The consequences of your basement floor drain clogged up can be severe. Many problems can arise with this: firstly, water doesn’t drain away as quickly as it used to, it sits on the floor, leading to the possibility of a flood. Most of these situations arise due to a choke in the drain line. It is pretty serious if a clogged basement drain is not tackled by a professional who can do it right. There is the risk of water getting into the detrimental building, leading to fungi, mold, and mildew in the house.
It may seem easy to do it yourself, but the do-it-yourself method might not be the best option for basement floor drains since they are complicated. It is better to let the professionals handle the mess. This blog will discuss the most common reasons for a basement floor drain clog and how to proceed, including selecting a service.
Reasons Why Your Basement Floor Drain Clogged Up
If we can determine how a basement floor drain got blocked, we can prevent this from happening. Some of the most frequent reasons behind the blockage of the basement floor drains are as follows:
- Debris and Dust Build Up
Dirt, dust, and other foreign objects can be drawn into your basement drain over time. This is made worse when the drain is used for washing machines, sinks, and other such fixtures in the home. If the debris buildup worsens, the water flow may be obstructed, resulting in overflowing the drain and water spilling out all over the basement.
- Tree Roots
A more severe but common reason for a blocked basement is tree roots growing into the piping wall and plugging the drains; this frequently happens in old homes where giant trees are situated. It is common knowledge that roots go looking for water sources, but if there is a slight hairline crack in the pipe, it can invite roots into the pipe, eventually making a complete blockage. Not only will this prevent the water from passing through, but it will also cause significant damage to the integrity of the plumbing, rendering it useless and in need of repair or replacement altogether.
- Soap, Grease And Hair
If the basement drain is attached to the one from the washing machine or any other plumbing equipment, it will always have access to substances like soap, grease, and hair. Over time, those materials will pile up and harden, giving rise to tough blockages that require the use of professional tools to eliminate.
- Blocked Drainage Systems
Sometimes, the obstruction is not the cause of the blockage but the damage to the pipe itself. Deterioration, misplaced angles, or broken areas of the pipe can prevent water from draining. Professional plumbers usually need to address these problems, as they are not always visible and require special equipment to find or detect them.
Why You Shouldn’t Attempt Do-It-Yourself Remedies.
When a drain is clogged, reaching for a plunger or pouring chemical drain cleaners down the sink seems like an easy fix to what appears to be a minor problem. Such quick measures may seem like the easiest way out, but they often create more problems than they solve.
- Provisional Measures
While some do-it-yourself tips and techniques may help temporarily unclog the drain, the root cause of the problem is not likely to be resolved this way. If there is, for instance, a blockage caused by tree roots or a fracture in the pipe, a biological agent or a restroom plunger would not be the fix. These interventions are, at best, temporary; expect them to offer relief for a short period only and come back, sometimes more robust than before.
- Risk of Damage to the Piping Wall
Employing the wrong materials or apparatus can lead to persistent consequences for the piping systems. Drain cleaning chemicals sold in shops contain powerful corrosive substances proven to damage pipes when used frequently. Also, without a practical understanding of the different elements of the piping structure, the use of augers, snakes, and many others will cause all sorts of jarring and displacement that is very expensive to correct.
- Gut Feeling Right, Diagnostics Wrong
A significant risk related to trying to DIY a fix for drains is misdiagnosing the root of the problem. As a case in point, if you find that your drain isn’t draining entirely or as fast as it used to, you might think it is only because of some build-up of dirt or something, but what if there is a broken down pipe in there, or roots of a tree invading the place? The absence of properly designed viewing mechanisms such as cameras means that drains have their problems misrepresented, and the accompanying attempts to fix the problem only compound into more problems that lead to the need for repair.
Why You Should Rely on a Professional for Clogged Drain
More often than not, basement drains are more intricate, calling for a professional. Below are the reasons why using a professional service is the most effective way to unclog the basement floor drain:
- Skilled Diagnosis
When you hire a professional, they have the right tools for the trade and are knowledgeable enough to know the problem. A particularly useful tool is a sewer camera, which lets professionals quickly inspect the drain to determine what caused the blockage. Be it a simple debris clog, a more extreme pipe fracture, or even an invasion of tree roots, the professional knows the steps for solution and easy draining.
- Targeted Eliminatory Measures
High-pressure techniques like hydrojetting, which can eliminate some of the most challenging obstructions, are just one of the many tools available to experts and are often the best way to fix the problem. No DIY method will even come close to their effectiveness or efficiency.
- Prevention Mechanisms
Expert professionals are also trained to look for the root cause of a problem and ensure that it will not occur again. If tree roots are still the problem, they remove the existing blockage and suggest options like trenchless pipes or root removal and cutting to avoid the blockage’s recurrence. They can also recommend effective procedures, which include using drain covers and periodical cleanouts to keep your basement drain in good working order.
All Things Considered for Your Basement Floor Drains
A blocked floor drain in the basement should be checked out by a professional as soon as possible, for it can lead to severe water damage, foul odors, and possibly the destruction of your house’s structure. Even though you might be able to find a few DIY solutions, chances are that they will not address the inner problem and may also create further complications.
Leave the drainage problems to the clogged basement drain specialists. They will take all the necessary measures to carry out proper diagnosis and repairs and even offer measures to mitigate a recurrence of the issues. So, are your drains blocked? This is the perfect time to seek help and restore your basement. Call True Blue Plumbing for all your draining and plumbing needs. We’re here to help your home run smoothly.
