Force 1 Restoration Services - The signs and causes of sewage backup and how to prevent it

Causes, signs, and preventive steps

Water damage is caused by an array of reasons. One of them is sewage backup - when water begins to flow backward into the house. This exposes the inhabitants to health hazards and entails an extensive and costly clean-up process.

What are the signs of a sewage backup?

Seepage at basement floor drains
A foul smell from drains
Toilets don’t flush like usual, and plunging doesn’t help
More than one drain is clogged
Using one element of plumbing (such as a toilet) leads to water backup somewhere else
Bubbling after flushing a toilet or when a sink is repeatedly trying to drain

Force 1 Restoration Services shares below the common reasons why sewage backup happens in a home:

Aging sewer systems: According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the country’s 500,000-plus miles of sewer lines are approximately thirty years old. The burden of more homes connected to the aging sewage systems has increased the incidents of sanitary sewer backups, flooded basements, and overflows.
Flooding: If too much stormwater and raw sewage enter the same pipeline simultaneously, the systems are exposed to more volume than they can handle. This leads to sewage backup that spews out into basements and other low-lying drains.
Blockages: Blocked pipelines, caused by several reasons, will hinder the normal flow of sewage and will lead to a backup.
Tree roots: Sometimes small roots of trees and shrubs sneak into sewer line cracks and service pipe joints seeking moisture. As they become larger they can cause extensive damage or blockages. Usually, the restoration cost becomes the responsibility of the owner of the problem tree.

Here are a few ways to prevent sewage from backing up into a house:

Flush carefully: The only things that should be flushed down the toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Other items such as diapers, wipes, cigarette butts, paper towels, facial tissues, or personal hygiene products have high chances of causing a backup.
No Fats, oils, and grease: Grease and other materials, including bacon fat, coffee grinds, and food waste must be thrown in the garbage. If drained through sinks, these items solidify and attach to the pipes and joints, leading to blockage and eventually back up into homes.
Correct illegal design: A poorly-designed home drainage system can cause accumulated dirt to cause a blockage. French drains or sump pumps should not be connected to the main sanitary drain line. Not only is this illegal, but it also leads to massive backups.
Check the tree roots: Replacing the line with a new plastic pipe prevents tree roots from breaking the pipelines. Also trimming the tree roots regularly helps avoid this situation.
Install a backwater valve: If the mains sewer system begins to back up, a backwater valve (sometimes called a backflow valve) comes in handy. It helps reduce the likelihood of sewage flowing into the basement and allows water from toilets, sinks, and bathtubs to flow out of the house. However, it’s important to note that backwater valves are not suitable for all homes.

Despite these preventive measures, if there is sewage backup detected, one must turn off the home’s main water supply and call a water damage restoration company like Force 1 Restoration Services at the earliest.

A sewage backup can lead to disease, destruction of valuables, damage to the property, and electrical malfunctions. A clean-up post a sewage backup damage may include:

Wet-vacuuming or removal of spillage
Mopping floors and wiping walls with soap and disinfectant
Flushing out and disinfecting plumbing fixtures
Steam cleaning or removing wet carpets or drapes
Repairing or removing damaged wallboard or wall covering
Cleanup of ductwork

Why Force 1 Restoration Services?

The professionals at Force 1 Restoration Services can quickly arrive at the damaged residence with the personnel, equipment, and training to begin the water removal, drying, and restoration process. The team of professionals can handle the claims process and total restoration project from beginning to end for its clients.