What Is the Grate in My Basement Floor?

Identification

• Basements often become saturated with moisture from leaks in your plumbing system or flooding. When excess moisture is present, it must be removed as quickly as possible. According to the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, placing a floor drain in your basement that leads to the outdoors or a sump pit is an effective way to eliminate excess moisture inside your basement.

Effects

• When water remains inside the basement, it causes problems. Brown or yellow water stains may appear on the walls, and drywall begins to deteriorating and crumbling. Constant moisture inside the basement causes mold growth, which endangers health. When excess moisture is present in the basement, it raises the humidity level making the home damp and uncomfortable.

Causes

• There are several ways moisture enters the basement, making a drainage system necessary. If the lot where the home sits was not properly graded, surface water may run toward the home and into the basement. Leaks in the plumbing run into the basement and cause standing water. Clogged gutters allow water to back up and run inside your home. Downspouts failing to carry water far enough from your home can also cause water to accumulate inside the basement.

Solution

• Installing a drainage system in the basement removes excess moisture. Grates in the floor allow water to flow outdoors or to a sump pit. The basement floor must be slightly sloped toward the grate allowing water to drain. In areas prone to flooding, installing a sump pump in addition to the floor drain quickly removes water. Sump pumps automatically turn on when flooding occurs and carry water away from the home before damage or mold growth occurs.