Basement Floor Drains In Old Houses

The basement floor has just one drain.

Basement floor drains in old houses.

The purpose of this drain trap is to hold standing water which seals the drain system and prevents sewer gases from. It s in the middle of the room. Different brands of subfloor tiles are available that include a drainage space for any moisture on the concrete rigid foam insulation and a composite surface that serves as the substrate for finished flooring. The basement floor is often at the maximum depth of the foundation.

Old floor drains work passively their design based on principles of physics. The concrete floor around the drain gently slopes towards. In many older homes floor drains are part of the basement design built in to prevent water damage to the house and its contents. Excavating at the base of an old foundation is risky and best left to those that are experienced with old structural masonry techniques.

There s no vertical pipe involved at the drain. Situated at the lowest point on the basement floor the floor drain serves as an outlet for water from a leaking water heater condensation from an hvac unit or even seepage due to heavy rain. Floor drains are most often installed during original construction often in the utility area to drain away excess water in the basement. If the drain connects to the sewer system it s suitable for draining a washing machine water softener or basement laundry sink.

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. Basements require special subflooring that will not get moldy or deteriorate when exposed to moisture. Another problem with this type of installation involves the drainage system. Many new homes also utilize these types of drainage systems.