Anybody know building/plumbing codes? Garage floor drain question

Topic: Anybody know building/plumbing codes? Garage floor drain question (Read 811 times) previous topic - next topic

Anybody know building/plumbing codes? Garage floor drain question

February 19, 2014, 09:27:53 PM

I know we have some diverse talent on this forum, and I figure maybe somebody will know the answer to this question.

My detached 2-car garage was built in 1986. It has a concrete floor and a drain in the center. The drain always worked. I came out to leave today and the nice brown salty snow melted off the cars overnight into a nice brown lake that isn't draining. I had a small snake handy, so I ran it down as far as it would go, and it just bunched up (it's thin). I pulled it out and laid it out to see how far it got, and it looks like it goes straight down the center toward the door, about 10ft, just to the edge of the foundation, right under the concrete driveway.

My question is, in 1986, where would it be required to go from there? Tie into the storm drain? Dry well? I just wonder if it's plugged, frozen, overwhelmed, or what.

Anybody know building/plumbing codes? Garage floor drain question

Reply #1 – February 19, 2014, 10:41:56 PM

It could be any of those things .Code depends on location. In mass even a res application you would need a separator gas/oil trap not to go in sewer or septic. probably not in your case I wouldt go ask code people. It bropaly goes in a dry well
I would try a product I call a burst bag it screws to a garden hose push it as far as you can and let it rip

Good luck

Anybody know building/plumbing codes? Garage floor drain question

Reply #2 – February 20, 2014, 12:28:31 PM

My guess after this winter is something is probably frozen. I'd wait till spring and see if it works then. Be careful about asking about code requirements, you wouldn't want the code enforcers to find out you have an non compliant set up!

I recall someone getting past the drain code requirements by installing everything but not installing the garage drain until after the CO was issued.

To me, as long as you are just washing your car or hosing down the salt/dirt/etc, a dry well should be fine since if you aren't doing anything you wouldn't do outside. But then again I don't write all of the laws we need to follow.....

Anybody know building/plumbing codes? Garage floor drain question

Reply #3 – February 20, 2014, 12:44:22 PM

Yeah, it doesn't bother me too much. I just push-broomed the water out the door and left the door up a few inches to let the wind dry the floor. Hopefully we're done with big snows. That's the only time that drain gets a workout. I Just didn't know if there was a definite answer "yes in such-and-such year all drains had to do such-and-such".

That drain is just below floor level, like 6" or so. Unless it's pitching downward and I can't feel it with the snake, I am betting it's frozen (being way above the frost line).