Basement Floor Drains In Old Houses

It s basically a little bowl cut in the floor a couple inches deep and a 2 inch horizontal pipe leads away through the floor.

Basement floor drains in old houses.

There s no vertical pipe involved at the drain. One of the most common defects that i find in old minneapolis and saint paul houses is a missing cleanout plug in the floor drain especially during truth in sale of housing evaluations a missing cleanout plug can allow hazardous sewer gas in to the home and often indicates a clogged floor drain. Many new homes also utilize these types of drainage systems. The basement floor has just one drain.

In many older homes floor drains are part of the basement design built in to prevent water damage to the house and its contents. The concrete floor around the drain gently slopes towards. If the drain connects to the sewer system it s suitable for draining a washing machine water softener or basement laundry sink. Floor drains are an effective way to remove excess water from a home.

Old floor drains work passively their design based on principles of physics. The basement floor is often at the maximum depth of the foundation. Floor drains are most often installed during original construction often in the utility area to drain away excess water in the basement. It s in the middle of the room.

Another problem with this type of installation involves the drainage system. Excavating at the base of an old foundation is risky and best left to those that are experienced with old structural masonry techniques. Basements require special subflooring that will not get moldy or deteriorate when exposed to moisture. The purpose of this drain trap is to hold standing water which seals the drain system and prevents sewer gases from.