What to Do When Your Basement Floor Drain is Backing Up

Is your basement drain backing up? For many homeowners with basements, drain backups are more than an inconvenience. Backups are commonly caused by clogged, blocked, or misaligned drains. Other times, the age of your drains may be to blame. However, many clogs fly under the radar. If your home or business is showing signs of a basement drain backup, you need Cleanup & Total Restoration. 

Drain backups can lead to foul odors and flooded basements. Although it’s impossible to curb bad weather, you can still take proactive measures. The best thing you can do in situations like this is to call a professional.

Signs Your Basement Floor Drain is Clogged

Some basement drain backups take a while to appear and professional attention could be the only plausible answer. If you’re wondering whether or not your drain is backed up, consider these signs:

• Water is found in your basement after rain
• The drain pushes water up after you wash clothes
• You hear unusual toilet sounds when flushing 
• It takes longer for your shower or sink to empty

Common Causes of a Basement Floor Drain Backup

Backups are hard on your drain and, if untreated, can create larger, more costly issues. Whether from clogs, weather, or physical impact, it’s important to give your basement floor drains extra care. For this reason, CTR recommends mitigating as soon as possible. At the first sign of a clog, call a professional.

The first step in preventing drain backups is knowing where they originate. Organic intrusions such as roots can form beneath the surface, which can permeate through your pipes. Internal leaks are commonly found in aging, misaligned pipes. 

Regardless of the source location, be aware of these common drain backups:

Clogged Sewer Line

Blockage from the main sewer line can lead to backflow through the basement drains. Common sewer line blockages can be caused by various debris such as hair, baby wipes, paper towels, and other build-ups of waste stuck in your sewer line.

Typically this issue can be resolved through sewer drain cleaning methods such as hydro jetting or snaking that can remove the various debris from your sewer line.

Heavy Rain or Flooding

Excessive rainfall can overwhelm municipal sewer systems and cause ground-level flooding, leading to home backups.

The most common solution to this is to invest in a high-quality sump pump that can handle heavy rain. A sump pump will help redirect heavy flows of rainwater away from your home and prevent flooding.

Tips & Insights: Water Leaking Into Your Basement After Heavy Rain? Here’s What to Do

Tree Root Intrusion

Tree roots, from large trees growing near your home, can make their way to sewer lines over extended periods of time, causing blockages and backups to your basement floor drain.

Unfortunately, this is a more challenging problem to address as the only solution to this is usually through hiring a professional tree root removal or restoration company. A professional can provide a sewer inspection and may be able to remove any roots that are causing problems.

Grease or Debris Buildup on Floor Drain

Grease and other particles can thicken inside pipes and cause your floor drain to be obstructed. Additionally, a sink, toilet, or any type of plumbing system in a nearby bathroom with a water leak or missing p-trap can result in a basement floor drain blockage.

The first step to resolving the blockage is by inspecting your basement floor drain and removing any surrounding debris. If the issue is still not resolved after the debris has been removed, we recommend calling a professional to inspect and repair any damaged parts.

Improper Slope or Pipe Damage

Poor installation or deterioration of pipes can result in backups. This is more common in older homes where the ground may have settled under the drain lines causing dips or flat spots. Eventually, these dips or flat spots can cause debris to pile up and lead to drain backups.

Usually, if the floor drain is improperly installed and causing problems, the floor drain will need to be re-installed by a professional plumber.

Immediate Actions to Take When Your Basement Floor Drain Is Backing Up

If your basement drain is backing up, you can stop the spread of water by following the actions below. Of course, the best action to take is to contact us at CTR. Below is what’s expected immediately following a basement drain backup:

• Turn off inside water
• Turn off the water supply
• Contact a professional
• Contact CTR for the best cleanup solutions

Does My Insurance Cover Basement Drain Backups?

If water has spread into other rooms, call your insurance provider. Depending on the size and severity of the damage, your provider may offer coverage for floods or structural damage. Most belongings that have been damaged in your basement, however, won’t be covered.

At CTR, we speak to insurance providers directly, so you can get the best coverage possible. Remember to document every example of water damage present. Our goal is to get you coverage that doesn’t cut corners. Cleanup & Total Restoration accepts more insurance providers. 

Here are a few examples of what is and is not covered by insurance:

• Covered: Sudden incidents like sewer line blockages can lead to water damage.
• Not covered: Damaging from gradual buildup, root intrusion, or lack of maintenance is excluded often

How CTR Can Help Repair Basement Drain Backups

We offer basement drain backup cleanup and restoration in Southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon. We’re available to assist you in reinstating your basement drain any time, any day. 

Cleanup & Total Restoration is top-rated for a reason—just ask our loyal customers. We promise to provide you with the best services on your time. Take a look at what we offer our customers:

Emergency Response

Our technicians work around the clock to provide emergency assistance. At any hour, obtain comprehensive basement drain restoration.

Sewage Cleanup and Sanitation

Sewage cleanup is a messy process. We handle the removal and sanitation processes necessary for clearing sewage blockages.

Water Extraction and Drying

For a full recovery, our team will first remove all standing water. Then, we’ll dry impacted areas to their original condition.

Damage Assessment and Restoration

Before restoration, our team will assess the severity of the water damage present. We then rebuild your home to look, feel, and function like before.

Preventative Maintenance and Advice

Although we don’t necessarily provide preventive care, our expert advice does help prevent future damage. We’ll tell you exactly what to focus on for the best results.

Tips & Insights: Steps to take When Your Basement Floods

Emergency Basement Flooding Restoration Is a Call Away

Basements are meant to store belongings, not water. Swift action in the event of a basement drain backing up is essential for complete restoration. In addition to remediating basement drains, Cleanup & Total Restoration mitigates common plumbing issues. Drains are no feat for our team of experts. For appliance, roof, or ceiling leaks, call CTR for immediate service near you.