One of the worst and most immediate inconveniences you may have to deal with in a household is a sewer backup emergency. It occurs when the waste water of the main sewer line flows in reverse into your home rather than flowing out into the city sewer system or the septic tank. This may lead to uprising of dirty water via toilets, sinks, bathtubs, or the floor drains. This does not only makes the house look messier but also puts the members of household in a dangerous situation. Plumb N Plumber are the plumbers that you can rely on when facing any plumbing issue.
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What Sewer Backup Means?
Sewer backup is a situation where something is obstructing or overloading the regular passage of wastewater in the drainage system. The waste and water will have no place to go, causing them to reenter the home instead. It normally occurs in the lowest areas of the house first, like basement, bathrooms or floor drains. The water is usually dark, odorous and can be fraught with pathogenic bacteria and waste products. That is why such situations come under plumbing emergencies.
Typical Sewer Backup Causes:
There are many reasons due to which a sewer backup can occur and blockage of main sewer line is among the most popular reasons. This may occur when grease, food waste, hair and other substances accumulate over a period of time and block water flow.
Another significant cause is the roots of trees. Roots can easily penetrate through the underground sewer lines by the tiny cracks or fitting because they tend to move towards the moisture area. When they get inside, they grow and seal the pipe.
Severe rain could also cause congestion of sewer systems. When a lot of storm water flows into the system at a time, it may lead to pressure build up and sewage flowing back into the home. Broken or degraded pipes can also rupture or burst open resulting in blockages and backups.
Indicators of a Sewer Backup:
You may get warning signs that will help you spot a sewer backup at a very early stage. When more than one drain in your house is not draining efficiently then it highlights a sewer back up problem and in most cases you can also hear sounds like gurgling coming from your sinks or toilets.
Also the presence of bad smells form drains or basement areas highlights the problem with the main sewer line. When your water or sewage begins to appear through toilets or drains, this highlights a severe situation presenting the fact that the backing process has initiated.
Immediate Action:
Acting quickly is very important when one is experiencing sewer backup and the first action to take is to stop the usage of water within your house. Stop flushing toilets, do not run sinks and avoid the usage of appliances like washing machine or dishwasher. The usage of water can worsen the circumstances because it puts an additional stress on this system.
The next step to take is to prevent going near the contaminated water because harmful bacteria and viruses could be present in the contaminated water and direct contact with it could lead to serious health risks. As much as possible, in such affected places, children and pets should be kept off. In the case of severe backup, one should immediately dial a professional plumber or emergency sewer service. They possess the manpower and equipment to clear the blockage to avoid additional damage.
Cleaning and Recovery:
The next step after repairing the blockage is cleaning. Sewer water is able to destroy floors, carpets, and furnishings hence the affected area might have to be washed or replaced. Disinfection is really critical to eliminate the harmful bacteria and prevent health risks like typhoid and thus professional cleaning services is usually recommended in such situations when the damage is worse or if they basement is all flooded.
