Floor drain trouble to watch for
- Water from the laundry tub or furnace condensate puddling around the grate
- A sewer smell in the basement, often from a dried-out trap
- Water coming up through the drain during heavy rain
- Sand, silt or debris visible under the grate
Why floor drains clog in older Scarborough basements
Many post-war homes have a floor drain that connects into the main sewer line just inside the front wall. Over decades, lint from washing machines, sediment from old foundation drains and general basement dust settle in the trap. In some older houses the foundation weeping tile was tied into the sanitary line, which brings in silt every time it rains.
Dry trap smell? Tip a bucketful down each floor drain every month or two. The water in the trap blocks sewer gas from rising into the room.
Step by step on the day
- The grate is lifted and loose debris is removed by hand.
- The trap is cleared and the line beyond it is cabled toward the main.
- Water is run to confirm the drain takes a full bucket quickly.
- We check for a backwater valve, cleanout and trap primer, and note their condition.
- Recommendations are made if the drain connects to weeping tile or shows signs of repeated backups.
What moves the price
A simple trap cleaning is short. Drains packed with silt, buried under flooring, or tied to a failing lateral need more work. If the main line itself is the problem, see main sewer line clearing.
When it cannot wait
Sewage rising from the grate means no more water use upstairs, and a phone call to us. A backwater valve is the usual long-term answer for storm-related backups.