Taking note of sewer backup prevention tips may save you an unpleasant, costly, and smelly experience. Statistics state that water damage claims, including sewer backup incidents, for Canadian homes makes up 40 percent of all home insurance claims. Gutters, Downspouts, and Sump…
Sewage backups are not only gross and inconvenient, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage in addition to creating health hazards for occupants in your home. All of this can easily be avoided, however, with the addition of a mainline sewer backflow valve to your plumbing system.
What causes sewage backup?
There are a variety of reasons for sewage backup. The main line that runs from your home to the sewer may become clogged due to grease, tree roots, and other blockages. In addition, water used in area homes as well as excess rain water can overwhelm the sewer system, causing water to back up in the lines and into your home.
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.
