Do you think you will maintain your water heater?

I probably would.

If the floor drain is connected to the waste system you will need to occasionally add water to fill the trap to prevent sewer gas from entering the house.

"If the floor drain is connected to the waste system you will need to occasionally add water to fill the trap to prevent sewer gas from entering the house."

Or install a trap primer hooked to a commonly used fixture.

A washing machine would likely be used enough.

Thank you, Kirkhall, Renovator8, and Brickeyee!

If we opt to do the floor drain, our builder has given two options: connect the drain to the septic system or connect it to its own dry well. Is one of these preferable over the other?

Is there any justification to not having a floor drain at all?

How dry is your house soil? In my area, a "dry well" would quickly become a sump pump area... kwim?

The dry well would not require a primer or trap. And, so you wouldn't need to "feed the trap".

Hooking it up to the septic system would probably be my preference, but read above for why--our soil is fairly saturated here...

check your local code, floor drains aren't permitted in some jurisdictions

Thank you for the responses! I think we are leaning towards not having the floor drain...

How far do you want the water to run when the heater leaks?

Regarding the floor drain, I would most definitely put one in between the furnace and water heater.

(Please no responses to the following. I do not want to highjack this thread). Create another thread asking everyone's opinion on your house plan design. I see some good design and some not so good.

You absolutely should put one in! I had my hot water tank overflow and thank goodness I had the drain. I have also left water running
In my laundry tub and it overflowed luckily I was able to push the majority of the water down the drain. My water softener is also in the laundry room and when it needs cleaned out the drain will save time & energy.

Okay, reconsidering again!! Thanks for your insight Brickeye, Mudflap, and Jeannie01.

Mudflap ~ I linked the thread below where I did ask for opinions about the design. I welcome any thoughts you are willing to share ~ thanks in advance!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Before we finalize...