A basement floor drain usually backs up because the line below it is clogged, either right at the drain or farther out in the main sewer line. Softener and furnace discharge can leave mineral buildup in the drain. If more than one fixture backs up, the blockage is likely in the main line.
When water comes up through a basement floor drain, it's because the line below can't carry it away. Sometimes the clog is right under the drain. Sometimes it's 20 feet out in the main line. Here are five floor drain jobs from Omaha and Gretna and what was causing each one.
Job 1: A Backed-Up Line in Omaha
We snaked out the basement floor drain and cleared the backed-up line. While we were there, we replaced the cap with a tee cone for the backwater valve.
Job 2: Mineral Buildup in Gretna
In this Gretna basement, the water softener and the furnace condensate both drain into the floor drain. Over time, that discharge left heavy buildup in the drain. We cabled the line to clear the backup and removed the buildup from the softener and condensate lines.
If your softener drains to a floor drain, the drain needs occasional attention. Our water softener service covers the drain setup too.
Job 3: A Main Line Blockage in Omaha
Here the blockage was in the main line, not the floor drain itself. We snaked through the floor drain to reach it and cleared the line.
Job 4: Clearing the Main Through a Toilet
Sometimes the best way into the main line is through a toilet. In this Omaha home, we pulled the downstairs toilet and ran our cable into the main through the toilet opening. The obstruction was about 20 feet out. After clearing it, we tested the line, reset the toilet, and checked that the main floor toilet flushed properly too.
Job 5: A Collapsed Floor Drain Line in Gretna
Sometimes the line itself has failed. This floor drain line had collapsed. We gave the homeowner an estimate for the repair and talked through removing the laundry tub and adding a standpipe for the washer and water softener.
When It's More Than a Clog
If your floor drain keeps backing up after it's cleared, there may be roots, a sag, or damage in the line. A sewer camera inspection shows what's going on inside before anyone digs.
Floor Drain Backing Up?
JTM Plumbing & Drain clears floor drains and main lines across Omaha and Gretna, with a flat-rate quote up front and our lifetime workmanship warranty. Call Omaha at (402) 933-3690 or Gretna at (402) 203-6193, or see our drain cleaning page.
Why does my floor drain back up when I do laundry?
The washer sends a lot of water at once. If the line is partly clogged, it can't keep up, so water comes back up the lowest drain, which is usually the floor drain.
What is a backwater valve?
It's a valve in the drain line that lets water flow out but closes if sewage tries to flow back in. It helps protect a basement from city sewer backups.
Can I use drain cleaner on a floor drain?
We don't recommend it. Chemical cleaners rarely reach a main line clog, and they can damage older pipes and sit in the trap.
Want a pro to take a look?
Tell us what's going on and a licensed JTM plumber will get back to you with a straight answer and honest, flat pricing. We're open 7AM to 5PM, Monday through Friday.
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