How to Learn & Implement Keeping Sewer System Backups Away

Understanding and Avoiding Sewer System Backups

The sewer system is like the circulatory system of the body. It’s the lifeblood of a home’s plumbing system and plays a critical role in protecting the water quality of the community and the health of the general public. Here’s how the system works: it takes sewage and waste from various homes and businesses, cleans it through a series of wastewater treatment plants, and returns it to the environment.

If something interrupts this process, it can lead to the need of sewer line repair services! If the sewage and waste can’t make its way through the system, it will enter back into the house by seeping through the drains. Homeowners need to understand the causes of a sewer system backup, so they know what steps they can take to prevent it from happening in the future.

The Definition of a Sewer System Backup

Think about everything that gets flushed down the drains and pipes in the house. There’s more than most people think! Of course, water is one of the major things that makes its way through the pipes, but there are also food particles, grease, and oils that get washed down the sink from doing the dishes.

There are food particles that get grounded up from the garbage disposal and washed down the pipes. There are hair, soap, and scrubs that get washed down the drain from taking a shower. And then there’s toilet paper, flushable wipes, and other waste that gets flushed down the toilet.

All of these examples go down the same path, and they end up passing through the sewage lines and drain lines. Sometimes foreign objects will get stuck together or stuck to the walls of the pipe creating a clog.

Clogs are one of the biggest reasons for a sewer system backup. And what’s the result of a backup? Well, no one really likes to talk about that part, because it’s pretty gross. But the truth is that a clog can cause wastewater and sewage to overflow the drains and enter back into the house. So, in reality, this sewage is a health hazard!

The Triggers that Cause Sewer System Backups

As mentioned, clogs are a major cause of a sewer system backup, and clogs can come from many different sources. It could be from hair that gets stuck in the drains or pipes, too many food particles or grease build up in the pipes or even clogs from roots that creep into the pipes underground. No matter where it comes from, clogs can result in some serious damage. In addition to clogs, sewer system backups can also be caused by broken piping materials.

Though all homeowners wish that piping materials would last forever, they don’t. After they’ve been in use for so many years, they can crack, leak, and collapse, which leads to a sewer system backup if they aren’t replaced. Finally, backups can also be caused by improper infrastructure. If gutters, downspouts, and sump pumps are connected to the sewer line, it can be quite risky.

During a storm or the mass melting of snow that occurs every spring, gutters and downspouts can experience a heavy flow of water. Sanitary sewer systems are not built to withstand this level of pressure and water, so this can lead to a backup as well.

Easy Steps to Preventing a Sewer System Backup

Being mindful of what goes down the drains and toilets is the best thing that a homeowner can do to prevent a sewer system backup. Prevent sewer clogs from hair by placing a hair stopper in or over the drains.

Don’t flush anything down the toilet except for toilet paper, even if the box says that the product is flushable. Don’t trust it! Scrape extra food into the garbage before washing down the sink or garbage disposal.

Additionally, it’s a good idea for homeowners to engage in regular maintenance and inspections. Having annual inspections done by a professional can help to ensure that everything is functioning properly and clear out any potential hazards before a backup occurs.

About Lambert Plumbing & Heating, LTD

Lambert Plumbing & Heating, LTD provides access to a team of highly-trained technicians who are individually specialized in a variety of areas to help homeowners with all their needs. They don’t want to just serve their customers’ plumbing and HVAC systems, they want to leave them with a pleasant, memorable experience that stands out from the rest.

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