Floor drain odors are commonplace in homes and businesses. And many homeowners complain about drain flies and other bugs that seem to gain access to their homes from floor drains. Most homeowners are unaware that the remedy for both of these problems is simple. To combat the problems, you first need to understand a few things about floor drains. They're commonly found in low spaces where water can collect, such as basements, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and even patios and driveways. The floor drain's purpose is to quickly drain away water before flooding and property damage can occur. But because they are on the floor, dirt and foreign matter can easily clog them. This is the part of the floor drain that you can't see. Water passes through this 'U'-shaped pipe called a P-trap. It's a lot like the traps you find beneath sinks. This bend in the pipe is designed to trap water and create a water barrier that prevents sewer gases and insects from coming through the pipe into your home. If you smell foul odors or notice insects flying around the drain cover, it's because the trap is dry, meaning there's no water barrier in place. Pour a half gallon of water into the trap to fill it. This will stop the orders from coming through. You may also add a cup of white vinegar to kill insect larvae and slow evaporation. Some homeowners pour in bleach to do the same but bleach is caustic and can be dangerous. If you pour in bleach, use it sparingly and wear eye protection. No more than a cap full of bleach is needed to kill insect larvae. At least twice a year pour several gallons of water through you floor drain to make sure they aren't clogged with debris downstream. Because a clogged
floor drain is a useless floor drain that will allow flooding to occur. If you need help unclogging a floor drain, Roto-Rooter is only a click or call away.