When was the last time you cleaned your floor drains? If it’s been a while, here are three simple floor drain maintenance tips to help you out.
It’s easy to forget about the floor drains in your place of business, but they are an integral part of maintaining sanitary conditions for workers and customers alike. They catch the water when you need to deep clean your floors. When you have a commercial sink overflow or a burst pipe, they can prevent significant damage.
But only if you keep them working right. If they are clogged, they won’t be much help. If they start to smell, they probably won’t do much to help you attract customers or keep your employees happy.
If you want to make sure that your floor drains are ready for when you need them, try these tips.
Keep Your Drains from Drying Out
Sometimes, floor drain maintenance is as easy as dumping a bucket of soapy water down the drain.
Floor drains, like the drains in your home, have p-trap pipes. These pipes allow water to become trapped. Why? If it didn’t, your commercial space might start to smell bad.
When your p-traps get dried out, gas from the sewer system often escapes up through the drain. These unpleasant odors can make it unbearable to inhabit a room for very long. If you start to smell unwanted odors, try emptying a bucket of soapy water down the suspected drain.
Avoid Pushing Debris Down Drains
If your commercial space requires a lot of cleaning of dirty floors, you could be clogging your floor drains without even realizing it. Sometimes you can’t help sending dirt down the drain, but if you can avoid it, you could save yourself some trouble.
For starters, if your business is in food service or another industry that deals with lots of waste, be sure to clean your traps often.
Floor Drain Maintenance Means Taking Care of All Your Drains
Some drains can be easy to forget. The drain in the storage closet might not get much use, but if you leave it to sit too long without maintaining it, it can lead to problems. When drains get dried out, the debris that has already gone down them can solidify, which could mean a clogged sewer line.
Clogged sewer lines are much more expensive than floor drain maintenance. Be sure to mop and pour water down all your drains, at least once a month, if you want to avoid paying an exorbitant bill.
How To Clean A Floor Drain: 3 Steps That Will Save You Time
Cleaning a floor drain can be a messy and time-consuming task. Here are three easy steps that will help you clean your drain quickly and easily:
Method 1: Use boiling water
Boiling water can be a great way to clean floor drains. Simply pour boiling water down the drain and wait 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove the drain plug and use a plunger to suction the debris down into the drain. Next, pour a pot of cold water down the drain to clear the debris and wash your hands.
Method 2: Use a plunger
Floor drains can become clogged with debris over time, mainly if there is a lot of rain or snow in the area. This can cause water to back up and flood your home. To clean a floor drain using a plunger, follow these steps:
- Remove any objects that may be blocking the drain. This includes toys, clothes, newspapers, and other materials.
- Place the plunger over the drain opening and hold it in place with one hand.
- Push and pull the plunger up and down in a circular motion to dislodge the debris. Be sure to use enough pressure to remove the obstruction.
- Pour a pot of hot water into the drain and let it flow for about 10 minutes to loosen any remaining debris. Repeat this process if necessary.
Method 3: Use a Drain snaking
If your floor drain is clogged and you can’t unclog it using the methods described in Method 1 or 2, you may need to use a snake to clear the drain. Here’s how to do it:
- Locate the floor drain in the room where the problem occurs.
- Open the drain door, so you can see inside.
- Place the end of the snake into the drain and push down until the snake reaches the obstruction.
- Use your hands to feel around for any pieces of debris or objects that may be blocking the drainage system. If necessary, use your fingers to remove them.
- Continue pushing and pulling on the snake until you can clear the obstruction.
How Often Should You Clean a Floor Drain?
There is no “one size fits all” answer to this question, as the frequency of cleaning will vary depending on the type of floor drain maintenance, the number of people working at your business, and other factors. However, a general rule of thumb is to clean your floor drains at least once a month. You may want to clean them more often if there are particularly heavy or wet periods.
Schedule a Commercial Floor Drain Maintenance Visit from Custom Plumbing Today
Has it been a while since you had your floor drains maintenance? It’s not too late to start taking care of them.
If you need professional help with your floor drain maintenance, Custom Plumbing of Arizona is standing by to help. All you have to do is get in touch with us, and we will send someone out to assist.