Check out some similar questions!

ajhundley · Mar 19, 2008, 12:48 PM

The drain in the basement floor backed up. This is the drain in the floor. This is the 3rd time in 3 months. The first 2 times we had Rotor Rooter come out and (fix) the problem so I thought. Can anyone please help me?? :mad:

ballengerb1 · Mar 19, 2008, 01:21 PM

Does your floor drain go to the sewer, a septic tank or sump pump?

hkstroud · Mar 19, 2008, 01:21 PM

That floor drain may tie into a plumbing drain line or it may tie into a line that simply drains to the outside. Commonly called draining to daylight.
If it ties into the plumbing drain the fact that it has water coming out would indicate that there is a blockage or partial blockage between the floor drain and the main line. Snaking should have cleared that.
If it drains to daylight, water coming out would also indicate a blockage. If it drains to daylight you probably have other things that also drain into that system, such as stairwell drains.

Is it raining when this occurrs?

ajhundley · Mar 20, 2008, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by hkstroud

That floor drain may tie into a plumbing drain line or it may tie into a line that simply drains to the outside. Commonly called draining to daylight.
If it ties into the plumbing drain the fact that it has water coming out would indicate that there is a blockage or partial blockage between the floor drain and the main line. Snaking should have cleared that.
If it drains to daylight, water coming out would also indicate a blockage. If it drains to daylight you probably have other things that also drain into that system, such as stairwell drains.

Is it raining when this occurrs?

Yes it was raining. It happened one other time while it rained. 1 time when it was not raining. I think the rotor rooter man said it was some kind of trap.

ajhundley · Mar 20, 2008, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Does your floor drain go to the sewer, a septic tank or sump pump?

I think it goes to the sewer. I don't have a septic tank so I know it does not go there. How would I know if it goes to the sump pump?

ballengerb1 · Mar 20, 2008, 08:53 AM

You won't have both a sewer and a septic tank, its one or the other. Do you have a sump pump pit in the floor of the basement? If so add water to the offending drain and then observe the pit. If water starts to flow into the pit when you add water to the drain then they are connected. If no water enters the pit they aren't connected. Back to you.