To find the u trap for your floor drain look nearby for two large capped end pipes.
Floor drain trap clogged.
In fact floor drains tend to become clogged more often than other drains simply because they are on the floor where dirt and debris tend to collect.
Using a plunger is a very straightforward method to unclog a floor drain.
How to clear a floor drain loosen brass plugs photo by merle henkenius.
Look inside the drain.
It s not an uncommon occurrence.
For clogged floor drains such as those in basements and showers a garden hose can be effective in unclogging drains especially if the clog is not close to the opening.
But what if you don t have an auger or plumbing snake.
Then turn the water on full force for a few moments.
Attach the hose to a faucet feed the hose into the drain as far as it will go and jam rags around the hose at the opening.
A drain trap is a component of a drain that s designed to do what it s called.
But sometimes the clog is deep in the drainpipe and requires more work and extra powerful tools to root out.
If your floor drain connects to the sewer system and you smell sewer gasses the trap beneath the drain is dry or the plug for the cleanout is missing.
Place the plunger on the hole.
Clogged drains are always a hassle but some like a plugged p trap under the sink or a stopped up toilet requires only a wrench a plunger and a little elbow grease to unclog.
If needed apply petroleum jelly on the sides of the plunger to give it a better seal.
Here s what you need to do to 1.
Now that you ve gathered all the tools to fix the clog the first step is to clean out the drain trap.
You do not necessarily need to open or even locate the trap for your floor drain in order to clear a clog and restore freely flowing drainage.
The hole going straight down leads to a curved portion of the drain called the p trap.
Common causes signs of basement floor drain clogs ok so your basement floor drain is backing up.
This three pronged attack will clear any matter clinging to the sides of the trap.
Floor drain traps often have only these end caps exposed with the pipes running below the floor.
It traps water other liquids and gas to prevent the infiltration of sewer gas in your house.
Debris hair dirt.
In many basements garages and laundry rooms there are floor drains that carry away wastewater from central air conditioners washing machines water heaters and snow covered cars.
The p trap contains water that prevents sewer gases from escaping into your home.
You ll see a hole go straight down into the drain and a clean out plug on the right hand side of the drain hole.
Since the clog cannot pass through the floor drain on its own we are dislodging it and forcing it down the drain pipe by appying a pump and vacuum pressure.
Will your basement floor drain always remain clogged.
If nothing drains into the floor drain prevent sewer odor by pouring a pitcher of water down the drain every couple of weeks.
