How to Install a Flood Guard in Floor Drains

When your sewer back flows through your floor drain or your piping system fails to properly evacuate water or waste, a flood guard can help prevent an expensive clean up by blocking off the back flow as it comes up through the floor drain. Quickly install flood guards to protect your home by following these steps.

Things You'll Need

• Flood guard
• Screwdriver
• Rubber mallet

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Instructions

1. Choose a flood guard model (float/plug or standpipe models) that fits your situation and pipe size. Float models have a rubber floatation device that reverse blocks the drain as water or waste flows upward. Standpipe models thread onto your existing pipes and provide you an additional length of piping that "stands" vertical to the floor drain.

2. Remove and clean your floor drain trap and clean your floor drainpipe of any miscellaneous debris.

3. Install your flood guard by placing it into the top of the floor drainpipe (screw heads facing upward), but low enough that the floor drain trap will fit back into the pipe.

4. Turn the screws with a flat or cross-head screwdriver until the rubber gasket seals against the sides of the floor drainpipe. If installing a 3-inch model standpipe, thread the pipe into the rubber gasket before tightening the screws.

5. Reinstall the floor drain trap. If you have difficulty reinstalling the floor drain trap because of a tight fit, lightly tap the floor drain trap into place with a rubber mallet.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a standpipe flood guard model for high-pressure situations or situations in which the back flow may continue over a long period.

• Float/plug style flood guards with increased back flow can blow out or cause pressure to build and damage the floor drain pipes or surrounding floors and foundation. Standpipe models do not have this problem, but they do block drains from normal use and can still overflow if the back flow pressure increases.