Key Takeaways:
- Sewer backups are usually caused by something happening higher up in the pipe system outside your home, such as stormwater entering through sewer lines that are too small, tree roots growing into the pipes, grease buildup, or damaged pipe joints due to age or shifting soil beneath it.
- Sewage backups can be a health hazard as sewage contains many types of bacteria, which poses the risk of various diseases, including E. coli and salmonella poisoning.
- Sewage backups can also cause significant damage to your home as the wastewater can seep into carpets, walls, and other materials.
- Some tips for home sewer maintenance include: not pouring fats, oils, and greases down drains; having your septic tank regularly inspected; installing drain strainers in all sinks and showers; periodically inspecting underground pipes for cracks or leaks; reducing water usage around your home.
It’s the stuff of nightmares — a kitchen sinks suddenly backing up, a toilet overflowing, or an entire basement drained and flooded with sewage. Backups and blockages are serious business regarding your home’s sewer system, so learning the difference between them is key if you want to find the source of your problem before it can do any damage. With mysterious problems such as these, however, it can be difficult for even homeowners to tell whether their issue is caused by a blocked drain pipe or just primitive physics in action. Fortunately, Leak Pros of Georgia will guide you through common indicators of each problem so that you know exactly what steps need to be taken next time disaster strikes!
Causes Of Sewer Backups
All right, first up is sewer backup. It’s important to note that this problem is usually caused by something happening higher up in the pipe system outside your home. Given below are some of the common causes:
1. Stormwater Enters Through Sewer Lines That Are Too Small
Stormwater is one of the leading causes of sewer backups in many residential homes. In heavy rains, stormwater can easily enter your sewer lines through cracks or small pipes, resulting in a blockage.
2. Tree Roots Grow Into The Pipes
If you have trees near your home’s sewage system, their roots could grow into the pipes and cause a backup. The growth of the roots clogs the pipe and makes it difficult for water to flow properly.
3. Grease Buildup
As strange as this may sound, grease is another common cause of home sewer backups. When you pour excess grease down your sink drains, they solidify over time, eventually creating clogs that become major blockages.
4. Damaged Pipe Joints Due To Age Or Shifting Soil Beneath It
Older pipes can rust and corrode over time, creating blockages. Suppose there is shifting soil beneath the pipe due to seismic activity or any other reason. In that case, it could create a gap in the joints of the sewage system, resulting in a backup.
Dangers Of Sewer Backup
Health Hazard
Of course, it goes without saying that sewer backups can be a health hazard. Sewage contains many types of bacteria, which poses the risk of various diseases, including E. coli and salmonella poisoning. This is why taking any signs of a potential backup seriously is important, as this could lead to major safety concerns for your family.
Damage To Home
You should also note that sewage backups can cause significant damage to your home, as the wastewater can seep into carpets, walls, and other materials. In extreme cases, it may cause structural damage if left untreated for too long.
With proper care and maintenance of your residential drains, you can decrease the likelihood of blockages or backups occurring in the first place. However, suppose a blockage or backup occurs. In that case, taking action as soon as possible is important to avoid costly repairs and potential health risks.
Related: 8 Smart Tips To Avoid Plumbing Disasters
Causes Of Sewage Block
Next, we have the causes of sewer blockages. This block occurs when a pipe gets blocked due to a collection of debris and other waste materials. Common causes for sewer blockage include:
1. Tree Roots
The roots of trees and shrubs are notorious for damaging residential drains. As the roots search for water, they can penetrate pipes and cause a backup.
2. Cooking Grease & Oil
Grease and oil poured down the sink can also result in blockages and backups as it solidifies in the pipes over time.
3. Toilet Products
Products like paper towels, sanitary wipes, baby diapers, cotton swabs, etc., should not be flushed down the toilet as they may cause clogging when they get stuck in the pipes.
4. Household Objects:
Things such as toys, jewelry, hair pins, etc., are often found to be lodged in residential drainpipes, which leads to blockages taking place.
It’s important to be aware of all these potential causes of drain backups, as they can lead to some nasty consequences that no one wants to deal with. Sewer backups can damage your home, contaminate your indoor air, spread diseases through flood waters, create foul odors, attract pests such as rodents or cockroaches, increase the risk of fires due to gas buildup and corrode metal components in plumbing systems.
Tips For Home Sewer Maintenance
Fortunately, there are ways you can avoid these issues. Listed below are tips for home sewer maintenance that can help you prevent a backup:
- Don’t pour fats, oils, and greases down the drains, as they can solidify in pipes and cause blockages.
- Make sure to have your septic tank regularly inspected by a professional plumber.
- Install drain strainers in all sinks and showers to catch hair and other debris before it goes down.
- Periodically inspect underground pipes for cracks or leaks that could lead to water seeping out of them and causing soil erosion near the foundation of your house.
- Reduce water usage – conserve water wherever possible around your home by taking shorter showers, using low-flow toilets/faucets, and using water-saving appliances.
Here’s How The Leak Pros Of Georgia Can Help You!
If the water pressure in your building’s plumbing system exceeds its designed limit, pipes can burst and cause significant damage. Flooding can also lead to sewage back-ups, contaminating your water supply and posing serious health risks.
Although you can fix smaller plumbing problems yourself, contacting a professional is always advisable if the damage is more significant. Leak Pros of Georgia is an expert plumbing company serving Atlanta. We have plumbers on our team with years of experience dealing with post-water damage issues. They can quickly identify the problem and rectify it. Our plumbers are also trained to identify potential issues to provide advice on how to prevent them from occurring in the future.
24/7 emergency service means we are always here for you when you need us most.
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