Why Is My Floor Drain Clogged/Backed Up? | Plumbing Blog
Same-Day Service

Cranney Home Services provides same-day assistance to support any HVAC, Plumbing, or Electrical needs. Call us at 978-750-6900 to speak to our team today!

One Call Does It All
One Call Does It All

Why Is My Floor Drain Clogged or Backed Up?

Home drain backflow

A backed-up floor drain can be a real headache, but it can happen more often than one might think. A common assumption when a floor drain backs up is that it is clogged. But the root of the problem may reside somewhere else in your plumbing system. The most common drain that will experience a backup is your basement floor drain since it is the lowest drain in your home. Your basement floor drain is the overflow location if there anything blocks wastewater from properly exiting your home into the sewer line as it should. If you have standing water in your basement or a floor drain backup, call in the professionals for an inspection and service.

Cranney Home Services has over 35 years of plumbing expertise and can diagnose your floor drain issue quickly. Call 978-750-6900 to schedule an inspection and repair today!

A Little About Your Basement Floor Drain

Let’s talk about gravity. When a home drain line clogs, the wastewater exits your basement floor drain first. Why? Because this is the lowest drain in your home and water can’t climb up and over blockages in a pipe. So, it goes down. When your main drain is clogged, wastewater accumulates until it overflows and comes out of the floor drain.

The same concept applies to houses that don’t have basements. Backup overflow still comes from the home’s lowest drain, such as in a garage, ground-level shower, tub, or sink.

What Causes Floor Drain Backups?

The cause of a floor drain backup could stem from a variety of reasons. Some of the most common include:

  • Clogs
  • Buildup in pipes from grease or items that you shouldn’t have flushed (paper towels, single-use wipes, certain feminine products, etc.)
  • Sewer line cracks/holes
  • Sewer lines damaged by tree roots
  • A collapsed or bellied sewer line

Regardless of the cause of the sewer line blockage, the clog won’t allow wastewater to exit your house properly, resulting in floor drain backups. A plumbing technician must address the cause of the blockage before the wastewater can flow properly. Some backup causes are more complicated to fix than others. It all depends on what is going on in your plumbing system.

How To Diagnose the Source of a Basement Floor Drain Backup

Finding the source of your basement floor drain backup is not a DIY job. Call on a licensed, trained, and certified plumbing technician to isolate the issue without too much disruption to your home. When diagnosing the source of your issue, you can expect your plumbing technician to:

  • Gather information on the problem. The first thing an experienced plumber will do is ask you a series of questions to get the full scope of the issue. Questions such as: When did the problem start? Is the first occurrence of the problem? Have you noticed any bad smells? Does the problem get worse when you run other home plumbing fixtures?
  • Inspection and testing. After the plumber has gathered all the information they need, they will test and inspect your plumbing system and drains.
  • Conduct a video camera pipe inspection. The most important part of this diagnosis process will be the video camera pipe inspection which gives your plumber an inside look at your pipes and lines.

After your plumber gathers all the needed information, they can make a repair recommendation based on their findings.

Common Repairs to Fix a Basement Floor Drain Backup

Basement floors drain backups often require the following services to return the system to proper operation: Acting on repairs right away can keep you from pricey fixes and long-term damage. Protect your home investment by staying on top of your home’s needs.

Prevent Future Floor Drain Backups with Regular Maintenance

As with most things in life, the better you take care of them, the better they will take care of you. Your plumbing is no different. Your plumbing system requires regular cleaning and maintenance to keep it working as it should. Regular drain cleaning services keep your lines clear and free of buildups that can trigger floor drain backups. Also, watch for the signs of system distress and act, don’t delay. The sooner you get on top of suspicious drain activity, the sooner you will be out of danger.

Call to Schedule a Drain Cleaning Service & Inspection

Being too careful rarely backfires. If it has been a while since you had your drain lines cleaned and inspected, schedule yours today! Cranney Home Services is a Nexstar Gold member, trained to deliver value-driven services and integrity with every service visit. A 100% satisfaction guarantee backs our work so our customers can have confidence in what they are getting.

Experience the Cranney difference by contacting us online or calling 978-750-6900. Schedule drain cleaning and a drain line inspection today!

0% APR for 18 Months

Flexible Financing Makes Improvements Affordable Learn More

Schedule Service

Truck Image

Experience the Cranney Difference

After 40-plus years of industry experience, we have proven our commitment to providing superior heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, and drain services. We offer value-driven services and unsurpassed integrity with every job we perform.

With 100% satisfaction guaranteed on all services and a deep dedication to providing a five-star experience to our customers day in and day out, we're confident in our ability to keep your home safe, comfortable, and fully functional.