THE WAY TO UNCLOG YOUR OWN GARAGE FLOOR DRAIN

February 11, 2022
 | By 
Jet Plumbers

The garage floor drain is among the most underappreciated pieces of pipes hardware out there. No matter what, they work hard. Garage floor drains handle all of the arbitrary liquid which finds its way from outside to your own garage. This can include appliance run-off, animal hair, engine optimization, spillage, fixture condensation, and who knows what else.

Just as with any other drain in your house, your garage floor drain may clog. When that occurs, you are going to want to clear that clog right away. Standing water in your garage isn't just a safety risk; it is a draw for insect infestations and all kinds of other misfortune, also. Here is how your garage floor drains clog and what you could do about those clogs.

What type of garage floor drain do I have?

Garage floor drains are not one-size-fits-all. There are two main kinds: round floor drains and trench floor drains. Round floor drains are usually a metal grate set into concrete which steps around a foot across. They're definitely the most common because they are affordable and easy to install. If you've got one, it is likely located in the middle of your own garage.

Trench floor drains, also referred to as channel drains, are slightly less common. They're rectangular and long, with the"trenches" set into the ground and covered by a grate. Depending on their style, you can locate them running down the center or close to the door to your garage. These drains cost more to install, but their design makes them less likely to clog.

How do I unclog my garage floor drain?

  1. Remove the grate. Based on the type of grate, you might have to unscrew it from the floor before manual removal.
  2. Remove any physical debris. Since your garage floor drain is located outdoors, it is likely to have greater gunk than other drains. This may include leaves, dirt, animal hair, and much more. Use a tool such as a shovel or trowel to get as much congestion as you can. We recommend wearing rubber gloves in this part of the procedure to avoid touching anything gross.
  3. As soon as you've washed the opening, pour a kettle of hot but not-quite-boiling water down the drain. This water can help dissolve any additional gunk attached to the walls of the drain. If the clog is especially bad, you could repeat the procedure two or three times. Please note that you should never use chemical drain cleaners in your home. This includes outdoor drains. These kinds of cleaners will eat away in the pipes and drains in the event that you use them too regularly.
  4. That is it! Eliminating physical blockages by hand and extra build-up with warm water will handle 99 percent of garage floor drain issues.

For the 1 percent of drain clogs too extreme with this guide, you ought to call the professionals. The team at Jet Plumbers Arvada Co is expertly trained and constantly standing by. We are prepared to help you with all of your plumbing needs in Arvada, inside and outside.