What is Causing Your Sewage to Backup

When the wastewater ceases to flow as it is supposed to, the consequences are not good and can be expensive. Sewage backup is not only a mess to clean up, but it can also cause unsafe conditions and damage to some areas of a home that take time and effort to fix. This is a problem that many homeowners do not expect, but some symptoms and causes make it more frequent than one would assume. The first step in preventing the occurrence of sewage backing up is to know what causes it.

Tree Roots Getting in the Way

Tree roots are one of the reasons that cause backups. As trees expand, their roots tend to extend towards water. Unluckily, underground sewer pipes provide just that. A very small crack in a pipe is sufficient to allow roots to enter.

Elderly houses are particularly vulnerable. Clay or other materials pipes that were used in previous decades are more prone to cracking under pressure or wearing out with age. As soon as the roots get inside, the clogging continues to worsen unless the professionals cut off the growth and fix the line.

Items That Should Not Be Flushed

Drains and toilets are not garbage cans. Just a couple of bad choices can initiate a chain reaction. Even flushable wet wipes will clog the pipes as they tend to stick to one another. They are not easily disintegrated like toilet paper. The same applies to feminine products, paper towels, and cotton swabs. These materials may accumulate and cause clogs that may block the system.

Pouring grease into the drain in the kitchen is a silent error that later leads to noisy issues. Grease can be poured as a liquid, but it solidifies rapidly in the pipes. That slimy deposit catches other stuff, gradually clogging the opening until the water and waste are unable to pass.

Heavy Rains and Flooded Systems

In some cases, outside the home is the source of backups. Municipal sewer systems may be overwhelmed by heavy rain, particularly in older cities where stormwater and sewage are run through the same pipes. In case of an overloaded system, the surplus water must have a place to escape. In other instances, it re-enters the homes via the lowest drains or basement plumbing.

These backups are not caused by anything in the house but are equally damaging. The presence of the right backwater valves can also prevent outside pressure from forcing the sewage in the wrong direction. In the absence of such a barrier, rainwater combined with waste may flow up to the bathrooms, laundry rooms, and lower floors of a building.

Broken or Collapsed Sewer Lines

Sewer lines can be worn down over time. These pipes, like anything underground, are subject to pressure due to soil movement, weather changes, and plain old age. A pipe can break or even fall. Once this occurs, the waste does not flow through the system as it should. It does not go away; instead, it rests in the pipe or goes elsewhere, typically into the house. These are problems that cannot be easily identified early unless there is a professional inspection.

Bringing in the Professionals

Backups are not only unpleasant, but they are also dangerous to health and can contaminate a house. It is not the type of issue that can be dealt with using a plunger only. Once the waste is in the wrong place, the experts have to be called in since they understand how to clean up, fix, and avoid future problems.

In cases such as this, there are homeowners who resort to sewage restoration services that not only clean up the mess but also deal with the root causes of the backup. Not only do these services clean the mess, but they also rehabilitate the affected sections in such a way that no evidence or residual danger is left.

Conclusion

The inconvenience of the delay, the odor, the mess, and the repair expense are not worth it. Most sewage backups can be avoided by simple changes in habits and calling in help. It does not require complicated tools and insider know-how to make a difference. All it requires is awareness, care, and the decision to safeguard the home before the problems hit.

Sources:

https://www.nashuanh.gov/1513/What-Causes-A-Sewer-To-Backup

https://catesheatingandcooling.com/blog/6-causes-sewer-backups-how-fix/