Rusting Floor Drain in Basement Plugged

by Robert Hughes
(Boulder)

Hello,

So the problem is that the basement cement floor drain has been backed up for who knows how many years. The drain cover is metal and 25% rusted through and the pipe leading down is plugged with gunk and rusted metal.

What can be done?

Answer: Your question is a really interesting one.

Does your basement tend to flood? Do you smell sewer fumes? If you can clean out the current system, all the better. There should be a P-trap below the floor. These tend to dry out and allow fumes to enter the basement. Adding cooking oil will reduce the evaporation of the water in the trap.

If you smell gas, the best recourse is to chip up the concrete and install a new drain with a built in check valve.

Depending upon the age of your property, the drain could easily be cast iron pipe. Splicing from the new pipe to the old is easy with a coupler. Fill the hole with new concrete and finish to match the current floor. PVC fittings never rust. Some basement drains go into the sewer system and others go the storm water system.

Good luck,
Dave