[kevinobrien]

In the winter I have snow that melts inside my garage from the cars. The water then drains towards the garage door and stops there and make makes large pools of water that I have to clean up constantly. What can I do to get rid of this problem?

[ballengerb1]

Can I assume that this is a properly installed garage pad that has unfortunate low spots? Find the lowest spot on the floor and drill a 1/2" hole through the floor into the gravel below.

[kevinobrien]

It seems to be a properly installed floor because the water runs away from the house towards the garage door. BUT once the water gets to the inside of the garage door it has no where to drain to the outside of the house. I never experienced pooling like this at previous house I owned and I seem to think its because the garage floor had no slope and whenever water would get to the door it would drain through the 2inch gaps on either side of the garage door seal at the bottom. SO... to resolve the problem should I create these gaps on either side of the garage door seal OR drill the drain holes on the garage floor?

[ballengerb1]

Gaps may let some water out but likely not much, plus the water would then freeze right outside. I'd drill the whole. The hole will periodically plug with dirt and debris so periodically stick a small stick or screw driver down into the hole to keep the water draining

[kevinobrien]

My concern with drilling the holes is the water getting underneath the garage floor and then freezing... I live in Ottawa Canada where the weather in the winter is between -5 and -30 celsius. My garage is fully insulated but not heated... if I go with drilling some holes is there things I should do to ensure this water that does drain in the holes will not then freeze?

[ballengerb1]

If there is water on your garage floor the temp is above freezing and the earth below the floor is slightly warmer. I have done this to several home and have never had a problem. Chicago is not quite as cold as Ottawa but we hit -33 last year. If and when the ground under your garage freezes the water will stop draining because it will turn to ice. When it warms up and melts so will the soil under the floor. You have about 4-6" of coarse gravel between the concrete and the dirt.

[kevinobrien]

When you have done this type of installation did you put any type of drain plate (to stop some of the debris... ) on top or is it simply just the hole?

[ballengerb1]

Did not bother with a plate, it clogs infrequently and a screw driver is alwasys at hand. It will not clog hard like a sewer drain pipe, just s light stick with a screw driver clears the opening.

[KISS]

There is a MORE EXPENSIVE way to solve this problem and that's a linear drain grate in front of the door. This would basically be a 4" drain across the entire length of the front of the garage door.

Sometihing like this: http://www.ndspro.com/files/Ed-1a.jpg

DE-iceing coils can also be used in the grates.