Do you always test floor drains?

[Paul-Marc Abrioux]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if it's a part of your normal inspection to pour a bucket of water down the floor drain in the basement to check for proper drainage.

And on that note, if you didn't, and the new owners came back to you saying it wasn't draining, would you be responsible for the repair? For example, if the trap was damaged and needed to be dug out of the concrete and replaced....

Thanks for any feedback on this procedure and on this case scenario.

Paul-Marc

[Larry D. Kage]

I don't typically test floor drains but I let them know that in my report also.

A bucket of water won't let you know if there is a slow clog out between the house and street....or any other place that can accept that amount of water and not back up through the floor drain.

[Robert E. Elliott]

Checking the sump pump is big.

Just look for signs of standing water .

If there is a walkway , look for signs of sidewalk collapse from broken drain tile.

[Charley L. Bottger]

Yes I check floor drains I carry a hose for the washing machine stand pipe and floor drains. One can generaly tell how much pipe is in use from the floor drain to the main in a basement very easy to tell if blockage is in the drain/drain line or the main.

[Paul-Marc Abrioux]

Thanks for the feedback guys. While there could be problems further down the drain system, I would think that at least checking that water drains beyond the basement floor drain trap would be a good idea. And of course, like Larry says, including a statement in the report regarding to what extent the drain was tested.
Charley, do you attach a hose to a laundry tub or something then, to direct water into the washing machine stand pipe and the floor drain?

Thanks again,
Paul-Marc

[Marcel Gratton]

Originally Posted by lkage

A bucket of water won't let you know if there is a slow clog out between the house and street....or any other place that can accept that amount of water and not back up through the floor drain.

But flushing the toilet (s) multiple times may.

I don't test them per say except to look at them and report what is seen...

Cheers,

[Billy F. Boerner]

Originally Posted by cbottger

Yes I check floor drains I carry a hose for the washing machine stand pipe and floor drains. One can generaly tell how much pipe is in use from the floor drain to the main in a basement very easy to tell if blockage is in the drain/drain line or the main.

It's been awhile Charlie however I've had several here state sticking a hose down the washer drain pipe is inconclusive and would take more than a few mins for any back flow to jet out your way. What's your thoughts?

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by bboerner

It's been awhile Charlie however I've had several here state sticking a hose down the washer drain pipe is inconclusive and would take more than a few mins for any back flow to jet out your way. What's your thoughts?

Billy that would be correct a few minutes does not cut it with me I am a water hog one thing I know when I leave a inspection the main drain is flowing as intended. I run water from all faucets and drains for at least two hours of my inspection time enough to flood any main drain line, if the main was blocked at the city connection a few minutes of running water would never detect this.

There generally is always a water outlet of some sort within the basement and I will use what ever is available to check the floor drains.

[John Allingham]

Paul-Marc
I don't test them but if there are trees on the road side of the house I make a note that rootering may be required in the future.

[Paul-Marc Abrioux]

Thanks for the comments. Since the Standards ask us to inspect the drain system, I'm wondering how that applies to a basement floor drain. Is a visual inspection all that is REQUIRED? And pouring any water what so ever down the floor drain then goes beyond the Standards?
Picture someone who moves into their home, and on the first day they decide to mop the basement concrete floor, and realize that the water isn't draining at all down the floor drain...
We can't comment on the condition of the main drain, can't inspect it. But, should we at least EITHER test and report that the floor drain APPEARS to drain, OR only perform the visual inspection and have this limitation written in the report?

I guess I'm asking, do the Standards actually require us to do more than a visual inspection of the floor drain, or is that all it requires?

Thanks again!!!

Paul-Marc

[John Allingham]

Paul-Marc
It's a good question and a grey area. I've started a poll.

[Nick Wagner]

Originally Posted by cbottger

I run water from all faucets and drains for at least two hours of my inspection time

And homeowners and realtors think that I'm excessive for doing it up to 45 minutes on a private well / septic system ...

[Paul-Marc Abrioux]

Originally Posted by jallingham

Paul-Marc
It's a good question and a grey area. I've started a poll.

Thanks John, as someone who's just getting started, I'm very interested in learning about the inspection procedures of others.

Paul-Marc

[Charley L. Bottger]

Originally Posted by pabrioux

Thanks John, as someone who's just getting started, I'm very interested in learning about the inspection procedures of others.

Paul-Marc

Here is my boiler plate verbatum

Water was discharged down all of the outlet for a period in excess of one hour and no blockage was observed at any fixture at the time of inspection.


In all reality I have water running the duration of the time spent within the home itself 2 hours. I have spanked realtors for turning off my faucets they know better after the first time GRRRRRR

[Jack L. Gilleland]

I turn on the water in all the baths for a period of time, If there was stopage it would probably show up then. For good measure I dump 1 gallon of water down the floor drain and watch the level if possible. Every once in a while I run into an indirect and it puts me off my procedure and I have to use 2 gallons.