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DULUTHMEDIC987 · May 1, 2008, 07:57 PM

Hey I have basement floor drain that has water coming out of it and staying on the basement floor. The water then slowly went back down into the drain (this took all day), and now it started to very slowly come back up again(this evening). I do have a sump/ejection pump in the basement in the same room. The pump is working well. The well for the pump has all the basement water (laundry, shower, toilet, sink) waste go into it and then pumps it out to my septic system. The water is not dirty or smelly. I moved into this house 3 years ago and the only problem I had was water coming up from the floor drain when the pump quit working. After I fixed it, there was no problem. I thought the floor drain was leading into the pump well, because of water coming out of the drain when the pump failed. Wondering what could be causing this. Is it a drain tile issue? The water level does not change or bubble when water is being used in the basement, and the pump is pushing the water out to the septic. The house was built in 1975. The septic was cleaned out one and a half years ago. It does have a leeching field.Any answers?

superplumber · May 1, 2008, 09:52 PM

Hello, it could be that your floordrain is almost completely plugged, and there should be a trap primer that is filling the drain sense you said that it looks like clean water, so the trap primer is doing its job of keeping the trap primed. You need to rooter out the floor drain to make sure that its clear, this may be all you need to do. Good luck.

DULUTHMEDIC987 · May 2, 2008, 04:34 AM

I thought so too, but now this morning, all the water is back down in the drain again. Why is the water clean? I don't think it is going into the sump pump, or coming from there either.

speedball1 · May 2, 2008, 06:26 AM

the only problem I had was water coming up from the floor drain when the pump quit working. After I fixed it, there was no problem. I thought the floor drain was leading into the pump well, because of water coming out of the drain when the pump failed. Wondering what could be causing this.

I have a different take on this. If the floor drain were connected to the sump pit then if the pump were off the water would fill the pit until it backed up out the lowest spot, the floor drain. That's if the floor drain connected to the pit. But what if the floor drain led outside to a dry well or a french drain? Then, as the water table rose you would have clear water coming out of the floor drain even while the pump was draining the pit and lowering the water level. In other words the "common connection" between the sump pump and your floor drain could be the ground water outside. That could be one answer to your question. Regards, Tom

DULUTHMEDIC987 · May 2, 2008, 11:21 AM

Hey thanks a lot! I actually went to my home this morning while at work. The guy I am working with came with me and he used to do construction work. He is sure that I have no sump pit, only an ejection pump for the shower, toilet, laundry, etc. I do live in a very sandy region, so he thought that I could possibly have drain tile, but no sump pump. He believes with the very wet spring that this is the ground water backflowing when the pressure gets high in the ground, then goes back into drain when the ground is able to accept more water. He is sure the floor drain goes under the cement slab out to the ground and drains there. So, my next question is; Is there any kind of a pump that could hook up to a hose on both ends, placing one end in the drain and then the other into the laundry tub? Then this way the extra water from the drain could be pumped into the laundry tub, then go down into the ejection pump to be pushed out to my septic system. Any advice. I am a paramedic and understand more about human plumbing. Any help would be apreciated!!

speedball1 · May 2, 2008, 12:02 PM

Your guy and I are on the same page about the source of the groundwater. However,

He is sure that I have no sump pit, only an ejection pump for the shower, toilet, laundry, etc.

tells me that you have a closed ejection system with no connection to the floor drain.

Is there any kind of a pump that could hook up to a hose on both ends, placing one end in the drain and then the other into the laundry tub? Then this way the extra water from the drain could be pumped into the laundry tub, then go down into the ejection pump to be pushed out to my septic system.

BAD IDEA you attempt to reduce the amount of material that goes into your septic tank not add to it. Your drain field will only accept so much before it can drain no more. A better solution would be to follow the floor drain out to the terminal end and either extend it to where it will drain or build a dry well. Good luck, Tom

ballengerb1 · May 2, 2008, 01:03 PM

You do need to go back and determine where the floor drain goes. In my town the fllor drain must be connected to the sewer but the sump pump pit can not go to the sewer. "the cement slab out to the ground and drains there." and where is that, what do you mean by drains there? Sorry I just got confused.

DULUTHMEDIC987 · May 2, 2008, 01:56 PM

"there" meaning the ground outside

DULUTHMEDIC987 · May 2, 2008, 02:04 PM

I understand that we want to have not as much water into the septic, but the water is not flooding the basement, it is just in a small puddle that gets bigger slowly then goes back into the drain pipe very slowly. It, right now, is a pain in the butt. I just thought in case of an emergency that were to come up I could do that until I solve the problem. I have never seen the drain pipe do this before. I assume it is from our wet spring. Thanks for the help!!

ballengerb1 · May 2, 2008, 04:14 PM

You can install a short stand pipe into this drain and that will stop water from entering your basement. However, that pipe will also no allow water from the basement to leave so you'll need to remove it once the ground is dry.

DULUTHMEDIC987 · May 2, 2008, 07:57 PM

The stand pipe might work well. Thank you!

speedball1 · May 3, 2008, 08:13 AM

I have another option for you. Why not install a floor drain check valve, (see image) check them out at; Flood guards for floor drains - check valve to prevent flooding from FAMOUS PLUMBING SUPPLY. This would contain the build up until it drains away. The nice part of this is that you install it and forget it. Good luck, Tom