It’s every homeowner’s nightmare to deal with a sewage situation. Sewage lines become obstructed and cause a backup of contaminated water. These lines can become obstructed for a number of reasons, but these types of situations should only be cleaned up by professionals.
Causes of Backups:
Clogs– Sewage can backup into a home if there is a clog in a toilet drain, sink drain, or a main drain. Clogs can be created by hair, grease, or solid materials like paper.
Tree Roots– Roots on trees can grow to be really long, and those long roots can often interfere with sewer lines. Tree roots can either grow into the line and puncture the line or they can crush the line by growing around the line. Tree roots that interfere with sewer lines on one property may stem from a tree on a completely different property.
Damaged Sewer Lines– Older pipes are made from cast iron or clay. These types of pipes do not last long and can easily breakdown. If a cast iron or clay pipe breaks down, then a sewage backup can happen. Plastic pipes have not become the standard in homes.
Heavy Rainfall- Large amounts of rain can overburden public sewer lines. If the public sewer system becomes overburdened, then the water can make its way into connected sewer lines and into people’s homes.
Preventing Backups
Do not Pour Grease Down the Drain – The first tip to prevent backups should be a no brainer. Cooking oils, grease, and fat harden when cooled down. Thus, they should not be poured down a drain where they can harden and create a clog. Instead, the grease, fat, and cooking oils should be poured into a heat resistant container and thrown away in the trash.
Dispose of Paper Products Properly – Paper towels, diapers, and feminine products should not be flushed down the toilet as they can clog the sewer line. Instead, these items should be thrown in the trash.
Install Plastic pipe or Remove Tree Roots – To prevent roots from damaging any sewer lines on a property, plastic pipes should be installed to replace any cast iron or clay pipes. If tree roots still damage the pipe, then the tree roots should be cut.
Install a Backwater Prevention Valve – A backwater prevention valve allows sewage to leave but prevents it from backing up into a home. These valves are typically installed on sewer lines but can also be installed on drain lines in the basement.
Sewage Pump Maintenance – Ensure that the sump pump in the home does not sit on any dirt, silt, or gravel that can be sucked into it the pump and ruin the motor. Homeowners should also make sure that there is a filter fabric above the pump to prevent any debris from going tin to the pump.
What to do Incase of a Swage backup
If a sewage backup occurs at a home, the best option is to call a professional restoration company. However, there are some tings a homeowner can do to mitigate the damages before the restoration company arrives.
- Evacuate the flooded areas. This includes any pets as sewage contaminants are harmful to everyone.
- Turn off the electricity to the flooded areas. If the electrical breaker is in located I the flooded area do not go near it.
- Shut off the main water line to the home
- Notify your insurance about a sewage backup
- Do not use the water in the home until the backup is fixed
- Open doors and windows to let fresh air in
If a sewage backup in your home, 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 First Choice Restoration for water damage repair and mold remediation services.
About First Choice Restoration
First Choice Restoration is a water, mold, fire, and smoke remediation company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. The company also operates additional offices throughout other areas of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware. The company has been assisting homeowners and businesses with water, mold, fire, and smoke cleanup for over 40 years.
