3 Tips To Prevent Sewer Backup in Your Home

7/25/2019 (Permalink)

Tree roots growing in the sewer line is a common reason for sewer backup problems

3 Tips To Prevent Sewer Backup in Your Home

Sewer backup in your Rockford, MN, home can be a nightmare. Not only do you need to worry about water damage, you also need to protect yourself and your family from the bacteria often present in raw sewage.

There are many potential causes for backup. There may be a blockage or clog in your lateral pipe, in which case you may require sewer cleaning. Excessive rain can cause flooding that results in raw sewage backing up into your basement. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to prevent basement floods in either case.

1. Install a Preventative Device

Examples include backwater valves and one-way floor drains. These usually remain open to allow wastewater to flow away from the home but then close up during flooding due to storms to prevent sewage from backing up into your home.

2. Trim Tree Roots

Small tree roots can get into pipe joints and cracks in the sewer line in their quest for moisture. As they grow bigger, they can cause blockages or other types of damage to the sewer system. It may be necessary to have the roots trimmed professionally.

3. Dispose of Paper Products and Grease Properly

What you send down the drain may come back to haunt you later on. Be careful flushing any paper products down the toilet; do not do so unless the manufacturer has marked it as safe. Do not flush feminine hygiene products under any circumstances.

Additionally, avoid pouring any cooking grease down the drain of your kitchen sinks, including the garbage disposal. Though it appears liquid when heated, it will become solid again as it cools. This can lead to blockage if it happens in the sewer pipes.

While these prevention methods can be highly effective against basement floods, none of them are infallible. Despite your best efforts, you may experience flooding, sewer backup, and resultant storm damage. Fortunately, emergency restoration services are Here To Help 24 hours a day.