Key points
- The floor drain is usually the lowest drain in the house, so a main line blockage shows up there first.
- Clear water can still be contaminated if it came from the sewer line.
- Stop using water in the house and keep people and pets away.
- Clearing the line and a camera inspection show why it happened.
Common causes
- A blocked main sewer line — roots, grease, wipes or a sag. See cast iron drain pipe failure.
- Heavy laundry or appliance discharge into a slow line.
- Groundwater or storm water entering the system in spring — see high groundwater seepage.
- A failed sewage ejector pump in some basements — see sewage ejector pump failure.
What to do right away
- Stop using water anywhere in the house.
- Keep children and pets out of the basement.
- Turn off power to the basement if the panel is dry and safe to reach — see electrical safety.
- Photograph everything for your insurer.
- Call to have the line cleared and the water removed.
Cleanup
Water from a floor drain backup is treated as contaminated. Carpet, pad and the bottom of drywall it touched usually come out; concrete is cleaned and disinfected; everything is dried and checked with moisture meters. See what to do after a sewer backup.
Insurance and prevention
Standard homeowner policies usually exclude sewer backup unless an endorsement was added — see sewer backup coverage. To lower the risk, read preventing sewer backups. General information, not insurance advice.
In Provo, see sewage cleanup in Provo.
Common questions
My floor drain smells like sewer but hasn’t backed up. Why?
The trap under the drain has probably dried out, letting sewer gas through. Pouring water into the drain every few weeks refills the trap. See sewer gas smell in the house.
Should I plug the floor drain?
Not without advice. Floor drains often handle water heater and furnace drainage, so a plug can cause a different flood. Ask a licensed plumber about the right protection, such as a backwater valve.
It backs up every spring. Why?
Groundwater or storm water getting into the sewer system, or roots growing into the line each season. A camera inspection shows which one it is.
Floor drain backing up now?
Call (385) 250-2825 — answered live 24/7 by the Vault crew.