Clogs in any drain system are a nuisance. The moment you have a clog the wastewater will no longer drain away, leaving you with a potential issue as it can quickly rise up and start covering the garage floor.
If you have a clog then it will be important to look at what items are on the floor and whether you should lift them higher to protect them in case the worst does happen. You’ll then be able to tackle the drain issue and hopefully resolve it.
Don’t forget, if you have no experience or confidence in tackling drains you can call a reputable emergency plumber who will quickly sort the issue for you.
Reasons For Clogged Garage Floor Drain
There are several reasons why you may have a clog in your floor drain. It’s a good idea to work out what caused the issue to prevent it from happening again.
- Blocked Sewer Lines
Clogs are frequently the result of a blockage in the sewer lines This can be for a variety of reasons but you’ll notice a slow down in draining on all the drains that use the same sewer line. Alongside this, the wastes are likely to gurgle when being used, indicating the air has nowhere else to go.
- Frozen Pipes
Most being doesn’t think about waste pipes when considering frozen pipes. But, it can happen. If water sits in the pipe as it runs away from your garage floor drain then it can be turned to ice on a cold night. This will eliminate the path for waste to go down and can even damage the inside of your pipes.
You may need to wait for the ice to defrost before excavating the pipe and then insulate the pipe o help prevent it from freezing again
- Build-up Of Waste Material
A garage floor drain should be used for wastewater. Of course, there will also be soap in with the water and other chemicals. These can crystalize inside the pipes and cause a blockage over time. You will probably need to use a drain rod to punch through the build-up and then clean the pipe.
Fixing the Clog
The first thing you’ll need to do to eliminate the clog is to change clothes. If the water in the sewer pipes splashes at you it can make you seriously ill. To avoid this you’ll want clothes that can be put in the wash, rubber or latex gloves, and a face mask with goggles.
You can then lift the drain cover off, you may be able to see water inside the pipe or it may be empty.
The first thing to try is a plunger. Position it so that it covers the entire waste pipe and slowly move it up and down. If you have a good seal you’ll disrupt the air pressure inside the pipe, effectively ensuring any blockage is shifted.
It can be a good idea to use a drain camera to make sure you got all of the clog.
If this doesn’t work then the best idea is to use a drain auger or drain rods.
The auger is a thin metal tube that will flex its way around the drain until it finds a blockage. It will then punch through the blockage allowing the water to start draining. Repeated movements with a wriggling gesture should ensure the entire clog is gone.
Again, using a sewer camera to verify this is a good idea.
It is also possible to put a cup of baking soda down the blocked drain and leave it for several minutes to settle. You can then pour a cup of vinegar onto the baking soda and the chemical reaction can blow the pipes clean.
Don’t forget, a lot of the junk in a garage floor drain is hair and everyday debris. You may be able to see this when you remove the drain cover. If this is the case you can use a gloved hand to remove all the debris and potentially unblock the pipe.
Once you have got it clean make sure you rinse the drain regularly to prevent this from happening again.
