Sewage backups happen when sewer lines become obstructed. The thick, black water that forms as sewage is a potential hazard, as it contains contaminants and viruses that can present a risk of severe illness if exposed to humans or animals. If you have sewage backups in your home, you will need to fix it quickly. Knowing what causes sewage backups can help you prevent a hazardous situation in your basement or home. Here’s how to prevent and handle sewage backups in your pipes:
Causes for Sewage Backups
- Clogs – Sewage backups can happen when either your home’s drain pipes or main sewer line becomes clogged. If one toilet is clogged and creates a sewage backup, the drain connected to that toilet will likely be clogged as well. But if all toilets or bathtubs in your home create backflows, then there may be a clog in the main sewer line or the sump pump failed. Clogs can consist of hair, grease, or other solid materials that end up in the drains.
- Tree Roots – Trees can grow really long roots that intertwine with your sewer line. Roots can grow into a pipe and cause holes or crush the sewer line by growing around it. Even if the roots in your yard are not the problem, roots from nearby trees can reach your sewer line and damage it.
- Damaged Sewer Lines – In the past, pipes were made of cast iron and clay piping which don’t last very long. Aging sewage systems can break down and crack, causing sewage backups and flooded basements. Plastic sewer lines have now become the norm.
- Heavy Rainfall – Can heavy rain cause sewer backup? Yes, large amounts of rain can overburden your city’s sewer lines. If the public sewer can’t handle excess rainfall, the water can make its way into connected sewer lines. This puts your home at risk of water backflows.
How to Prevent Sewage Backups
- Never flush grease down a drain. With a little time, cooking oil hardens. If poured down a sink or toilet drain, grease will create a clog. To avoid this issues, wait for the grease to cool in a pan, then wipe it out with a tissue and throw it away.
- Be mindful where paper is disposed of. Flushing any hygiene products down the toilet can easily clog your sewer line. Throw anything that is not toilet paper in a garbage bin.
- Install a new plastic pipe or cut tree roots. To prevent tree roots from damaging your sewer lateral (the line buried in your yard),replace it with a new plastic pipe. If tree roots grow in your sewer lateral, cut the roots occasionally.
- Install a backwater prevention valve. This fixture allows sewage to leave but prevents it from backing up into your home. Backwater valves are typically installed into a sewer line and sometimes into a drain line in the basement.
- Sewage pump maintenance. Ensure your sump pump doesn’t sit on debris such as silt or gravel, which could be sucked up into the pump, ruining the motor. Instead, place it on a steady flat brick. Also, ensure the sump basin has a filter fabric around it to stop debris from coming in.
What You Can Do When There’s Sewage Backups
Calling a professional restoration company is the best way to deal with sewage backups. Will waiting, here’s what you can do to mitigate the damage in your home before the restoration team arrives:
- Evacuate the flooded area. Sewage contaminants are hazardous to pets as well.
- Turn off electrical power in the flooded area. Electrical wires or appliances might come in contact with standing water or wet materials.
- If the main circuit breaker is in the basement, be careful. If you can’t safely turn off the power, don’t go near electrical devices.
- Wear protective clothing like a facemask, eyeglasses, gloves, and rubber boots before walking through sewage water.
- Shut off the valve for the main water line of your home. Check out how to shut off utilities during a disaster.
- Notify your insurance company about the sewage backup. Remember that sewer backups are not covered by standard homeowners insurance, unless you’ve purchased extra endorsements for sewers and drains. Learn more about homeowners insurance and water damage.
- Notify your municipal authority or sewer department if your home is connected to a public sewer.
- Don’t use the water supply system in your home until the backup problem is fixed – don’t flush toilets or drain tubs and sinks.
- Open windows or doors to let fresh air in and ventilate the area.
- Add some chlorine bleach to the standing water to help disinfect.
For Professional Sewage Cleanup, Call the PuroClean Water Damage Restoration Experts
If you have a sewage backup, call a restoration professional right away to remediate the black water damage. Handling the contaminated water yourself can put you at risk of contracting diseases. Contact PuroClean at +1 732-366-9300 for water damage repair and mold remediation services.
