Basement floor drain cleaning in Minneapolis

What is floor drain cleaning?

Floor drain cleaning clears the basement floor drain, its trap, and the pipe that connects it to the main building drain. When a floor drain backs up, cleaning often extends into the main line too.

A typical basement floor drain is a round grate set into the concrete slab. Below the grate is a trap that holds water to block sewer gas, and below that a pipe that ties into the building drain under the floor. In many Minneapolis homes the laundry standpipe or laundry tub drains nearby, so the floor drain also handles the washer's overflow.

Because it's the lowest opening connected to the sewer, the floor drain works like a warning light. Getting professional drain cleaning when it first gurgles is far cheaper than cleaning up a flooded, finished basement.

How do pros clear a basement floor drain?

They clear the trap, then cable or jet through to the main, and often camera the line to see what's downstream.

Grate and trap cleaning

The technician removes the grate and scoops sediment, lint and debris from the trap. Floor drains collect sand, mud and laundry lint over years, which slowly reduce capacity.

Cable through the drain

A cable machine can enter through the floor drain when the blockage is in its connection or when the main cleanout isn't accessible. Many technicians still prefer the main cleanout for clearing the full lateral.

Main line clearing

If the floor drain is backing up rather than just draining slowly, the real clog is usually in the main line toward the street, which calls for sewer line cleaning.

Backflow protection

For homes that back up during heavy storms, a provider may discuss a backwater valve. It's a one-way device that lets water leave but closes when the sewer surges back toward the house. Installation typically involves a plumbing permit.

What are 8 warning signs of a floor drain problem?

Water, sound and smell at the floor drain all mean something downstream needs attention.

1. Water pools around the grate after laundry. The drain can't keep up with the washer's discharge.
2. Gurgling when upstairs fixtures drain. Air is being pushed out of a restricted line.
3. Dirty water rises when you flush. The main line is blocked and wastewater is taking the lowest exit.
4. Sewer smell near the drain. The trap may be dry, or gas is escaping from a damaged line.
5. A dark ring or residue around the grate. Water has backed up and receded before.
6. Backups after heavy rain or snowmelt. The sewer system is surcharged or clear water is getting in.
7. Standing water that drains very slowly. Sediment or debris has built up in the trap.
8. Water seeping up around the drain edge. The seal between drain and slab, or the pipe below, may be failing.

What causes basement floor drain backups?

Most backups start downstream in the main line, and a few start at the drain itself.

A blocked main line. Roots, wipes or grease in the lateral stop everything, and wastewater from upstairs comes up at the floor drain first.

Lint and sediment. Washer lint and grit accumulate in the floor drain trap and its connection, especially where the washer discharges into a laundry tub that drains to the floor.

Storm and snowmelt surges. Spring thaw and heavy summer storms put a lot of water into the ground. Groundwater leaking into old sewer pipes and connections adds load to the system, and in some storms the sewer backs water toward homes.

Improper connections. Sump pumps, gutters or foundation drains tied into the sanitary line add clear water the sewer wasn't meant to carry. Minneapolis prohibits clear water from sump pumps, downspouts and foundation drains in the sanitary sewer and requires owners to disconnect it, so a provider may flag a connection like this.

Dry trap. A floor drain that rarely gets water loses its trap seal to evaporation, letting sewer gas in. That's a smell problem, not a clog.

What can you check yourself first?

A few quick tests tell you whether it's the drain or the main.

• Pour a bucket of water into the floor drain to refill a dry trap. If the smell stops, that was the problem.
• Lift the grate and remove visible lint, hair and debris with a gloved hand or a small scoop.
• Run an upstairs sink for a minute and watch the drain. Rising water means the main line.
• Stop running the washer until the drain is cleared. A single load can overflow a restricted drain.
• Move boxes, rugs and electronics away from the drain.

What happens when a pro clears your floor drain?

Expect a check of the drain itself, then of the main line behind it.

1. Assess. Is water rising or just slow? Did it happen during a storm?
2. Protect the area. Containment around the drain and cleanout.
3. Clean the trap. Remove sediment and lint from the grate and trap.
4. Clear downstream. Cable from the cleanout or the drain to the city main.
5. Test. Run the washer's drain and several fixtures together.
6. Inspect. A camera inspection finds roots, sags or breaks that caused the backup.
7. Recommend. Maintenance, a backwater valve discussion, or repair if needed.

What affects the cost of floor drain cleaning?

Pricing is set by each provider. These factors make the biggest difference:

When is a floor drain backup an emergency?

Whenever sewage is coming up and not going down. Stop all water use in the house right away. Every flush and faucet upstairs adds to what's on the basement floor. Call for emergency drain cleaning, photograph the damage for your records, and check whether your homeowner's policy covers sewer backup, which is often a separate endorsement.

Floor drain cleaning FAQ

Related services and areas

If the floor drain backup came with gurgling toilets, you likely need sewer line cleaning. Floor drain calls are a staple around the finished basements of Nokomis, the split-levels of Brooklyn Park, and homes in Coon Rapids and Longfellow.