Do you have a problem with smelly floor drains? Do you have a pest problem in the area around a floor drain? Proper maintenance can go a long way to preventing these issues, and it's simpler than you might think.

Floor drains, much like the drains underneath your interior sinks, have a u-shaped pipe underneath them, called a P-trap. A P-trap serves a few different purposes, but the most important one for your floor drains is to create a water barrier so as to prevent drain odors, or insect issues from the adjacent sewer system.

If you smell a funny stench or odor coming from your floor drain, it's very likely your P-trap is dry. Simply pour a few gallons of water to re-establish the proper water barrier. You can add a small amount of vinegar to help remove any persistent odors.