I am wondering if I have the old cast iron W floor drains in my basement should I consider replacing them before redoing the floor? I’ve also noticed that they are dry, I don’t know why but it seems to me like there is nothing in them. Now, I don’t notice any smell coming from them either. Do you thing that it is possible that these drains could be connected to the weeping sysem out side. I have run water through before, I’ve noticed it can hold quite a bit of water, and then it won’t take any more. It will drain slowly, and there seems to be no forcing it down. I’ve also snaked it and found nothing.Any Ideas?
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Replies
Maybe tie into a dry well? Some areas they were common.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"
I also suspect a dry well.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” —Albert Einstein
I've never seen this happen but one place we lived they said if it rained to much the floor drains would back up. So they would plug up their floor drains in the basement.
So sometimes it's not a good idea to tie floor drains to to sewers. Another good reason is one you mentioned. No sewer gases when they go dry. I guess it would have to be made big enough to handle some water from a leak. It sounds like yours is big enough.
Sounds like my house. Some of the floor drains hooked into the downspout tiles.
Those ran out from the house 10' or 15' and dead-ended.
I assume there was some sort of drywell there at one point, but after 70 yrs of silt, it was just a dead end.
Re-did the whole thing recently, so the downspouts (and floor drains) now go to daylight.
Sump pumps sure are quiet now.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Do you know whats funny?, I have filled the drains with a bucket or two of water and then pushed a plunger on drain, the one on the other side of the wall shot out water. The water that comes out is black, sort of oily.