Basement floor drains often have a damp, musty smell. This is caused by the buildup of mold and bacteria in the drain that can cause illnesses for people who use or live near it. However, there are ways to eliminate this problem and keep your basement smelling fresh!
Keep water from spilling out of the drain when you shower or take a bath by using a rubber mat under your feet while standing in the tub. Leave an open container of baking soda on top of the drain overnight to absorb smells and kill mold spores. In this article, we’ll explore how to keep basement floor drains from smelling.
Here Are the Step by Step Instructions for How to Keep Basement Floor Drains From Smelling
Step One: Find Your Floor Drain
The floor drain in your basement probably looks something like this, complete with a clean-out plug. The clean-out plug in your floor drain lets you pull up the grate to see what’s going on underneath and remove clogs that are preventing water from draining fully through the system.
Most home maintenance experts recommend replacing this type of drain grate with a standard metal sink drain grate, like the one pictured below. This will make it easier to see when and if your floor drain starts backing up or smelling bad.
Step Two: Clean the Clean-out Plug
Most home maintenance experts recommend replacing the standard drain grate in your basement floor drain with a metal sink drain grate, making it easier to see when and if your floor drain starts backing up or smelling bad. In addition, the clean-out plug in your floor drain lets you pull up the grate to see what’s going on underneath and remove clogs that are preventing water from draining fully.
Home maintenance experts recommend removing the clean-out plug in your floor drain and cleaning out any leaves or other debris that may have accumulated around it before you start fixing the underlying problems. If you don’t, the debris could damage parts of your foundation!
Step Three: Clear the Drain
Next, check under your foundation to see if there are any leaves or other debris that have managed to get clogged in your floor drain! Clear out all obstructions at this point, so you don’t damage parts of your foundation. Again, using a wire hanger is easy to clear out most blockages, but be sure to wear thick gloves and eye protection.
Step Four: Clear the Drain at the Clean-out Plug
If you find leaves, sticks, algae, or other debris clogging up your drain at the clean-out plug, clear them out using a wire hanger or something similar. If you don’t have a wire hanger handy, be sure to wear thick gloves and eye protection when you clear out the clog.
Step Five: Disinfect the Area
Once you’ve cleared out any obstructions, disinfect the surrounding area with bleach. By making sure your foundation drains are free of debris and properly maintained, you should be able to prevent them from smelling bad in the future!
Step Six: Put Everything Back Together Again
This is an example of how a standard metal sink drain grate may look once it’s been installed over a drain in a basement. Once you’ve disinfected the surrounding area, put your clean-out plug back in place and use a wire hanger to ensure no leaves or debris are left obstructing the drain itself.
You can also use this as an opportunity to give your drain a thorough cleaning with a mild bleach solution and make sure your drain grate is installed properly. This will help in how to keep basement floor drains from smelling.
You can check it to Make Basement Stairs Safer
Can I Pour Bleach Down My Basement Drain?
Bleach can kill bacteria, but it’s not very effective at removing organic material. Mixing bleach with other cleaners is also dangerous because, if entered into the environment can form toxic compounds. However, there are several ways to keep basement floor drains from smelling without vaporizing chemicals or disinfectants right next to your living space.
What Causes a Smelling Floor Drain?
The smell from a floor drain is caused by water and organic matter, such as dirt or plant material. When this material enters the drainage system, it often collects in basements and other low-lying areas where dirty water can sit.
This means that your basement drains are especially susceptible to the effects of the buildup. In addition, the longer you go without cleaning your drain, the more buildup can accumulate and cause a smell. This is one of the main reasons that you should regularly clean your basement floor drain.
What Do You Do With the Floor Drain When You Finish a Basement?
- When the basement construction is done, and it’s time to install the floor drain, certain things should be completed before you move forward. Hire a plumber, and have them complete the following:
- Connect the pipe from the utility sink or floor drain to a vent pipe. As water drains from the sink, it will send air back to the sewer system.
- Connect a P-Trap to the drain pipe from the sink. This will stop sewer smells from entering your home and save you from smelling funky things that can be brought up from downstairs.
- If there’s no floor drain in the basement yet, go to Home Depot or Lowe’s and purchase a cheap one that will do the job. If you’re looking for a more permanent option, go with Zoeller or Watts gravity floor drains.
- Once the plumber has done their thing; it’s time to move on to step four: concrete! But before pouring concrete, there’s one last thing you need to do.
Frequently Asked Question
What Can I Put Down My Drain to Stop Sewage Smell?
If you want to stop the smell of sewage from coming up from your drain, there are many things that you can put down the drain. The most common solution is vinegar.
You should pour a cup of white vinegar into the sink before turning on the water and let it run for about five minutes. This will kill any bacteria in the pipe that may be causing sewer gas to come up through your drains.
Another thing that you can try is baking soda mixed with warm water. Just mix one part baking soda with two parts warm water and then pour it down your drain and let it sit for a few minutes before running some more hot water down it to rinse out any residue left behind by the baking soda.
Conclusion
If you want to avoid basement floor drains from smelling, there are a few things you can do. Primarily, make sure your basement is well-ventilated and that the air in it remains dry by using waterproofing membranes or installing an exhaust fan for ventilation.
It would help if you also kept your sump pump operating so that water does not accumulate on floors where smells might be trapped. Finally, install a drain trap with a vent pipe if possible because this will prevent sewer gases from entering through the drain system when wastewater flows out of pipes into septic tanks or municipal sewers. The article has been a good guide on how to keep basement floor drains from smelling.
Check it also – How to Vent a Floor Drain .
