Basement Floor Drain Backing Up? What It Means

Stop running water

If water or sewage is coming up through the floor drain, stop using every tap, toilet, shower and appliance. Each one sends more water toward the blockage, and it has nowhere else to go.

Clean water or sewage?

Clear water after laundry often means a partial clog in the main line. Sewage means the main is fully blocked. Water that appears during a storm can come from the sump system or from rainwater overwhelming the lines.

Common causes

Tree roots in older clay or cast iron lines, grease building up from the kitchen, wipes and paper towels, and a sagging section of pipe that holds water and waste. Laundry lint is a frequent cause in homes where the washer drains to the floor drain.

What the plumber does

A plumber clears the line from a cleanout with a cable or water jet, then runs a camera to see what caused the clog. Without that look, the same blockage often comes back within months.

Backwater valves

In homes where the sewer has backed up more than once, a backwater valve lets water out of the house but closes if sewage tries to flow back in. The plumber can tell you whether one suits your home.

Get it checked

A floor drain that backs up once will usually do it again. See sewer line repair and drain cleaning.

After the cleanup

Disinfect any floor, wall or belongings that sewage touched, and throw away soaked cardboard, carpet pad and anything porous. Run a dehumidifier for a few days to keep mold from starting, and let the plumber know if the drain smells after it's been cleared, because a dry trap or a cracked pipe under the slab can let sewer gas into the basement.

More plumbing guides

• Sump Pump Check Before Topeka's Storm Season
• What to Do When a Pipe Bursts in a Kansas Cold Snap
• Old Galvanized Pipes in Topeka Homes: Signs and Choices
• Reading Your Water Heater Label: Age, Size and Fuel
• Hiring a Plumber in Topeka: Questions to Ask
• Reading Your Water Meter to Find Hidden Leaks