle in my laundry room and garage. I called a professional and he snaked my laundry and garage floor drains. He found a clog about 6' beyond my laundry floor drain. He then went out and pulled the cap off of my cleanout and we flushed the toilets and ran a bunch of water. He said that the flow was flying so he is confident that it's all good. So far, no further issues!
#7
01-12-23, 11:55 AM
A trap outside the home... are you sure?
But they are still required for all new construction as well. I can't say what the benefit is though, other than "it's the way we've always done it".
#8
01-12-23, 02:42 PM
Zorfdt.... yes, I have one of those Philadelphia vents. Back before I had most of my plastic line dug up and replaced due to roots, my plumber had me go out there with a wet mop and put it in there and churn the mop like I was churning butter. This was to create pressure and push air down the line to clear a minor clog.... lol, and it worked!
That vent is now under a deck stair but still can be accessed. There's another vent or cleanout about 4' away from that too. Unfortunately, that second one is now under the bottom step of my deck and only accessible if I unscrew the step on my Azek plastic decking. Hopefully I never have to get to it. My home originally had a septic tank and that second access lines up with where the abandoned septic tank is in my yard.
That vent is now under a deck stair but still can be accessed. There's another vent or cleanout about 4' away from that too. Unfortunately, that second one is now under the bottom step of my deck and only accessible if I unscrew the step on my Azek plastic decking. Hopefully I never have to get to it. My home originally had a septic tank and that second access lines up with where the abandoned septic tank is in my yard.
#9
01-20-23, 06:49 PM
Member
But they are still required for all new construction as well. I can't say what the benefit is though, other than "it's the way we've always done it".
