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Rusty0624 · Jul 13, 2009, 07:32 AM

My home as a drainage system that consists of several pipes and tile that meet at a 4" pipe that exists out into a valley on my property about 100' feet from the house. The issue I am having is this same system is also hooked in to 4" drain in the basement and in the spring when we have ice melting and freezing the line gets froze over and then backs up into the basement. I was thinking about installing a sump pump to deal with the problem, but I am not sure where the pipes in the floor are located and I am afraid I might split one when making the hole for the pit. Any ideas?

speedball1 · Jul 13, 2009, 07:37 AM

How many fixtures in your basement? What are they? Is it a basement floor drain the backs up? Let me know, tom

Rusty0624 · Jul 13, 2009, 07:46 AM

I should have been more specific, sorry! The pipes under the floor are designed to take the mositure from the tiles under the house and divert it away from the house through a single 4" drain that also tees up through the basement floor and then runs out a about 100' feet into a low area near my home. The pipe that runs to the low area is buried as well, but during the spring it freezes up and then the drain from the tile has no where to go, but back into the house.

ballengerb1 · Jul 13, 2009, 07:49 AM

How deep is that tile in the ground and where do you live?

speedball1 · Jul 13, 2009, 07:49 AM

Please answer my questions. "How many fixtures in your basement? What are they? Is it a basement floor drain the backs up?" Cheers, Tom

Rusty0624 · Jul 13, 2009, 08:16 AM

I live north of Medford Wisconsin which is pretty north in the state. The tile is probably at least 4 foot deep

ballengerb1 · Jul 13, 2009, 08:18 AM

Your frost line is about 48" so this really should not be frezzing unless there is a belly in the line where water can stand still without draining. Please answer Tom's questions

Rusty0624 · Jul 13, 2009, 08:58 AM

There are 0 fixtures in the basement and the basement floor drain which is tied into this tiled run-off system is the one that is backing up. I believe the line is freezing near the surface where it runs into the valley is it is exposed at that point.

speedball1 · Jul 13, 2009, 10:51 AM

Greetings from a Beloit transplant to Sarasota 54 years ago.
Since it's just the floor drain that's backing up why not install a Flood-Guard,
(see image) and contain the back up? Check them out at;
Flood guards for floor drains - check valve to prevent flooding from FAMOUS PLUMBING SUPPLY
Good luck, Tom

Rusty0624 · Jul 13, 2009, 10:55 AM

I lived in Janesville and worked in Beloit for a number of years. I'm sure you wouldn't miss it if you saw it today. We tried something like this and unfortunately the water started to seep in through cracks in the foundation. Didn't really solve the problem just moved it.

speedball1 · Jul 13, 2009, 11:03 AM

You bwouldn't happen to remember a big Plumbing/Heating and wholesale house named Witte-Barker would you? Tom

ballengerb1 · Jul 13, 2009, 12:36 PM

Rusty, that pipe must maintain a slope as it runs toward the valley. Moving water will not freeze in a drain line, even in Beloit. What issues are you having at this time of the year? Would Tom's flood guard cause seepage during the summer?

Rusty0624 · Jul 13, 2009, 01:06 PM

The issue only happens in the winter, but I wanted to try to fix it during the summer for obvious reasons. I agree with your assessment, but I still had the issue. I have not had a chance to check yet, but it is possible that the drain line is not completely clear or its possible that snow cover caused the backup as well. I was oringinally thinking of hooking some sort of sump pump in case this happens again, but not sure if this is the best approach either. Maybe just making sure the line is clear and running some sort of heating element down the pipe would be good enough. Your thoughts? I really appreciate the help.

ballengerb1 · Jul 13, 2009, 01:28 PM

Snow cover will not cause a back up unless your line does not have a slope. I live in Illinois and we had 35 below last winter, my sump lines runs through a concrete wall and then 10' of plastic tubing, never froze or clogged. I think you are partially clogged and maybe a belly in the line. What would happen if you just had 10' of tubing on your system and let it drain onto the soil? The old drain line is more work than its worth and I would just use a ditch witch and put in a new line.