...........................How to Prevent Sewer Backups

.................................................Consumer Smart Tips

 

...............................................................What is a Sewage Backup?

The backup of sewage through the drains in your home or business is an unpleasant prospect.  Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect your property.

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An Easy Lesson in Basic Plumbing

Waste water flows through relatively small lines on your property to the larger, county lines in the street. From there the sewage travels by gravity or pressure to a water reclamation facility.  The stream is constant, with peaks in the morning and evening. Each day millions of gallons of wastewater safely reaches facilities to be reclaimed and returned to the environment.

Unfortunately, a blockage in the sewer line can interfere with this normally quiet, out-of-sight process. A blockage in the private or county line causes a back-up through floor drains and toilets at the lowest point in your home or business.  The overflow will continue until the blockage is removed or until sewage is no longer entering the line.

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What Causes a Sewage Backup?

     Anything which should not be in a sewer line has the potential of causing a blockage. For example:

· Kitchen grease, disposable diapers, and sanitary napkins can accumulate and cause a blockage.

· Tree roots seeking moisture can grow through cracks in the lines, causing a blockage.  Vandals have stopped up lines by putting bricks, wood, oil filters, bed springs, and even Christmas trees in manholes.

· Illegal hookups allow excess water into the lines. Outside stairwell drains, sump pumps, roof leaders, and drain gutters should never be connected to the sewer system. A sewer system is designed to carry a predetermined amount of sewage. Rainwater not only overloads the system, but also raises the cost of the treatment process.

 

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What You Can Do to Prevent Sewer Backups!

Do Not:

· Put diapers, feminine products, or sanitary napkins in the toilet

· Dispose of grease down the drain

· Plant trees near sewer lines

· Connect any areaway drains or sump pumps to the sewer line

 

Do:

· Install a plumbers test plug (available at hardware stores) at the lowest floor drain in your home

· Hire a plumber to install a back flow valve on the lowest drain line. Regularly inspect and maintain the valve

· Modify the plumbing line so that water is pumped to an upper level drain, eliminating the drains at the lower level

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And just in case…

· Locate and keep accessible the sewer cleanout in your front yard. If you do not have a cleanout, have one installed by a plumber. The cleanout is the property owner’s responsibility.

· Check your homeowner’s insurance policy. If you are not covered for back-ups, call your agent for information on costs and coverage options. If you experience a back-up, save all receipts related to any repair, cleaning, or damages.

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