Photo by Jackson Douglas on Unsplash
Something that is all too often overlooked in new construction and building renovation is floor drains. They perform an incredibly important job. They help remove surface water away from the surrounding area. Doing so helps prevent flooding, damage to surrounding walls, furniture, and equipment, and promote safety.
However, not all storm drains are alike, starting with their covers. They are technically called "drain covers," but for our purposes here, we will call them drain covers. We have all seen them. Now we are going to learn more about the things most of us have always wondered about.
For instance, the grate's purpose is to prevent debris from making its way down the drainpipe, potentially causing a clog. If the drain is, for example, installed in a public restroom floor or in the laundry room in a house, the openings in the grate may be wider. The assumption is that there will be limited amounts of debris entering the grate, and the wider the gaps, the faster water will be removed from the area.
On the other hand, the drain covers installed over drains outside of a building may have smaller openings, even if the grate's size is larger.
This way, water can flow down the drains, while at the same time, leaves, paper, and other debris that might be found outdoors are blocked from going down the drain.
I bet you did not know this, but these grate openings even have a name. They are called "free areas." They must be open wide enough – free – to allow proper drainage while not creating a safety problem by being too large or allowing too much debris to go down the drain.
So now that you know some basics about drain covers, here are more things you probably have wondered about:
Are there designer drain covers?
Yes, in indeedy there are. Manufacturers make basic looking drain covers as well as more stylish drain covers for different settings, such as in a home or a fancy restaurant. A wider assortment of drain covers are now available because manufacturers want them to add to a décor and not detract from it. Plus, they can be custom made.
Are there regulations about drain covers?
Yup. Floor drains and drain covers need to comply with local plumbing codes where applicable. The ASME, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, has also established guidelines and regulations regarding floor drains and coverings. For the most part, these guidelines are written into plumbing codes around the country.
How do we know what size grate to install?
The grate and floor drain size must meet the anticipated volume of water that will flow through the drain covers and down the drain without causing any backup of water on the floor. The ASME guidelines mentioned earlier can also serve as a guide as to what size grate/floor drain is needed in different settings and situations.
Because we walk on them, how do we know the grate is safe enough to walk on?
Good question. There are light, medium, heavy, and even extra heavy drain covers. A light-duty grate can withstand about 2,000 pounds on it. An extra heavy grate, 10,000 pounds.
Do drain covers need to be cleaned?
Typically, with regular floor cleaning, the top of the grate – the part we see – can be kept clean. However, scum and debris, including germs and bacteria, can build up on the underside of the grate. This has the potential of attracting insects, so every so often, drain covers should be removed, and the underside cleaned.
What if odors are coming from the drain cover?
Unless the underside is heavily coated with scum, odors do not come from the grate, but the drainpipe below. Invariably, this means the P-trap has gone dry. The water in the P-trap that blocks odors has evaporated, creating a direct line to the sewer. Pour a little water and a few ounces of EverPrime into the P-trap. That will eliminate the odor problem for months.
