Homes today are equipped with floor drains in the shower, the basement, and in other areas inside the home.
These floor drains do need to be maintained periodically to prevent clogs and to ensure they work properly so the home doesn’t flood and so sewer gases cannot get into the home.
4 Tips on Maintaining Your Floor Drain Like a Pro
Read the tips here to learn how to maintain a floor drain inside a home.
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Keep Up with the Maintenance
Always keep up with the maintenance for the floor drain. Most homeowners will want to check the floor drains about two times per year, though they might want to check ones that are frequently used seasonally.
Look for signs of buildup, clean the floor drain, and make sure everything is in good shape. If anything does need to be repaired, go to MaplewoodPlumbing.com for more on how to do this or to learn about when to contact a pro for help.
Learn How the Drain Works
Floor drains are going to have a trap that’s intended to help keep sewer gases out of the home. A floor drain is going to have the trap located under the floor, though it should be accessible through the drain.
The water being drained goes through the trap, then into the connected sewer system. The trap also has a plug on a bypass for the trap, which should always be in place to prevent sewer gas from getting inside the home.
Pour Water in the Drain Periodically
The trap does help keep sewer gases from getting inside the home, but this only works as long as the trap doesn’t run dry.
Frequently used floor drains, like those in the shower, shouldn’t really have an issue with this. If these have a strong smell like the sewer coming from them, it’s possible the bypass plug is missing and needs to be replaced.
For floor drains that aren’t used frequently, sewage smell is often caused by the drain drying out. Simply pour a little bit of water down the drain periodically to keep the trap wet and keep the sewer gases out of the home.
Know How to Clear Clogs
Despite proper maintenance, clogs can still occur between cleanouts. When this happens, homeowners have a few options. Some of the things to try before calling a pro for help include the following.
- Try a Plunger – Use a plunger on the floor drain and then pour in some water to see if it drains properly.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar – If the plunger doesn’t work, try putting some baking soda in the drain then pouring vinegar on top. Use boiling water to make sure the baking soda and vinegar can get deep into the trap to remove the clog.
- Use a Plumber’s Snake – A snake is a basic tool that can be put into a drain to break clogs apart. There are many different kinds, but a basic one should be fine for most homeowners. Follow the directions for the plumber’s snake to clear the clog inside the drain.
Taking care of your floor drains can help prevent issues like foul smells or clogs. Even if a clog does occur, if you properly maintain your floor drains regularly, you should be able to clear the clog. If you’re ever unsure of how to clear a clog or what to do for regular maintenance, contact a plumbing professional for help.
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