My neighbor's garage flood made me rethink my floor drain setup

I was helping him clean up after a busted water heater line flooded his whole space last month. He had a floor drain, but it was right under his workbench and got blocked by sawdust and a dropped socket. Took us two hours with a shop vac and a plumber's snake to clear it. Now I check my own drain every single weekend, and I keep a clear path to it. Has anyone found a good grate or cover that stops small stuff from falling in but still lets water through fast?

4 comments

4 Comments

hunt.quinn1mo ago

Honestly, that "clear path to it" idea is a solid fix for so many small problems that turn into big ones.

jana_fox501mo ago

Remembered my dad's "clear path" rule for the circuit breaker box after the basement flood. He kept a folding chair in front of it, said if you had to move something to flip a switch, you'd already lost. That chair stayed there for twenty years, even after we got new carpet.

wright.lisa1mo ago

Sounds good until you need that space for something else.

tara_jones941mo ago

Clear path to it" is the new "measure twice, cut once" for garage owners. My floor drain is basically a shrine now, nothing is allowed within three feet of it.