Most homeowners prefer to leave their basements enough to be left alone. Everything that happens in the basement isn’t clear because it’s not in your line of view. So instead of tinkering, you let it go about its business. However, basements don’t self-regulate, so even if there is no apparent issue, you may still require getting your drain examined or repaired.
It’s the same for the floor drains in basements. Your home won’t flood, and your pipes will not cause an enormous leak when there’s a problem with the drain. However, you’ll get met by a sour sewer odor that will make any homeowner sneer. However, make a call to the pros rather than canceling your plans for a dinner party because of shame.
Maintain Your Home’s Compliance
When we talk about the purpose of a floor drain, it will become apparent why they are obligatory. But suffice it to state that for the time being, the floor drain removes excess water and provides protection from dangerous gases.
Instead of dealing with the mess of wet drywall, you can afford to create an additional drain on the floor. Some homes include more than one-floor drain. However, this is not required. Some homeowners prefer having another floor drain for their laundry rooms. If you think about it, your washer has a capacity of around 150 liters of water. If the drain line of your washer fails, this quantity of liquid can cause severe damage.
What Is a Floor Drain?
The floor drain can get described as a U-shaped fitting connected to the drain branch that connects directly to the drainpipe. It is a P-trap (a curving, sloped pipe that collects waste and stops backflow into the home) in which water can sit in the line for a good portion of the day.
Which Purpose Does It Serve?
The water that is sat inside the P-trap forms an obstacle, which stops sewer gases from getting into areas of your home. At the same time, an empty pipe would let in harmful gases from the drain, and the floor drain’s liquid blocks it. In this way, it’s evident how the drain on your floor is critical to plumbing safety.
It’s a fact that a problem with your floor drains opens your home to extremely unpleasant smells. If an old P-trap made of clay has cracks, water leaks from it, leaking to the lower part of the soil, causing the scent of a noxious, unpleasant odor to infiltrate.
When Problems Arise
The image above shows the floor drain of an older building constructed of clay. Due to cracks in the bottom of the drain, the water was unable to hold in the pipe, and it leaked out. The homeowners complained of an unpleasant smell coming from the basement. They contacted Ottawa Plumbing Service in Ottawa to eliminate the odor. The odd thing they observed was that the scent was not constant and on and off, but it did not last forever, a perpetual incense.
Suppose you notice any strange scents from the basement or smells of sewage. If the atmospheric pressure is high and the smelly odors don’t get attracted into the house by the pipe. However, that distinct sewer smell gets released through the drain when the pressure drops. In that case, it’s ideal to take care to fix the issue quickly.
Think About Replacing Your Old Floor Drain
The old floor drains can get replaced by newer PVC pipes, which are less likely to break and cause problems than their clay counterparts. All connections to the pipe and its fittings are secured, meaning the water will not escape from the P-trap, and the smell of sewers won’t inundate your home.
Over time, the plumbing codes have to get modified as progress gets made in the plumbing field. The latest one calls for installing a “primer tube” that provides a small amount of water into the floor drain to ensure it does not dry out.
Ottawa Plumbing Service is an expert in below-ground and underground drain system installation. We’re qualified to assist you with strengthening your floor drains and ensure that the plumbing in your basement is a fresh, clean appearance.
We have a guide for drainage repair and replacement, or, even better, contact us at (613) 317-1682 or email at info@ottawaplumbingservice.com. Ottawa Plumbing Service is available 24/7 for plumbing emergencies and has years of experience dealing with drains.
