[jkennel23]

My basement flooded recently and I cleaned up the water with a wet/dry vac and dumped the water down the drain. Now when I did a load of laundry the drain is clogged and I have water all over my basement floor again. How do I get the drain unclogged?

[ballengerb1]

Which drain did you pump the water down, the one that's now clogged? If only the washer causes the new flooding your drain clog is partial and smaller fixture like a sink just don't dump enough water all at once to back up the drain. A normal floor drain has a trap so rod it just like any other drain line. If you can't get a 1/2" snake down the drain then try a 1/4" but I'd start and work hard with the 1/2" rod.

[massplumber2008]

Hi Jkennel:

I am wondering if this is just the laundry area and the floor drain... or does the drain back up when you use the toilets/sinks from upstairs..?

First thing I would have you check would be to see if you can locate the MAIN DRAIN cleanout... remove the cap/plug from main and then run the washer again. If backs out at the main drain cap then the main drain line itself is clogged and will most likely need to be snaked with a large electric snake... see 1st pic (although smaller than the pic. On right it is a bigger, more powerful machine).

If plugged only at the floor drain then should only need the medium electric snake (see pic. #2) to clear any blockage.

Further, if just clogged basically as a result of sediment that got down the drain line... may be able to clear this by purchasing a DRAIN KING expanding pressure bag (see last pic.)

Here, the drain king is attached to a hose and set into the floor drain and water is turned on full pressure causing the bag to expand and send jet of water down the drain... works well sometimes for clogged floor drain, drain lines!

The electric snakes can be rented at any local rental store. You will need leather gloves and goggles to use these tools safely.

Let us know what you think... MARK