Floor Drain Installation & Repair in Vancouver & Burnaby

Why Floor Drains Matter

Floor drains are a critical but often overlooked component of your home's plumbing system. In Vancouver and Burnaby, where heavy rain and high water tables are common, a properly installed floor drain in your basement, garage, or laundry room is your last line of defense against water accumulation. HYDROPRO PLUMBING & WATER LTD installs, repairs, and maintains floor drains for residential and commercial properties throughout Greater Vancouver.

Where Floor Drains Are Needed

• Basements — catches water from minor leaks, condensation, or appliance failures before it spreads
• Garages — handles water from vehicles, washing, and rain blowing in through the door
• Laundry rooms — prevents flooding from washing machine hose failures or overflow
• Utility rooms — catches water heater leaks and HVAC condensate overflow
• Bathrooms — required in barrier-free and walk-in shower designs
• Commercial kitchens and shops — meets health and safety code requirements for floor wash-down areas

Types of Floor Drains We Install

Standard Floor Drains

Round or square grate drains installed flush with the finished floor. The floor is sloped toward the drain so water flows to it by gravity. These connect to your sanitary sewer or storm drain depending on the application and local code requirements.

Trench Drains (Channel Drains)

Long, narrow drains ideal for garages, workshop entries, and areas where water enters from one direction. Trench drains capture water across a wider area than point drains and are especially effective at garage door thresholds.

Backwater Valves

Essential for Vancouver and Burnaby homes, a backwater valve installed on your floor drain prevents sewer backup from flowing into your basement during heavy storms. The City of Burnaby and City of Vancouver both recommend or require backwater valves on basement floor drains. We install backwater valves as part of new drain installations and as retrofits on existing drains.

Floor Drain Installation Process

1. Assessment — We evaluate the concrete slab, determine the optimal drain location, and locate existing plumbing lines
2. Concrete cutting — Precision sawing of the concrete floor to create the drain opening and connection trench
3. Excavation — Careful removal of concrete and soil to reach the sewer connection point
4. Pipe installation — New ABS drain pipe connected to the existing sanitary or storm sewer with proper slope
5. Drain body and trap — P-trap and drain body installed at the correct elevation for flush-with-floor finish
6. Backwater valve — Installed inline to prevent sewer backup (recommended for all basement installations)
7. Concrete restoration — Floor patched and finished to match surrounding surface with proper slope toward the drain

Common Floor Drain Problems

• Dried-out trap — floor drains that aren't used regularly lose their water seal, allowing sewer gas into your home. Pour water into unused drains monthly.
• Clogged drain — sediment, soap, and debris accumulate over time. Professional snaking clears blockages.
• Sewer backup through the drain — indicates a missing or failed backwater valve, or a blockage in the main sewer line
• Slow drainage — often caused by root intrusion, pipe belly, or partial blockage downstream
• Cracked or corroded drain body — older cast iron drains deteriorate and need replacement

If your basement lacks a floor drain or your existing drain is causing problems, contact us for an assessment. View our work in the project gallery.