One of the worst possible scenarios homeowners often face is sewer damage. Raw sewage can infiltrate bathtubs, sink drains and can cause toilets to overflow. When this is happening, these homeowners are subjected to possibly thousands of dollars in related costs. Some homeowners dealing with sewer damage are forced to repair or replace flooring, walls, furniture, and even electrical systems. What’s worse? Severe sewage damage can render your home uninhabitable as raw sewage can pose major health hazards.
What Is Local Sewer Damage?
A local sewer is a sewer system that is part of your city or county’s main sewer system. These large series of pipes are commonly located beneath the street. A pipeline connects your home to the main sewer line. The sewer line channels solid waste and effluent away from your home. When a problem develops — like a blockage — in the main sewer line, your home’s sewer lines will fail to drain and raw sewage will back up into your home.
What Causes Sewer Line Damage?
Several circumstances can lead to sewer damage. Here are some of the most common causes of sewer line damage:
- Time: Many of our nation’s municipal sewer line systems are over thirty years old. The aging lines (which have been subjected to decades of wear, tear and obstruction) sometimes fail or become obstructed— leading to backups.
- Overwhelmed Systems: Recent sewer construction projects have put both sewer and stormwater runoff in the same system. During heavy, prolonged rainfall and/or flooding, the systems are subjected to mass volumes of water that may overwhelm the system. The waste has nowhere else to go and often finds its way back into your home.
- Municipal Blockages: Main sewer blockages can lead to sewage system backups and overflows in your home if not detected in time.
- Residential Blockages: Tree roots as well as neglected, collapsing sewer pipes are the main culprits of residential sewer line problems. The sewer line connects your house with the main sewer located beneath the street.
Preventing Sewer Backups
You can take matters into your own hands. Help prevent or reduce the chances of sewage from backing into your home by doing the following:
- Hire a professional plumber to inspect and/or clean your sewer line annually. This will help identify potential problem areas and keep your lines clear, and reduce the chance of blockage.
- Dispose of grease and food properly by placing it into the trash. Food particles, fats, cooking oils and grease should never enter your home’s plumbing system. When they do, they carry the risk of collecting or building up in the drain line or main sewer line until a blockage occurs.
- Your toilet is not a garbage disposal. You should never flush anything besides human waste or toilet paper. Cigarette butts, diapers, cosmetics, food, paper towels and feminine products can all lead to a blockage.
For answers to your questions, contact The Pink Plumber today.
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