Top Tip For Floor Drain Maintenance

In indoor plumbing, people often do not give priority to floor drains. Floor drains look similar to the drains you see in bathtubs and showers. Actual floor drains are commonly found in basement floors, garages, laundry rooms, older bathroom floors, and sometimes on patios and even driveways. Floor drains are installed in places where fast, efficient water drainage is needed. The main work of the floor drain is to capture overflow from sinks, toilets, tubs, rain, etc., and then direct it to the main sewer or storm drain so that the floor remains dry and doesn't flood rooms. If your drains are clogged you need expert plumbing service San Mateo.

If you have floor drains and you smell foul odors coming from them, it’s probably because the traps might dried out. Every floor drain has those U-shaped P-trap pipes similar to your bathroom sink drain. The U-shaped pipes are created to hold water and this still water prevents sewer gases from coming up through the drain. 

If you smell any sewer gas just take a bucket of water and pour it into the floor drain. This way you might be able to seal off sewer gases and make your drain work properly. If it’s clogged it won’t be able to do its job when required.

Floor drains can clog just like any other drain. They become clogged more often than mother drains because they’re on the floor where they collect continuous dirt and debris. That debris often enters inside the drain. Most people sweep their floors and sweep the dirt into the floor drain. Please avoid doing that!

Most people don’t think about floor drain maintenance very often until it’s too late. Many problems with floor drains can be prevented with some pre-planning and simple care. Following these easy steps will ensure that your floor drains will do their job perfectly when you need them to.

Fill Traps Often:

As described above, these Indoor floor drains take overflow from sinks, toilets, tubs, water heaters, washing machines, etc. Outdoor floor drains capture from surfaces during and after heavy rainstorms. Both of these floor drains are capable of efficiently and safely directing water to a sewer or municipal storm drain so that the floor stays dry. 

The primary purpose of these traps is to prevent sewer odors and gasses from making their way into your home. Make sure to fill the traps regularly to ensure they're working properly. If they dont simply pour water down each floor drain in your home. 

Clear Clogs Immediately:

Our floors collect different types of debris, from pet hair to dust bunnies, all of which end up clogging a floor drain. The first sign of drain clogging is slow draining. If you catch the clog, clean it as soon as possible to reduce flooding risk. Give some strong pumps with a plunger that can clear that minor clog. If issues remain the same, use a solution of baking soda and vinegar and try pouring it down the drain.

Clean Drains Regularly:

At least once every three months, inspect your drains for debris and if found clear them. If necessary, use a liquid drain cleaner, or, if your drains haven't been cleaned in a while, call a professional plumber to do the job for you. It's good to schedule professional cleanings with emergency plumbers Burlingame CA to prevent clogs and keep them running.

So, if sewer gas is your problem and your floor drains don’t let much water flow through them, be sure to refill the traps every month. And at least twice a year, you should give that drain a workout. If your floor draining appears to be clogged or slow, take some actions to remove the clog. Because floor drains are often connected by long pipes, it might not be the way to solve the issue. It’s a good idea to call a sewer and drain cleaning company to clean it out professionally.