Garage floor drains are an inevitable part of owning and maintaining a garage. Garage floors are typically covered with dirt, oil, and other various substances that can build up in your garage over time. This buildup can cause your garage to become very slippery, which could be dangerous for you and your car’s safety if it gets too bad. A drain in your garage floor can make it easy to keep your garage clean.
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What Is A Garage Floor Drain?
A garage floor drain is an inlet that is installed into an opening in your garage floor. This can help you with a number of different things, such as draining water from your garage, keeping it dry, and making it easier to clean. With a drain installed, you can also prevent flooding from occurring in your garage if there is heavy rain or snowfall.
The floor is sometimes slightly angled towards the drain to make liquids go towards them. This makes it easier to remove water and other liquids from your garage. It can also be a great idea to install these nearby washing machines or other appliances in your garage that can leak.
You have to be careful that you don’t flush dirty oils as this can affect your drains. Check the instructions of the oils and soaps that you buy to make sure that they don’t affect your drains.
Trench Floor Drain
One of the most popular types of floor drains is a trench drain. These drains are bigger than the standard ones and can collect a lot of water.
In some instances they are modular and you can connect multiple parts together to create a bigger system that covers your whole garage.
These drains are installed in the ground and connected to the drainpipe running into your home. They help keep your garage clean by collecting water and silt that’s gathered on top of the ground.
Trench floor drains are an affordable option, especially if you have a large garage. They take more work to install but can be worth it.
Round or Square Floor Drains
As garage floor drains come in a variety of shapes, you have the option of choosing either a round or square one. These are easier to install. It is also possible to hide these in a corner to make them less visible. Given that they are smaller, these drains might not be able to take up a lot of water at the same time.
Regardless of whether you choose to go with round or square drains, all types of drains can keep your garage clean and prevent it from becoming slippery.
It is also possible to go for a hybrid system where you combine a trench with a round dor square floor drain.
How to maintain your drain
It is important that you pick the right size of the drain. If the drain is not big enough, clogs will form or the water won’t get away fast enough. There are formulas to calculate what type of drain that you need. A bigger drain costs more and takes up more space but can be worth it if you have to drain a lot of water in a short period of time.
Don’t flush oils or other liquids that can block your drains over time. A lot of people clog their own drain by throwing cooking oils or other items in their drain that clumps together and creates problems.
You might want to add a catch basin so that your oils don’t block up your main sewer line. This catch basin needs to get cleaned from time to time.
Installing the Garage drain
Material of the drain
Drain materials are typically made of plastic. PVC and PE are the most popular options. PVC is cheaper but can break when you drive over it. PE is harder to install but is more durable and can work great. It can also withstand a lot of pressure. The cover is generally made out of stainless steel or other metals.
Where to place the drain
A garage floor drain should be placed in the lowest point of your garage’s floor. This is typically where dirt and other substances tend to collect, so it’s an ideal area for a drain. If you don’t have a low point, then you should install a sump pump. Often the center of the garage is a great way to install the drain. Just make sure that it doesn’t get covered by anything.
It is also possible to place these in front of the garage. This can be easier to install if you don’t want to break open your garage floor. It can also help to keep your driveway clean.
If you plan to drive over the drain, make sure that it is rated for the weight of your vehicles. Drains are generally made out of stainless steel so they should be quite strong but RV’s can be quite heavy so it is best to check before getting a drain.
It is also important that you are able to remove the cover easily. This allows you to clean it and remove sludge and dirt. Some covers are quite cheap and get stuck after a while.
You can also use garage floor mats to keep everything clean. This works great in combination with garage drains:
Tips for Installing a Drain
– Find the right place to put your garage floor drain. It should be in a spot where it drains water quickly and does not pose a threat to your vehicle.
– Install the drain according to the directions on the package.
– If you are having trouble with drainage, consider adjusting the slope of the drain or making it deeper. A typical slope is around 7 degrees but check what is needed for your situation. Check the requirements of your local code. Sometimes it is not allowed to connect this drain with your sewage system.
– If you have an exterior garage door, install a cover over your drain that will keep debris from getting inside and clogging it up. Metal covers are more durable than plastic ones.
To conclude, we can state that garage drains are able to drain water from your garage. This can be great as cars can be covered in snow or rain. This can flood your garage. A drain can just remove all of this dirty water and transport it to your drain system. There are several drain inlets available so you have to check what works for you. Your plumber can also check what size of the drain is needed so that the water flows away smoothly.
