What Causes Sewage Backups and How Avoid One in Your Milford Home

7/23/2018 (Permalink)

After a toilet overflowed due to a clogged pipe in Fairfield, SERVPRO of Milford-Orange-Stratford cleaned up the job.

After a sewage backup at your home, your floors and the bottom of your walls may become saturated with sewage, as well as any household items such as bathroom cabinets that may have gotten caught up in the flood. Water from sewage is considered black water because it may contain bacteria and viruses.  It is pertinent that if you have a sewage backup, it is cleaned up quickly and by a professional restoration company to reduce the risk of contamination spreading. 

Knowing the causes of sewage backups can help you to avoid one. 

Causes of Sewage Backups 

• Clogs – If your home's drain pipes get clogged, you might have a backup.Aside from objects that shouldn't be flushed down the toilet,hair, grease, or other solid materials that end up in the drains can also create a clog.   

• Tree Roots – Trees can grow really long roots that intertwine with your sewer line. Roots can grow into a pipe and cause holes or crush the sewer line by growing around it. Even if the roots in your yard are not the problem, roots from nearby trees can reach your sewer line and damage it. 
• Damaged Sewer Lines – Most susceptible to sewage line malfunctions are older pipes (pre-1950) which are made of cast iron or even clay. Aging sewage systems can break down and crack, which can cause sewage backups and flooded basements. Newer homes usually have plastic sewer pipes, which are easier to install and handle however are more susceptible to breaking. 
• Heavy Rainfall – If you are on a public sewer system, a large amount of rain can overburden your city’s sewer lines. If the public sewer can’t handle excess rainfall, the water can make its way into connected sewer lines, including the ones in your home.  If you have a septic system at your home, it can be flooded by heavy rain as well and cause it to backup into your home. 

How to Prevent Sewage Backups 

• Don’t pour grease down the drain. Cooking oil can harden within your pipes; it gradually stops debris from draining, creating a clog. To properly dispose of grease or fat, pour it into a heat-resistant container and throw it in the trash after it cools off. 
• Add drain traps. Insert drain baskets or strainers to catch solid objects and foods that might not easily break down. 
• Dispose of paper products properly. Flushing hygiene products such as paper towels, diapers, or feminine products down the toilet can easily clog your sewer line. Save yourself some trouble and discard paper products in the trash. 
• Cut tree roots.If you discover that tree roots are growing dangerously close to your sewer lateral, take the preventative measure of cutting the tree roots. 
• Install a backwater prevention valve. This fixture allows sewage to leave but prevents it from backing up into your home. Backwater valves are typically installed into a sewer line and sometimes into a drain line in the basement. 
• Clean your drains. An easy way to keep those drains clear, use an enzyme treatment or flush with one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of white vinegar and warm water on a monthly basis.