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How to Prevent Sewage Backups in Guilford, CT
11/1/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline provides expert cleanup to make your sewage backup in Guilford, CT "Like it never even happened."
Sewage backups in Guilford, CT are unfortunately common. In addition to the extensive water damage, sewage backups can contaminate your property with bacteria and viruses that can make you sick.
No homeowner wants to deal with a backup in their own home, which is why it’s important to take steps to help avoid them. Here, we will outline why your sewer may be backing up, as well as how to prevent future sewage backups from occurring.
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Why Is Your Sewer Backing Up?
There are several reasons why a sewer may back up. The most common causes include:
- Clogs in drain pipes or main sewer line
- Physical damage to sewer lines
- Tree roots growing into pipes or septic system
- Overflowing septic tank
- Heavy rains or flooding
1. Clogs in Drain Pipes or Main Sewer Line
When there are blockages in your home’s drain pipes or in the city’s main sewer line, waste that should flow into the public sewer system may be pushed back into your home.
Clogs can be caused by washing grease and coffee grounds down the drain, or by flushing items like diapers or sanitary napkins down the toilet.
2. Physical Damage to Sewer Lines
Old sewer lines are often made of cast iron and clay piping, which are likely to become damaged or cracked.
When sewer lines become damaged, wastewater will have nowhere to go, so most of it will build up in the line and cause a backup.
3. Tree Roots Growing into Pipes or Septic System
Tree roots can often damage or crack your sewer lines, which eventually leads to a backup.
Since tree roots are naturally drawn to water, if there are any small leaks, tree roots will grow towards them. The root can then grow through the pipes, creating a blockage that causes a sewage backup.
4. Overflowing Septic Tank
When septic tanks become flooded with too much water all at once, they may overflow, pushing wastewater back into the house and causing a sewage backup.
5. Heavy Rains or Flooding
Since municipal sewer systems collect runoff, heavy rains or flooding can cause your municipal sewer system to reach its maximum capacity.
When the sewer system is overfilled, excess water can flow backward into your home’s sewer line and cause a backup.
How To Prevent Sewage Backups in Guilford, CT
There are a few things you can do as a homeowner to help prevent a sewer backup.
- Only flush toilet paper - Items such as feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, and diapers should never be flushed down the toilet. Flushing anything other than toilet paper can damage the plumbing and local sewer or septic systems.
- Never wash cooking grease or oil down the drain - Although grease may easily flow out of your pain and down the drain, it will quickly cool and solidify, causing a blockage in your drains or lines. Other solid materials, like food scraps, coffee grounds, and hair, can also clog your sewer lines and cause a sewage backup.
- Replace your sewer line with plastic pipes - Older homes often have clay or cast iron piping that is especially prone to cracking. By switching to durable, plastic pipes, your sewer line will be less likely to become cracked or damaged.
- Install a backwater prevention valve - Backwater prevention valves are designed to only allow water or sewage to flow out of your home, preventing it from coming back in. Keep in mind, however, that having a plumber install a backwater prevention valve will only prevent backups from the main sewer line, and not from your own service line.
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Professional equipment and techniques are required to properly clean up after a sewage backup in Guilford, CT. That’s why it’s important to call an experienced water damage restoration company that has the resources needed to get your home or business back to normal.
With over 15 years of experience in sewage backup cleaning near Guilford and the surrounding areas, you can trust SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline to handle any size sewage disaster. Our team provides 24/7 emergency service to begin cleanup and restoration right away.
When you need professional sewage backup cleaning in Guilford, CT, our IICRC Certified specialists are prepared with the most advanced equipment and cleaning methods to make your disaster “Like it never even happened.”