How Basement Drains Work

Have you been experiencing water problems such as flooding and leaking down your basement? Aside from serving as a storage area for extra items and clothing, some households transform their basements into entertainment rooms, playrooms, or functional spaces. This is why it’s essential to ensure that your house’s lower level is safe from damage that may occur anytime. Water damages are not something to be underestimated, since they cost you a lot of money and time. In this article, we will discuss how basement drains work and why you likely need to have one.

Quick Overview on How Basement Drains Work

These three main key points will be discussed throughout the article to help you understand how basement drains work:

• Basic Mechanics
• Preventing Gas Infiltration
• Unclogging

  How Basement Drains Work Video

Basic Mechanics

The way basement drains work is quite simple. Gravity naturally transfers water from the house to the lowest point where it is then drained. Basement drains are installed at the floor’s lowest point, making use of slopes to efficiently transport water out of the house. Once the drain has collected water through the help of gravity, the water is then transported into a sewer system and then combines with wastewater from other drains present in the system.

For properties that have septic tanks, some basement drains may lead to dry wells, drainage ditches, or leach fields instead, to prevent flooding the septic system. Nowadays, some basement drain, modern designs use pumps to move water more effectively Preventing Gas Infiltration

Certain components are considered indispensable parts of basement drains – drain traps and clean out plugs.The drain traps used for basement drain are similar to those used under bathroom or kitchen fixtures. The drain pipe, which resembles a ‘U’ in shape, is constantly filled with water even if the water is not running.

Drain traps help by preventing sewer gases from getting into your home. These traps usually require you to have a vent that leads outside your property to maintain neutral air pressure within the system. This allows water to flow freely. Next, we have the clean out plugs.

These rubber stoppers are held in place by a wing bolt and nut. Clean out pertain to openings inside the basement drains that allow access whenever blockages happen.The clean out part of a basement drain is usually secured by a plug. However, clean out plugs can get damaged and rusted due to corrosion. When this happens, it is advised to have your plug replaced. Proper maintenance of both your drain traps and clean out plugs is essential to keep sewer gases from infiltrating your home.

Unclogging

If you ever experience a clogged basement drain, the process of unclogging it is not different compared to the other pipes. Blocked basement drains are first unclogged using a plunger. If this doesn’t work, removing the clean out plug is necessary. This will give the plumber better access to the drain. Expert plumbers have several advanced methods and are equipped with specialized equipment. The method they’ll choose depends on the severity of your clog problem. In some cases, a water hose may be inserted into the drain to flush the debris out

Why You Need to Consider a Basement Drainage System

Many of us have our laundry sinks and washing machines in our basements. If you decided to turn your basement into a functional space, you might have installed a sink or bathroom there. This greatly heightens the probability of water damages occurring in your home. To prevent this stressful and costly experience,you need to have a proper drainage system. Even if you don’t constantly deal with water in your basement, water damages can still happen.

If something breaks within your property, it may cause water to reach the lower level of your house. Sometimes, homeowners don’t realize it right away and therefore experience unnecessary damages. Simply put, having a drain will assure you that you are protected against water damages.

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