What Is Sewage Backup And How To Prevent It?

Undoubtedly, plumbing is a crucial part of running a home or business. Having a functioning sewer system at your disposal is vital to the smooth operation of your property.

Sewage backup – occurs when excess liquids flow into wastewater pipes due to blockages caused by solid objects such as hair and paper towels. There are other causes of sewage backup as well, including broken pipes or clogged drains to uncollected household waste, etc.

Another thing, water back up also creates serious health concerns. Therefore, realizing what causes sewer backups inside your house or drain can help prevent a compromising situation from occurring in your basement. Read on to learn how to prevent sewage backups!

Causes for a Sewage Backup in the Basement:

We have compiled a list of sewage backup causes in the basement. Some of these are mainly for houses with a basement, while other causes are general for every house with water coming out of a bad drain system.

Clogs

Clogs in sewer lines can cause a sewage backup in your basement. This is because the sewage backs up into your clean water supply. Moreover, clogged sewer lines in the basement are caused by the presence of hair, soap scum, grease, oil and other debris that can build up on the inside of the pipe.

Root Intrusion

Root intrusion is the most common cause of sewage backup in the basement. It is usually caused by tree roots growing too close to the foundation, or the sewer line. Or, when drains are not installed correctly and allow water to back up into the home’s sewer system.

Broken or Cracked Pipe

If a sewer line breaks, it can cause drain backup in your basement. In fact, it’s the most common cause of a sewer backup. It happens when the main drainpipe from your house to the city’s sewer line to the septic tank has been broken or cracked.

Bellied Sewer Lines

A bellied sewer line is an extension of your main sewer line that is covered with clay or concrete, which causes it to be smaller in diameter than the main line. It leads to overflow when there is heavy rain or just too much water coming into your home’s lowest point.

Old Sewer Lines

These can also be a cause for sewage backup in the basement. Sewer lines are made of plastic and rubber and can deteriorate over time. When this happens, debris can get caught in the sewer line and cause it to become clogged. For fast pipe repairs or line replacement, we recommended trenchless method that have many benefits.

Rainfall

Rain water is a known cause for drain backup. It can flow into the system and through the plumbing. In most cases, water can be contaminated due to the fact that it has been sitting in a drainage ditch for some time, or it can be fresh water from a downspout or rain gutter.

How to Prevent a Sewage Backup

Sewage backup in the basement is a common problem caused by numerous reasons, some of them we have discussed above. Now, we will address how you can prevent water coming up from your basement floor drain.

Add a concrete slab or other foundation drainage system: It allows water to run away from the house instead of finding its way into your basement through pipes, shower drain or leaking in the foundation.

Use proper septic tank maintenance: Making sure you’re not exceeding your tank’s capacity can help prevent backups too – especially if you live in an area where there’s not much sun exposure or other factors that can cause problems with septic systems.

Keep any dirt and debris out of your yard and driveway: If you have a driveway that connects with your garage, make sure they’re not filled with leaves or other debris that make its way into storm drains when it rains heavily.

Use drain cleaner Regularly: If you have a drain backup in the basement, use the best cleaner for sewage backup to clean the waste water in your house. Drain cleaner is a chemical that helps get rid of deposits and build up in your drainage system.

How to Prevent a Sewage Backup

Sewage backup in the basement is a common problem caused by numerous reasons, some of them we have discussed above. Now, we will address how you can prevent water coming up from your basement floor drain.

Add a concrete slab or other foundation drainage system: It allows water to run away from the house instead of finding its way into your basement through pipes, shower drain or leaking in the foundation.

Use proper septic tank maintenance: Making sure you’re not exceeding your tank’s capacity can help prevent backups too – especially if you live in an area where there’s not much sun exposure or other factors that can cause problems with septic systems.

Keep any dirt and debris out of your yard and driveway: If you have a driveway that connects with your garage, make sure they’re not filled with leaves or other debris that make its way into storm drains when it rains heavily.

Use drain cleaner Regularly: If you have a drain backup in the basement, use the best cleaner for sewage backup to clean the waste water in your house. Drain cleaner is a chemical that helps get rid of deposits and build up in your drainage system.

When To Call In The Professionals?

If you are uncomfortable performing plumbing by yourself, or if you feel like the issue is severe, it’s best to call an expert plumber/contractor.

A plumber will be able to inspect the entire system and determine what is causing the odor, whether it is something as simple as a clog or something more serious such as an issue with your sump pump.

Conveniently, if you’re in Seattle, you can call Fischer Plumbing right away to address the problem. We have tons of testimonials and hundreds of happy clients. All in all, our plumbers will know what caused your sewage backup, give you an estimate of sewage backup cleanup cost, and how to fix the clogged sewer line in your basement.