Chances are, if you’ve ever had a sewer backup into your basement or place of business, you remember it vividly. A sewer backup can be one of the most unpleasant situations you’re likely to encounter, and if you haven’t taken measures to protect against it, you surely will after it happens once.
What Is a Sewer Backup?
When municipal sewers become overloaded with rain water after a heavy storm, the water is often forced back toward your home through the sewer lines and up through the drains in your basement. This is known as sewer backup, and it has the potential to send contaminated water through your floor drains, up through toilets or even through tubs and showers.
Storms aren’t always the culprit, though. Sometimes, you may encounter a sewer backup because of tree roots, grease, broken pipes, waste or ground saturation.