Here’s What You Need to Do After a Sewage Backup Cleanup
Sewage Backup Cleanup – When a sewage backup occurs at home, it is always best to call professional sewage backup cleanup services to resolve the issue.
However, it doesn’t stop there; After experts lend their hand to mitigate the worst, it is up to every household to maintain a well-maintained sewage system at home.
Although they are not as destructive as fires or tornadoes, sewage backups can still cause property damage and various health hazards and sanitation issues. Thus, it would be best to deal with them efficiently and promptly.
Common Causes of Sewage Backup
The first step to solving a sewage backup problem is to find its root cause.
You can consult with sewage back cleanup professionals to identify the causes that led to this situation so that you can take steps to limit – and even prevent – the damage that may occur to you and your property in the future.
Nonetheless, sewage backup usually occurs for the following reasons:
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Flood
Heavy rains can result in sewage backups, especially in sewer lines connected to municipal sewer systems. Some cities have wastewater systems separating sewage and rain, while others have combined sewer systems.
When the latter fills after a heavy rain, it forces water and sewage through its connections into the structure, necessitating an immediate sewage backup fix.
Even if the water doesn’t reach your home, it can still affect your sewer line. Your sewer system can overflow if the pump station is flooded, and a power outage will make this worse, as electricity runs many sewer plants to keep the return valves sealed.
If your sewer system stops working and can’t handle the wastewater, all the waste can go back into your pipes.
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Clogged drains
If something clogs your sewage – or keeps it from flowing properly – it can cause wastewater to go back into your home’s drains.
Typically, homeowners who leave items such as trash or plastic and solid debris down drains or toilet bowls cause this, resulting in a blockage and eventual sewage backup.
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Old or Broken Sewer Lines
Broken sewer lines are common in older homes, where damaged sewer pipes can cause blockages. Depending on your home’s age, your sewer line may be made of PVC, Orangeburg, or clay.
Of the three, PVC has the longest lifetime – a century, while the others typically last 30 to 60 years. However, pipes can burst unexpectedly, leading to Sewage Backup Cleanup.
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Tree Roots
Tree roots can grow into pipes and damage your sewer drainage. They do this either by busting, pinching, or redirecting it, and they may even go so far as to wrap around your mainline and crush it – major sewage backup cleanups, as well as a complete replacement of your sewer line, Are required.
Preventing sewage backup
If you’ve experienced this problem, you understand why it’s important to know how to clean up after a sewage backup and, more importantly, prevent it.
Luckily for homeowners like you, preventing Sewage Backup Cleanup is simple. Taking the necessary measures can prevent the unpleasant situation from happening again.
You can start with the following steps to prevent sewage backup:
You can install a sewer backup valve or a back-flow prevention device—a backwater valve—between your home and the city’s main sewer. This installation allows wastewater to flow away from your home—preventing sewer backups.
For pipe blockages, you need to keep your sewer system clear by:
Fat deposits
Fats, oils and greases pouring down drains enter the sewer system, where they harden, cool and stick to the inner walls of the pipes. Over time, these substances build up inside the pipes and form sewer blockages.
Plant roots
Tree roots often grow toward areas with moisture and nutrient sources. They can either seep through a crack or become strong enough to move through the pipeline and sever it eventually.
Un-flushable items include baby wipes, dental floss, feminine products, and diapers. Proper disposal of each would be through a dustbin, not a toilet.
Broken Pipes
Cracked or ruptured sewer pipes due to improper drainage of the sewer result in frequent backups.
Prevent Asbestos products such as Asbestos drain cleaners, formalin, latex paint, and hydrogen peroxide from flowing into your sewage system.
Hire a professional plumber to inspect your sewage lines with their special tools if you spot potential concerns with drainage, or schedule a regular pipe inspection every two years.
Please ensure they are in good condition; otherwise, request a professional sewer backup cleanup.
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