Basement Floor Drain Repair in Toronto

Signs you need basement floor drain repair

• Water coming up from the drain when the washer empties
• A strong sewer smell near the drain
• Standing water that drains away slowly
• A cracked or broken grate, or concrete crumbling around the drain

What causes it in older Toronto homes

Many older floor drains are cast iron with a deep trap beneath them that can dry out, clog or crack. Some connect directly to the main line inside the house, so a blockage in the lateral shows up there first. Others were installed when the basement was only used for storage and coal, and were never properly connected to venting. Over time, debris, sand and laundry lint collect in the trap.

What we do on site, in order

1. We remove the grate and clean out the trap and its bucket, if there is one.
2. We cable the line from the drain to the main.
3. If the trap or body is cracked, we break the concrete around it and replace it.
4. We can add a trap primer or seal so the trap does not dry out.
5. If backups are the issue, we talk about a backwater valve on the main.

What affects the price

Clearing and cleaning is quick. Breaking concrete and replacing a drain body takes longer and needs patching afterward. If a backwater valve is part of the job, it is priced separately.

When to call right away

Call immediately if sewage is coming up through the floor drain. Stop using water upstairs until it is fixed.

The job, in four moves

1. 1
   Pull the trap or cleanout

   Bucket under it, cap or trap off, standing water bailed first.

2. 2
   Run the right cable

   Small drum for sinks and tubs, sectional machine for the stack and lateral.

3. 3
   Camera the line

   Push camera fed in after the cable to read joints, roots and belly.

4. 4
   Flush and show you

   Hot water run at full flow, footage played back, trap reset with new washers.

Common questions