Where Do Basement Floor Drains Go? (Find Out Now!)
Just looking at your basement floor drain, you’d probably never guess it’s an essential part of your home’s plumbing system. The basement floor drain is an important component that serves as an outlet for undesired water in your home. But it’s nearly impossible to figure out where basement floor drains go just by looking at them.
Most basement floor drains connect to your home’s sewer system and can drain appliances like washing machines and water softeners. Some basement floor drains connect to a sump pit, which is the hole that contains the sump pump. Other basement floor drains connect to a sewer pit with an ejector pump; this is most common with basement bathrooms.
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What Are The Components Of A Basement Floor Drain?
When you look at your home’s basement floor drain, all you can see from the exterior is the cover grate. Removing the cover grate will reveal a catch bowl, a drainpipe, and a plumbing trap. Some drains also have a second outlet or additional cleanout.
The drain is constructed with a large drain hole at the bottom. There’s also a smaller drain hole with a plug on the side.
You’ll see different types of materials depending on the age of your drain. The newest drains are made from PVC piping. Meanwhile, older drains are often built from cast iron. Some particularly old models may even be constructed from clay tile.
Regardless of the materials used, basement floor drains are always located at the lowest point of your basement floor.
Where Does My Basement Floor Drain Lead To?
You may know that your basement floor drain is an outlet for unwanted water in your basement. But where does this outlet lead to? In most cases, it is connected to your home’s sewer system, a sump pit, or a sewer pit with an ejector pump.
Sewer System
In the majority of cases, your basement floor drain is connected to your sewer system. This means it can drain water softeners, basement laundry sinks, and washing machines.
Floor drains connected to the sewer system are usually able to keep bad odors from filling your basement. But if the plug for the cleanout is missing or the trap beneath the drain is dry, a sewage smell can develop. Replacing any missing plugs and pouring water down the drain on a biweekly basis usually solves this issue.
A common problem with floor drains connected to the sewer system is backflow. If the main drain becomes clogged, sewage can seep upwards through the floor drain and into your basement. A backflow valve can prevent this issue.
Sump Pit
Although most basement floor drains are connected to the sewer system, some are connected to a sump pit. A sump pit consists of a hole with a gravel base constructed in the lowest part of your basement. There, a pump and pipes lift the water to the outdoor surface of the home.
Note that a sump pit is not the same thing as a sump pump. A sump pump removes the water that collects in the basement so that it doesn’t flood. It often contains electrical components and continues to function during power outages.
Meanwhile, a sump pit is a hole that collects water. The sump pump sits inside the sump pit. When water enters the sump pit, an activator automatically turns on the sump pump. It then moves the water out of the home using pipes.
Sewer Pit With Ejector Pump
A third possibility is that your basement floor drain is connected to a sewer pit with an ejector pump. If this is the case, then it can drain water from your washing machine, sink, and water softener. You’ll most often see sewer pits with ejector pumps in homes that have basement laundry rooms and bathrooms.
Sewer pits collect water that accumulates inside due to HVAC condensation, humidifiers, floor drains, and laundry machines. Inside the sewer pit is an ejector pump that pumps the waste and other material into the sewage system.
Why Is My Basement Floor Drain Backing Up?
If your basement floor drain is backing up, it’s probably not an issue with the drain itself. Instead, it’s likely another problem with your plumbing system is causing the backup. The three most common causes are clogged drain lines, sewer line clogs, and sewer line damage.
Clogged Drain Lines
When there’s a clog in any drain line in your house, it can cause backups in your basement floor drain. The basement floor drain is at the lowest point of the structure. Therefore, it’s the first place water will go when it can’t move through the drain lines.
Sewer Line Clogs
Sewer line clogs can also stop the flow of water and lead to basement floor drain backups. The water is likely to back up until it finds a release point. This is typically the basement floor drain, since it’s the lowest drain in the home.
Sewer Line Damage
Sewer lines can develop blockages that cause basement floor drain backups. You might notice cracks or holes in the sewer line. Other signs of sewer line damage include sagging or collapsed lines. Tree roots can also misalign the sewer line in some cases.
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Related Questions
What is basement drain tile?
Drain tile consists of porous pipes that run along your house’s foundation. The pipes encourage water to flow through them, rather than seeping through cracks in the foundation. Without drain tile, the water would leak into the foundation and leave damage behind.
Why is my basement drain backing up when it rains?
If your basement drain is backing up when it rains, an overload of the sewer system is likely to blame. Heavy rain and melting snow can cause water and debris to build up in the municipal sanitary sewer. The excess water then flows backward into your home’s sewer line and overflows into your basement.
Where does the drain in my basement floor go?
In most cases, basement floor drains are connected to your sewer system. Sometimes, they are connected to a sump pit or sewer pit with an ejector pump.
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With a lifelong passion for writing plus strong enthusiasm for home improvement and DIY projects, joining the team at Upgraded Home was an easy choice. Jessica Allen likes to share helpful information with current and aspiring homeowners. Aside from writing, Jessica loves doing yoga, playing the piano, and dabbling in graphic design.
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