basement flood from floor drain

[sewageslosher]

I just moved into a rental house and found 4" water in the basement last week. heavy rains have probably flooded the sewers and there is apparently no backflow valve on the house. Now the drain is standing in water just below floor level and can't use the dishwasher, clothes washer, showers, toilets or the level rises again.

I want to plug that floor drain- assuming the vent is functional, this shouldn't impede whatever flow the line has- right?

 

[Kingsotall]

Putting the cart before the horse. You are going to need a specialist for these types of disasters.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jay Mpls]

Where are you located?Your local hardware store,plumbing supplier or big box store should have a back water valve for your floor drain.

 

[sewageslosher]

Really- I was going to buy an expansion plug. I assumed the backflow valve would need to be outside nearer the street connection- not a job I am planning to tackle. The landlord is definitely not a DIY-er either and too cheap to spend the money...What would a BFV I can install above the basement floor look like?

 

[Jay Mpls]

 

[Redwood]

I just moved into a rental house and found 4" water in the basement last week. heavy rains have probably flooded the sewers and there is apparently no backflow valve on the house. Now the drain is standing in water just below floor level and can't use the dishwasher, clothes washer, showers, toilets or the level rises again.

I want to plug that floor drain- assuming the vent is functional, this shouldn't impede whatever flow the line has- right?

Really- I was going to buy an expansion plug. I assumed the backflow valve would need to be outside nearer the street connection- not a job I am planning to tackle. The landlord is definitely not a DIY-er either and too cheap to spend the money...What would a BFV I can install above the basement floor look like?

As a renter you really need to call your landlord and tell her that the sewer is backed up.

It is not your job to speculate as to the cause or, try to fix it!

It is your job to notify the landlord that there is a problem!

It is her job to make sure that you don't have sewage backing up into the basement!

 

[SewerRatz]

Sewer back ups are always blamed on the city sewer backing up. A lot of times there is a blockage in the houses sewer system. The water is normal infiltration of the ground water finding it way into the sewer joints, which in most cases would drain off, but since there is a blockage it will only go to the next lowest point. Now if you plug of this floor drain and the sewer is still backed up, you will start seeing the water come out of the next lowest point. I had seen people put check valves on their utility sinks and cap off the floor drain, and they started to get back up out of their first floor water closet.

Oh and as Redwood said have your landlord get someone out there to clear the drain. As a plumber if a tenet calls me I will inform the I will bill the tenet, if the landlord calls me I inform then that they have to pay me. To many times I get a tenet telling me to bill the landlord and the landlord hits me with the shot "I did not hire you." and vice versa.

 

[Nate R]

As a plumber if a tenet calls me I will inform the I will bill the tenet, if the landlord calls me I inform then that they have to pay me. To many times I get a tenet telling me to bill the landlord and the landlord hits me with the shot "I did not hire you." and vice versa.

NEVER EVER do work for a tenant that tells you to bill the landlord w/o talking to the landlord. Coming from the landlord's point of view, I would NOT pay for a plumber doing work for the tenant unless I had talked about it with the tenant first.

 

[SewerRatz]

Thats what i said, I wont do work for anyone that tells me to bill the other party. Whom ever calls me must pay me. If they do not agree to my terms then they can find someone else. This doesn't just apply to landlord tenet things, same goes for insurance companies. If the agent calls me the agent pays if the homeowner calls me I tell them they pay me and they get reimbursed. I never will put myself in a situation where I am chasing my money.

 

[sewageslosher]

Yeah- that sounds good on paper. Too late - the basement already flooded. What a mess. I already called and she is dragging her feet. Meanwhile the sewage stink is rising.

I have no intention of "fixing" this problem, just holding it at bay until either she fixes or we go to court and I move out.

 

[Gardner]

did you call the city health inspector?

 

[SewerRatz]

Every state has a renters bill of rights. A sewer back up is not a sanitary and must be fixed right away, I known many tenets move into a hotel till the problem is fixed. I defiantly would contact a city or state health inspector or plumbing inspector and tell them about your landlord not willing to fix the problem, and making you live in a unsanitary home.

Only time a landlord is off the hook is if in the lease you signed states you are responsible for any repairs that arise will your living there. If that is the case then you have to pay out of your pocket to get the drain unclogged.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

We had water pipes freeze & split at one Apt we lived in, 2nd floor of a house. 1st floor was owners nephew & they left in single digit weather & turned the heat off. We went into the basement with heaters & got it thawed out, went into the 1st floor & turned the heat up
As things thawed we used tape to seal the pipes enough to flush the toilet. Landlord dragged hi heels to, we called the Board of Health & someone was out the next day. Pipes were fixed very quickly after that
Nephew was kicked out
And 2 months later the Landlords secretary sends us a bill for heating...for the 1st floor (gas). We sent it back, we weren't renting the 1st floor & we didn't have gas heat. Some landlords will try anything

Take pictures!!!
Make sure you get a floating log if possible