Two things that you can do to unclog a basement floor drain is to use a plunger and/or pouring a cocktail of baking soda and vinegar down the drain.
The Plunger Technique
Simply place the plunger over the drain and pump it up and down. This technique may be just enough to unclog that basement drain.
The Baking Soda & Vinegar Cocktail
Just in case the plunger didn’t unclog the drain – you can try pouring 1 cup of baking soda down the drain and then follow that with 2 cups of white vinegar. You’ll want to follow up with a drain auger (i.e. plumber’s snake)
When it comes to using an auger, slower is better. If you try to force it down the drain too fast it could actually bend, twist and before you know it, it’s bent completely back and you’ll just see it coming back up to you instead of down to the clog. Move it down the drain an inch at a time and even a bit slower when you feel like you’ve hit the clog.
Why Is My Basement Floor Drain Clogged?
You may be wondering why that floor drain in your basement is getting clogged at all?
Well, like any drain, it can easily collect debris, hair, etc. As more and more of these items get down that drain they can create a small mass that can keep on growing as more debris falls down that drain.
A floor drain may actually experience more clogs that a sink drain simply because it IS on the floor.
How Does A Basement Floor Drain Work?
Your basement’s floor drain is literally a drain in the floor of your basement that is connected to your sewer or a storm drain.
It’s purpose is to allow any excess water that may collect in your basement to drain out of the basement and away from your home.
It’s job is very similar to that of a sump pump. The difference is that this is simply a drain whereas a sump pump is a mechanical appliance that uses power (usually electricity) to actively pull and remove water from your basement floor.
If your property is near a water table or your home is at a lower level than your street (many homes in Georgia have driveways that go down from the street to the garage) then your lower level or basement may be susceptible to flooding. In these instances we recommend that you have a floor drain and a sump pump in your basement.
Can You Put Drano In A Basement Floor Drain?
Chemical drain cleaners like Drano or Liquid Plumbr tend to be harsh and abrasive on your drain pipes so if you do use a commercial product we suggest you look for a bio-enzyme drain cleaner.
If you have any questions about basement floor drains, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-505-8570. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.