24/7 · All five NYC boroughs
Floor drain cleaning in NYC
A basement floor drain that holds water or pushes sewage up usually means the line behind it, or the main sewer, is blocked. We clear the floor drain and its line, and if the backup is from the main, clear that too with a camera check. Starting at $325.
- Answered 24/7
- Price confirmed before work starts
Starting prices. Every job is different, so the technician confirms your price on site before any work starts. Nights, weekends and holidays add $150. All prices
What a floor drain backup is telling you
| What you see | Most likely cause | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Clean water pooling around the drain | Floor drain line clogged with silt or debris | Clear the floor drain line |
| Dirty water or sewage coming up | Main sewer line blocked | Main line clearing with camera |
| Backs up when the washer drains | Laundry line or main partly blocked | Clear and flow-test both |
| Backs up during heavy rain | Main partly blocked, street sewer full | Clear main, camera, consider jetting |
| Smell, no water | Dry trap | Refill with water, no visit needed |
How we clear floor drains
- Pump or vacuum standing water so we can work safely.
- Open the drain by removing the grate and, where there is one, the cleanout plug.
- Cable the line with a sewer machine sized to the pipe, toward the main or the street.
- Flow-test with a hose and with upstairs fixtures.
- Camera if needed. When the backup came from the main, we run the camera to show what caused it.
Floor drains in NYC buildings
- Basements in brownstones and rowhouses often have the floor drain close to the house trap, and both clog together.
- Queens and Staten Island houses with finished basements take the most damage, because the floor drain is in the living space.
- Laundry rooms in apartment buildings collect lint that settles into the floor drain line.
- Restaurants and commercial kitchens send grease and food solids to floor drains every night. Scheduled jetting keeps them open.
What to do if it’s backing up now
Stop all water use in the building, move belongings away from the drain, and call. More in floor drain backing up.
Types of floor drains we clear
- Basement floor drains in houses and brownstones, often the lowest opening on the main line.
- Laundry room drains in apartment buildings, where lint settles.
- Boiler room and mechanical room drains.
- Garage and ramp drains, which collect sand, salt and silt.
- Commercial kitchen floor drains, full of grease and food solids. See restaurants.
- Walk-in cooler drains in restaurants and markets.
Dry traps and sewer smell
Every floor drain has a trap that holds water to block sewer gas. When a floor drain isn’t used for weeks, that water evaporates and you smell sewer gas. The fix is free: pour a bucket of water into it every few weeks. If the smell stays after that, the trap or line needs a look. See sewer smell.
Keep floor drains working
- Keep the grate on and clear of debris.
- Pour water into rarely used drains every few weeks.
- Never sweep dirt, sand or debris into a floor drain.
- In commercial kitchens, keep strainers in place and scrape plates before washing.
- If a floor drain backs up during heavy rain, have the main line checked.
From real jobs
Photos and footage from our own work. No stock images.
Where we work
What we don't do. We clear, clean and inspect drains and sewer lines. If the camera shows a cracked, collapsed or separated line, you get the footage and a referral to an NYC master plumber for the fix. Why we work this way
Common questions
Why is water coming up through my basement floor drain?
The floor drain is usually the lowest opening in the building. When the main sewer line is blocked, water from every fixture upstairs has nowhere to go and comes up there first.
Is it the floor drain or the main line?
If the water is clear and only appears when you mop or the washer drains nearby, it's probably the floor drain's own line. If it's dirty, smells like sewage, or rises when upstairs fixtures run, it's the main.
How much does floor drain cleaning cost?
A single floor drain line starts at $325. If the backup comes from the main sewer, main line clearing starts at $595 with a camera check included.
My floor drain smells but isn't backed up. Why?
Floor drains have a water-filled trap that blocks sewer gas. If the drain is rarely used, the water evaporates and gas comes through. Pour a bucket of water in it every few weeks.
Do you clear restaurant and commercial floor drains?
Yes. Commercial kitchen floor drains collect grease and food solids and usually need jetting on a schedule.
Can I pour bleach down a smelly floor drain?
Plain water usually solves a dry-trap smell. Bleach can mask the odor for a while, but if the trap is dry, the smell comes back.
Need a drain cleared?
Calls are answered 24 hours a day. A technician looks at the job and confirms your price on site before any work starts.