A sewer backup in your property could result in a plumbing catastrophe. If wastewater and sewage do not properly drain away, either because of an obstruction or a pipe problem, your house and valuables might sustain damage worth thousands of dollars. If you notice raw sewage accumulating near drains, bathtubs, toilets, or the basement, this indicates a sewage problem in your house.
You’ll want to find the source of the problem and have it fixed before the damage to your walls, carpet, and furnishings becomes irreparable. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on sewage backups, covering everything from the most prevalent causes to the best ways to fix the backup. Continue reading to learn more.
Signs of a Sewage Backup
A sewer backup happens when a blockage or clog develops in the home’s main sewer line. Seeing or smelling sewage and soiled wastewater is the most telling sign that you may face a sewer backup. These pollutants tend to collect near drains, toilets, and other basement sewer line connections when your sewer backs up. It is necessary to implement sewage restoration for backup.
In addition to a foul odor, there are several other warning signs of an oncoming backup:
- Gurgling noises: When a blockage develops in a sewer drain pipe, air bubbles form. These bubbles are visible in toilets and can be heard gurgling from drains.
- Slow-moving drains: If many drains in your home are moving slowly, this indicates that a clog is building in the main sewage system.
- Backflow in a bathtub or shower: Unless there is a clog in the drain line, it is not common for the shower water to back up.
- Dampness near floor drains: Basements, garages, and laundry rooms may include floor drains. Typically, these are the first areas to experience sewage backup before toilets or showers. If you see moisture near floor drains, contact a plumber immediately.
- Abnormalities in your yard: If you observe sinkholes, lush areas, or puddles of water in your yard, this might signal serious damage to your sewer lines that must be repaired.
What Causes Sewer Backups?
For the owners of historic homes, the most typical source of sewer backups is rusty, corroded, or otherwise antiquated pipes. If your home’s external clay pipes link to the sewer main, these pipes might become vulnerable to damage from intrusive structures, shrub branches, and tree roots. These natural growths penetrate clay pipes and progressively clog them.
Once they do, tiny bits of undissolved debris might adhere to them and cause blockages. This is a common way for paper towels and wipes that can be flushed down the toilet to get stuck. When there are blockages like this, foul water will eventually back up into the house.
What to Do If Your Sewer Is Clogged
You must act fast if you have a sewage backup. If your drain is sluggish, don’t try to fix it using liquid drain cleaners. A physical obstruction, such as one caused by tree roots or a broken drain line, may be impossible to remove using these solutions.
In addition, the chemical drain treatment may cause more harm to the pipes or the plumber who comes to fix your system.
Rather than using chemicals to unclog slow-moving drains, consider plunging or using a hair-removal tool. If these solutions don’t work, it’s time to call a plumber. The issue at hand is possibly more complex and will require more advanced solutions.
If you experience a major backup that causes waste to enter your home, turn off the water to the drains. Additionally, if wastewater comes into contact with electrical outlets, cut the power off immediately.
The safest option is to cut power to the entire house, but if you know which breaker or fuse to flip, you can isolate the flooded areas.
Before approaching the contaminated area, wearing suitable protective gear, such as thick rubber gloves, sturdy boots, goggles, and a face shield, would be best.
You can also use a vacuum to remove fluids and debris from the flooded area. Consider a wet-dry choice to clear the waste, and apply disinfectant to solid walls and floors.
It’s best to eliminate and throw away any absorbing items like carpet or wood paneling. Depending on how far the water got up the walls, you may also want to remove the wall paneling to avoid mold development.
Inquire with authorities in your neighborhood about where you may take the wastewater you’ve collected and anything else that the overflowing sewers could have ruined.
You won’t be able to use any of your plumbing fixtures (sinks, tubs, toilets, and showers) until a plumber comes to fix the drain. You must drive out the extra water through the drainage system if you must use them.
Otherwise, water is bound to back up to your property if your plumbing is not restored. It is essential to have a plumber come out to fix your toilet as soon as possible since everyone uses it at least once a day.
The Bottom Line
There is nothing positive about a sewage backup. When sewage backs up into a house, it smells terrible, poses a health risk, ruins any absorbent materials it comes into contact with, and is very difficult to dry up and remove. If your sewer line can’t properly connect to the municipal sewage system or septic tank, you need to call a professional plumber immediately.
A clog in a sewer system may not be immediately noticeable, unlike a burst water pipe. Nonetheless, there are warning signs to keep an eye out for and actions you can take to forestall significant property loss. Use this guide to learn how you can easily fix a sewer backup.
