To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

What do you pour into seldom used floor drains???

A

atch

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
843
Location
Columbia, Missouri
We have a floor drain next to the water heater in case the pressure relief valve pops off. This is in a 23 year old addition. There has never been a water heater issue. We routinely pour a cup or two of water in the drain to prevent sewer gas coming into the house.

Seems like I've heard of pouring something in the drain that doesn't evaporate. Maybe cooking oil? I'd sure like to put something in there one time and forget it.

What is it I'm trying to remember?

Or; what do you use?

b-t-w; we're on septic tank out in the boonies.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
H

housewolf

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 3, 2021
Messages
1,144
Location
East Texas
atch said:
We have a floor drain next to the water heater in case the pressure relief valve pops off. This is in a 23 year old addition. There has never been a water heater issue. We routinely pour a cup or two of water in the drain to prevent sewer gas coming into the house.

Seems like I've heard of pouring something in the drain that doesn't evaporate. Maybe cooking oil? I'd sure like to put something in there one time and forget it.

What is it I'm trying to remember?

Or; what do you use?

b-t-w; we're on septic tank out in the boonies.
Click to expand...
Yeah, you can make sure it’s full of water then pour a tablespoon or two of cooking oil, mineral oil, hell motor oil for that matter. Just something to float on top of the water and keep it from evaporating
 
I

imagineer

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 13, 2015
Messages
1,019
Location
Ohio
We have a similar situation, 1/2 bucket of water every two weeks.

My house is essentially 2 full dwellings. A normal house on the main level and an efficiency home in the basement. The prior owner installed a new water heater in what was the old shower stall. It's nice peace of mind knowing if the water heater springs a leak, it's above a floor drain.

FWIW, the water heater (A.O. Smith N.G.) was installed in '97 and is still doing fine. I suspect that since we have high iron in our well water, the water heater tank is in osmatic balance and not deteriorating as quickly as expected.

I have on my phone calendar a reminder for every other week, to check the salt level in the softener and to pour a 1/2 bucket of water down the floor drain at the water heater.
 
A

AffableCurmudgeon

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2009
Messages
1,906
Location
Triad Area NC
imagineer said:
I have on my phone calendar a reminder for every other week, to check the salt level in the softener and to pour a 1/2 bucket of water down the floor drain at the water heater.
Click to expand...
If you divert part of your softener drain to the water heater drain, you won’t have to worry about one of the two tasks. Provided that the two are in close enough proximity , etc.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
M

Monza Harry

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,433
Location
Windsor ON
Is it possible to rout the drain from your furnace (condensate pump on HI Eff. furnace) A/C, or dehumidifier [or other leaking type device] to the drain. Refills this for you. Other wise I'd suggest as someone else said and use RV antifreeze. Harry
 
G

gregs

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2007
Messages
1,609
At work we have floor drains in the bathrooms. One of them always smelled and we would pour water down it almost daily. I found a device designed to fit inside the drain under the grate. Its kinda like a one way silicone valve that allows water to flow thru it, but closes tight enough to stop the smell or the evaporation.
 
OP
A

atch

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
843
Location
Columbia, Missouri
Monza Harry said:
Is it possible to rout the drain from your furnace (condensate pump on HI Eff. furnace) A/C, or dehumidifier [or other leaking type device] to the drain. Refills this for you. Other wise I'd suggest as someone else said and use RV antifreeze. Harry
Click to expand...
There is an unused water softener right there and when I used to use it the water from regeneration went down this drain. Then I got married (18 years ago) and Sherry had me bypass the water softener because she has LOTS of indoor and outdoor plants that she is constantly watering. She doesn't want to water with soft water, so the softener no longer drains into this floor drain. There is the typical 3-valve arrangement whereby you can just bypass the softener any time you want by turning those 3 valves to the opposite of what they are now; water plants; and turn the 3 valves back. She'd rather just do without soft water. And if that's what Sherry wants then that's what I want.
gregs said:
At work we have floor drains in the bathrooms. One of them always smelled and we would pour water down it almost daily. I found a device designed to fit inside the drain under the grate. Its kinda like a one way silicone valve that allows water to flow thru it, but closes tight enough to stop the smell or the evaporation.
Click to expand...
That's a new one on me. Thanx.
 
G

gregs

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 16, 2007
Messages
1,609
atch said:
There is an unused water softener right there and when I used to use it the water from regeneration went down this drain. Then I got married (18 years ago) and Sherry had me bypass the water softener because she has LOTS of indoor and outdoor plants that she is constantly watering. She doesn't want to water with soft water, so the softener no longer drains into this floor drain. There is the typical 3-valve arrangement whereby you can just bypass the softener any time you want by turning those 3 valves to the opposite of what they are now; water plants; and turn the 3 valves back. She'd rather just do without soft water. And if that's what Sherry wants then that's what I want.

That's a new one on me. Thanx.
Click to expand...

I couldn't find the information on the one I installed years ago but googled "floor drain trap seal" and a bunch of different ones came up. Just have to know your drain size and type. The one I put in was shaped like a funnel so it had a chance to fill with some water and add weight to make it open, I had wondered if the flatter ones might "stick" shut.

As to the water softener, I guess you dont have any non-softened spigots? I am guessing your on a well and there is usually one at it. We have been watering our house plants with the softened water for years without a problem, and anything outside just gets plain well water. The benefits of the softened water are many if you have hard water.
 
OP
A

atch

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 4, 2006
Messages
843
Location
Columbia, Missouri
gregs said:
I couldn't find the information on the one I installed years ago but googled "floor drain trap seal" and a bunch of different ones came up. Just have to know your drain size and type. The one I put in was shaped like a funnel so it had a chance to fill with some water and add weight to make it open, I had wondered if the flatter ones might "stick" shut.

As to the water softener, I guess you dont have any non-softened spigots? I am guessing your on a well and there is usually one at it. We have been watering our house plants with the softened water for years without a problem, and anything outside just gets plain well water. The benefits of the softened water are many if you have hard water.
Click to expand...
Negatory on the unsoft spigot. We're in the boonies but on a water district. While the water isn't hard enough to cut with a saw it is a bit hard.

While I miss the soft water I'd rather have Sherry happy than to have soft water.
 
H

humber2

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 13, 2011
Messages
1,770
Location
Downunder
atch said:
Negatory on the unsoft spigot. We're in the boonies but on a water district. While the water isn't hard enough to cut with a saw it is a bit hard.
Click to expand...
A town near me has a river that carries a lot of sediment.

The locals know it as being “too thick to drink and too thin to plow”.
 
G

gahrajmahal

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2008
Messages
2,545
Location
Cincinnati, Ohio
RV antifreeze, it shouldn’t evaporate for a good long time (maybe yearly?) It’s used to winterize the toilet and plumbing systems so they don’t freeze.
 
U

Uncle murph

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 28, 2021
Messages
1,481
Location
Harford county
atch said:
We have a floor drain next to the water heater in case the pressure relief valve pops off. This is in a 23 year old addition. There has never been a water heater issue. We routinely pour a cup or two of water in the drain to prevent sewer gas coming into the house.

Seems like I've heard of pouring something in the drain that doesn't evaporate. Maybe cooking oil? I'd sure like to put something in there one time and forget it.

What is it I'm trying to remember?

Or; what do you use?

b-t-w; we're on septic tank out in the boonies.
Click to expand...
You might want to try 8-10 gallons of water on occasion just to verify that it’s capable of doing the job when the time comes.
 
G

gekljklefgje

Member
Joined
May 20, 2022
Messages
17
I just realized RV antifreeze is totally different from auto antifreeze. Don't pour regular antifreeze (toxic) down the drain..
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom