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    bd.mcintosh's Avatar
    bd.mcintosh Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Aug 8, 2011, 08:38 PM
    My home was built in south central PA in the early 1950's. It has a floor drain in the basement that leads beyond the outside wall (I assume) beneath the floor. Water sometimes backs up into the bsmt. After heavy rain, and I want to know what to do about it. I don't know what the drain empties into.

    I asked yesterday about my 1950's bsmt floor drain that sometimes has water rise out of it onto the bsmt. Floor when it rains - what can I do about it other than plug it? Do drains like this normally have a one-way valve on it to prevent water from coming in so that water can only exit? Did these drains in houses built in the 1950's empty into anything (like a tank, drain field, etc.) or just into the underground yard? Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks!
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
    Eternal Plumber
    		  
    #2

    Aug 10, 2011, 05:10 PM
    If I were to bet I'd bet you're on a septic tank. Correct?
    Your floor drain is located on the lowest point in your house so it will be the first to back up if there's a blockage or a overload. I think what's happening is your rain water run off overloads the system during a heavy storm.
    The solution would be to divert the rain water run off away from the sewage system.
    If you don't want the hassle of diverting the run off and the floor drain only backs up on occasion then I have a "quick fix" for your floor drain. It's called Flood Guard" (see images) Check it out at
    PlumbingSupply.com - Flood Guards For Floor Drains - check valves to prevent flooding.
    Good luck Tom
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