ResidentialBasements
Floor Drain Backups in the Basement
Nothing in a typical house sits lower than the basement floor drain. When it backs up, it is often the first sign of a blockage farther down the line.
Spacious basement room featuring stylish decor, large couch, and TV setup.
- Traps and cleanouts opened instead of forcing a cable through the fixture
- Cable heads and jetter nozzles matched to the pipe size
- Line run under load and proven clear before we pack up
- Camera look offered when the same line keeps blocking
- Licensing details confirmed when you call
- Residential
- Commercial
- Markham & York Region
How the job runs
- A puddle forms at the grate each time the laundry drains.
- A sewer smell rises from the grate.
- Gurgling when toilets flush upstairs.
- Dirty water around the drain after heavy rain.
What's included on this job
What we open
The floor drain grate and trap, and the main cleanout nearby.
What we bring
A sectional cable machine, camera, and a plug set to isolate parts of the system.
What we replace
The trap primer, a cracked drain body, or a backwater valve flap stuck open.
How we prove it
A load of laundry drained and toilets flushed with the floor drain watched.
Signs you need this
- Water rising in the drain when the washer empties
- Sewage smell from the grate
- Standing water that drains slowly
- Debris pushed up through the grate
What causes it in Markham homes
A floor drain ties into the main sewer line under the slab. If that line is restricted by roots, grease or debris, water backs up to the lowest point, which is the floor drain. In older houses, the drain may also be connected to weeping tile or a downspout, overloading it in storms. A dry trap is another common cause of odour: if the drain is rarely used, the water seal evaporates and sewer gas rises through it.
How we handle the job
- We lift the grate and check the trap.
- We run a cable through the drain or the main cleanout to clear the blockage.
- We flush and test with water from upstairs fixtures.
- If backups repeat, we recommend a camera inspection of the main line.
- We discuss a backwater valve if your home is at risk of sewer surcharge.
For odours only
Once a month, empty a jug of water down the grate so the trap stays full. A trap primer, which adds water automatically, can be installed for drains that never see use.
From the van: Do not cover a floor drain with flooring or boxes. It needs to stay open to do its job in a leak.
What changes the cost
Where the blockage sits, the condition of the line and access to the main cleanout all matter. Repeat problems may call for a camera or jetting.
A floor drain is the lowest door into the sewer. When it backs up, the blockage is downstream of it.
Call before it gets worse
A floor drain backing up with grey water today can bring sewage tomorrow. Clear the line while it is still just a warning.