Question about Drain in Floor and Standing Water

13 years ago

I apologize in advance for not knowing the correct term for this drain. It's in the laundry room floor, in the bottom floor/basement of our split-level home.

After we moved into this house I realized the drain always had standing water in it, and that it made the whole house smell like damp ickiness. It's not a sewer smell, it's just watery and a little bit moldy-laundryish.

Because of this smell, I covered up the drain with a plastic saucer.

Last week our hot water heater sprang a leak, and the water didn't go down the drain because of that plastic saucer. So the water went under the wall to soak the carpet in the bedroom. Yes, I am kicking myself. It's a bad idea to block a drain. Duh.

Now that the saucer is off, though, that smell is back. I lifted the grate and there is, of course, standing water there.

My questions: is there supposed to be water there? If so, what can I do to make it not smell? If not, what is likely the problem? The home was inspected before we bought it and the inspection says nothing about that drain.

Big thanks for any advice!

Comments (3)

lazypup
13 years ago
The standing water that you are seeing is in a trap. The purpose of that water is to prevent sewer gases in the sewer line from coming up through that trap into the living space.

Normally when we get a complaint about foul odors originating from a floor drain it is because the water in the trap has evaporated and left the trap open but in your case the water is not evaporating.

I suspect that your floor drain is not being used so the standing water in the trap is stagnating and producing the odor.

A simple method to eliminate the problem is to pour about 1/2 gal of water down that drain once a month. That will cause the standing water to move on through the drain and leave fresh water in the trap.

After you add the water to the trap splash a couple tablespoons of laundry bleach down the drain. The bleach will mix with the standing water in the trap and kill the bacteria that causes the odor.
leafy02
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you so much. I will do just as you say.
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brickeyee
13 years ago
You can also float mineral oil on the water in the trap to slow evaporation and prevent any smell.

mineral oil is available at every drug store.

The scented stuff is 'baby oil.'