Why Your Basement Floor Drain Is Backing Up

When sewage appears at the basement floor drain, it's rarely the floor drain's fault. That drain is simply the lowest opening in your home — so it's where backed-up water surfaces first.

What It's Really Telling You

Water takes the path of least resistance. If the main line is blocked downstream, waste backs up and escapes at the lowest point it can find — usually the basement floor drain. The backup is a symptom; the main line is the cause.

Act Fast

• Stop using water everywhere in the house immediately
• Keep people and pets away from the contaminated water
• Don't pour chemicals down the drain — they won't help and can be dangerous
• Call for emergency service to clear the main

Preventing the Next One

Once the line is clear, a camera inspection finds out why it blocked. For homes that back up during storms, a backwater valve stops municipal surcharge from ever reaching your basement again.