Your basement floor drain is located at the lowest point of your basement, and its job is to direct any water safely away from the house and to the sewer system or municipal storm drain system. This keeps your basement floor dry and prevents flooding, which may damage personal belongings.
Contents
- 1 Where does my basement drain lead to?
- 2 Where does a basement sump pump drain to?
- 3 Where does foundation drain go?
- 4 Do floor drains go to septic?
- 5 Should I be able to see water in my basement drain?
- 6 How does basement plumbing drain?
- 7 How do I find out where my sump pump is draining?
- 8 Can sump pump drain into yard?
- 9 How far away from house should sump pump discharge?
- 10 Where does perimeter drain go?
- 11 Can drains run under house?
- 12 How deep is a foundation drain?
- 13 Do basement floor drains have a trap?
- 14 How do I clear my basement floor drain?
- 15 How do I maintain my basement floor drain?
Where does my basement drain lead to?
The drain can connect to one of three things, either to the sewer system or to a sump pit. Drains connected to the sewer system are suitable for draining a washing machine, water softener or a basement laundry sink. The third connection is if your basement floor is lower than where the main sewer line leaves your home.
Where does a basement sump pump drain to?
Most commonly, sump pump experts recommend having it pump to an external discharge line, which then goes out of the home and into the yard toward a downward slope. When the discharge line ends, it should be far enough away from the home that the water doesn’t pool around your home’s foundation again.
Where does foundation drain go?
The foundation drain tile drains to a sump pump, which pushes the water out and away from the foundation.
Do floor drains go to septic?
The drain drops the water into a sewer system that carries it from the house along with waste water from other drains that feed into the system. If the home has a septic tank, some old floor drains may lead instead to drainage ditches, dry wells or leach fields, to avoid flooding the septic system.
Should I be able to see water in my basement drain?
There is no “typical” level of the water below the floor level. The water level in the trap will be at whatever point the drain pipe is located. If the pipe is high the water level will be close to the floor surface, if it is deeper, then the water level will be that same distance below the floor surface.
How does basement plumbing drain?
Exterior Drain Tile Gravel placed around and on top of the pipe filters out dirt. Then, beneath that, the pipe collects whatever water pools at the bottom of the foundation walls and directs it to a collection pit, where it gets pumped back to the surface by means of a sump pump (discussed more in-depth below).
How do I find out where my sump pump is draining?
Trace the line as far as it goes and you will see it eventually go through an outside wall. Make a mental note of where you are seeing this in the basement or crawlspace. Then go to that spot on the outside of the home and locate the same pipe coming through the wall. Trace it from there to the end.
Can sump pump drain into yard?
Sump pumps are great to use in the home for the basement, lowest level of the home, and outside in the yard. When they are working effectively, they help keep the water out of the home and divert it into the yard and away from the home.
How far away from house should sump pump discharge?
It is important to keep the discharge point of your sump pump as far from your foundation as possible. The minimum distance should be 10 feet. Most discharge pipes have a flexible hose tightly attached to the pipe coming from the basement.
Where does perimeter drain go?
A perimeter drain, or weeping tile, is a plastic or PVC perforated pipe, which is installed underground, around the perimeter of your house. The perforations consist of thousands of tiny holes or slits that allow water to enter the pipe, and be drained away from the foundation of the home.
Can drains run under house?
Manholes & Junctions On a public drain you cannot have a junction under a floor. The water authority will not accept this as there is a risk of blockage. All drains from the house or extension will need to pass to the external area where they enter a manhole.
How deep is a foundation drain?
This trench must be at least two feet wide and six feet deep. For a slab-on-grade home, the trench can be as shallow as two feet.
Do basement floor drains have a trap?
The floor drain is considered a sanitary fixture. That means it functions just like a toilet or sink or shower. It has a trap inside of it just as those items do, and it holds water to seal away any foul odors trying to get into your basement.
How do I clear my basement floor drain?
Start by pouring a pot of boiling hot water down the drain, followed by ½ cup baking soda. Let that sit a few minutes, then pour a mixture of one cup of vinegar and one cup of very hot water on top of the baking soda. Let it sit for five to ten minutes, then flush it one last time with another pot of boiling water.
How do I maintain my basement floor drain?
Follow these tips to keep your basement drain flowing freely:
- Eliminate clutter around the drain. Keep the basement drain clear of boxes, furniture, and other items.
- Prevent debris from washing into the drain.
- Keep the drain grate clean.
- Pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain once a month.
