Sewer Backup In Basement

Overhead sewer protection backwater valve.

Sewer backup in basement.

Sometimes sewage backups in a basement drain may not indicate a problem with your plumbing fixtures or sewer line. Instead they can occur when the city sewer system is inundated with water after a heavy rain shower. If you have a few inches of water from a storm sewer or other inundation like water coming in under a door in your basement a wet dry vac can be used to suck up a little at a time. First of all the point of the back up frequently is not related to the point of the clog or pipe defect.

Just like your drain pipes your main sewer line can become clogged which can cause sewage backups in your home. What to do after sewage backup in basement. Property damage from sewage backup. A sewer line clog could lead to a raw sewage backup coming out of the drains which could lead to significant damage to the home and an expensive sewer line repair or replacement.

If however every flush creates a sewage backup in your home you likely have a blockage in your main sewer line. When such a problem strikes knowing what to do next can be. Shut off the water in your home. A homeowner s insurance policy might or might not cover sewer backup damage to your home that is caused by the errant roots breaking the lateral line.

The most common causes of sewer backups are tree roots clogging pipes fog fats oils and grease going down the drain and connecting things like french drains sump pump discharges and other flood control systems to the sanitary sewer system which is why such connections are usually not permitted. All sewage backup situations are considered emergencies due to the amount of destruction and health risks they cause. Unfortunately these types of things can and often do happen. Backed up sewer line in basement problems are much more complicated to diagnose than one may think.

The water can be poured out into the sewer drain via a shower or utility sink. If it is just one toilet sink or tub that seems to be giving you a problem it may just be a clog in that drain. Don t hesitate to call a sewage backup cleaning professional as soon as you find the mess in your basement. Having sewage backing up into your basement and on your property is the type of disaster that no homeowner or business owner ever wants to face.

Legal options advice and more. Water under pressure such as from a sewer back up seeks the easiest and lowest point to escape. Just a few inches of water is a lot and may take more than 40 50 fills of the vac. Heavy rains flooding or storms.

Potential homeowners looking to buy a house or existing homeowners concerned about the state of their sewer pipes can hire a professional to come and examine the lines. If the valve is under the sewage water leave it alone. Call for professional help.