And while it is commonly held that a sewer drain backs up largely because there is a blockage or break in the sewer line some homes have floor drains attached to the storm sewer system.
Floor drain backing up after rain.
A sewer drain clog can be a serious problem that may qualify as a plumbing emergency and a potential health concern.
Basically you just disconnect the sewer from that floor drain tying the house sewer back in after the floor drain.
Advantages of doing this again as in the above fix it works and the disadvantages are also price.
Without a route to the main sewer system or septic field wastewater may have nowhere to go but to back up into your fixtures or up through floor drains.
If the flood came from city sewer water there actually isn t much you can do to remedy the problem other than wait it out.
So with the main drain backing up wastewater will continue to build up in the line until it overflows and backs up out of the floor drain.
From which the wastewater will be absorbed into the ground.
Storm sewer water from the municipal storm sewer system backing up in to the home s perimeter foundation drain.
Once the rain ends the water level should return to normal and the water in your home will drain.
A sewer backup can be deceiving.
So your basement floor drain is backing up and flooding.
Sewage will enter first through the lowest point then travel to plumbing fixtures as the backup becomes more severe.
First you need to determine if it is local waste produced in your home that can t get out due to a blockage in the main line leaving your home or if it is waste from the sewer system coming back in called a backflow.
What causes basement floor drain backing up.
If you detect even the slightest smell of gas after a flood call your utility provider immediately.
Sewer drain versus storm drain.
A drain check valve will allow water to run out of the drain as designed but prevent water from back flowing out of the drain.
In many older houses with basements mostly pre 1980 there is a perimeter foundation drain outside the exterior wall at the level of the basement floor next to the footings.
For homes that don t have a basement floor drain drain line clogs can cause backups in the lowest fixtures of the home like ground level tubs sinks or showers.
A trench drain or typical floor drain intended for rain water may lead to a dry well.
There s water in the basement.
Although it may seem like it not all problems related to the backed up sewer line have to do with actual clogs and defected pipes.
A blockage can occur if a portion of the line has broken but generally a blockage is.
Prevent sewer backups from plumbing fixtures.
A sewer drain and a storm sewer are two different things and sometimes older houses have both.