Photo By LuisPortugal at istock
Sewage water has toxic contaminants, which poses a health risk and is capable of damaging your home. A clog in your sewer line creates a backup as the blockage prevents wastewater from freely flowing through your drainage pipes. Your basement being the lowest point in your home, provides an escape route for clogged sewers.
The unpleasant backup enters via the basement drains, which cause a germ laden, flooded mess in this part of your home. Such major plumbing problems do not fix themselves and demand prompt action by a qualified plumber.
Warning signs
Ignoring the warning signs only worsens the problem, which is why you must call in an expert plumber without delay. The following issues are indicative of a sewer line backup so ensure you watch out for them and take control of the situation:
- Gurgling noises emanating from your pipes and drains when water struggles to flow freely
- Clogging in your toilets despite trying to flush down the waste matter
- The visibly slow movement of water as it attempts to drain off as also stagnant or bubbling water around your drains
- A lingering and foul odor coming from your drains
- Overflowing, non-functional drains that bring in unhygienic substances
Common causes
A sewage system backup in your basement can be an absolute nightmare and is often attributed to the listed factors in Rockwall, TX:
- Tree roots growing into pipes can puncture or crack them and block lines by wrapping themselves around sewers in their attempt to seek moisture
- Shoving down cooking grease, hair, wet wipes, and sanitary napkins that sewage pipes are not designed to handle creates major clogs
- Deterioration of the system as time passes owing to frequent wear and tear may lead to broken sewage lines
- Poorly designed home drainage systems require the urgent intervention of a seasoned plumber
- Intense rainstorms may overwhelm your drainage mechanism, especially when raw sewage and stormwater have a common pipeline to flow through
Preventive measures
An experienced professional recommends the measures enumerated here to prevent a messy sewer backup in your basement:
Proper disposal of grease
Kitchen grease is not to be disposed of in your sink even on combining it with hot water. As the washed off oil cools down, it solidifies either within the pipes or in the drain, eventually constricting the line and clogging it. The better option is to pour the grease into a container and trash it.
Appropriately discard solid waste
Feminine products, diapers, whether disposable or cloth, and hygienic wipes do not deteriorate quickly. Sewers are not designed to handle such solid waste resulting in severe blockages. Only flush toilet paper and human waste while discarding the rest in your trash.
Periodically cut tree roots
As tree roots grow, they spread in all directions and cling on to elements from where they get their moisture dose. Sewers attract tree roots, and the only way to prevent them from damaging your drainage system is by periodically cutting these roots.
Install backwater valves
Backwater prevention valves allow sewage to exit but restrict toxic contaminants from backing up into homes. These fixtures are best installed by a trained plumber into your sewer line or even fixed in your basement drain line.
Strategically place your sewage pump
When your sump pump is positioned on debris instead of a sturdy flat surface, the gravel or silt around can get sucked in and ruin the pump’s motor. Also, ensure the sewage basin is equipped with a filter fabric to prevent debris from entering the drainage system. A reputed plumber can examine your set-up and advise you correctly.
Dealing with sewage backups
Significant sewage backup in your basement demands you promptly call in a professional plumber to fix the issue. As you wait for the technician to arrive, adopt the following practices to reduce the extent of damage to your home:
- Evacuate the flooded basement and even keep your pets away from hazardous sewage contaminants
- Safely turn off the electrical supply to your basement and when not feasible, stay away from electrical devices
- Shut off the valve connected to the mains through which your home gets its water supply
- Avoid flushing toilets, draining sinks and tubs till the backup issue is resolved
- Open your windows to ventilate the basement by allowing fresh air to enter
- Disinfect the standing water by adding chlorine bleach to it
- If you have to wade through the sewage water, first wear protective clothing in the form of rubber boots, a facemask, and gloves
- Use a shovel and bucket to collect any wet waste that needs disposal
- Old sheets and towels worth disposing of work well to soak up the excess water in your basement
- Turn on dehumidifiers and fans in your basement to dry out the prevalent moisture and prevent mold from growing there
- Dispose of any wooden furniture, carpets, fabric, and boards ruined by the sewage backup and beyond repair
Once the plumber you contact to rectify your sewage backup issue puts everything in order, disinfect your entire basement. You can add soap to warm water and use this solution to wipe down every section. Subsequently, using a combination of bleach and water to clean again sanitizes the area and makes it a hygienic zone.
Dangers of sewage backup
Failing to attend to the massive sewer backup in your basement immediately poses some serious risks for you and your loved ones. Only a skilled plumber can appropriately fix the issue at hand and safeguard you against:
- Contracting diseases like Hepatitis A, Salmonella, and E. coli when sewage comes in contact with your body via an open wound or through your mouth
- Developing allergies and displaying symptoms of asthma
- A mold outbreak in your home
Reach out to bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of North East Dallas – Rockwall, TX. The plumber assigned to you will have the expertise to identify the root of the problem and implement solutions that minimize the recurrence of similar backups.
Free Diagnostic - With Paid Repair
