Floor drain in kitchen backing up

[Gardenboy]

I have a floor drain in my kitchen, and sometimes it backs up when I use the kitchen sink. Does anyone know what could be causing this?

[TinyTool]

Have you attempted to use a plunger or drain snake to clear the drain? If so, did you notice any improvement, or did the backup continue? Additionally, if you've used a snake, was there resistance when you tried to push it through, or did it move freely?

[Gardenboy]

Sorry for not explaining in more detail earlier. We have opened it a few times, but the issue only gets fixed temporarily, and it keeps reoccurring. I believe the line from the kitchen to the gutter in the garage is narrow, which might be causing frequent blockages. That’s just my guess, but what do you think?

Additionally, if you've used a snake, was there resistance when you tried to push it through, or did it move freely?

Don't remember exactly.

[TinyTool]

No problem, thanks for clarifying! If the line from the kitchen to the gutter is narrow, that could definitely be a contributing factor to recurring blockages. Narrow pipes have less capacity for waste to flow through, and over time, grease, food particles, or soap scum can build up more easily, leading to frequent clogs. Even if you're clearing it temporarily, the narrow pipe might not allow for a thorough enough cleaning, or the debris could be too tough to remove with basic snaking.

Regarding the use of a snake, you should feel some resistance if it’s encountering a blockage, as the snake works to break up or move the clog. If the snake moves too easily, that might mean it's just passing through a section that's clear, or it might not be reaching the full extent of the blockage. A good approach would be to apply steady pressure and make sure the snake is working through the whole line, not just bypassing the issue. If there's no resistance at all, it might be worth trying again, maybe with a longer or more specialized snake for deeper blockages.

If the line is indeed too narrow and causing persistent issues, it could be worth considering an upgrade to a wider pipe or at least installing a cleanout point to make future maintenance easier. Sometimes, when blockages are recurring, it’s a sign that the setup might need a bit more than just periodic clearing.