Prevent Sewer Backups at Your Home

11/18/2019 (Permalink)

Nobody wants a sewer to back up in their home! Take steps now to prevent that challenging water disaster from happening to you.

A sewer backup in your house fits the definition of a homeowner’s nightmare. Learn what causes a sewer backup and what you can do to help prevent one in your home.

What Are the Warning Signs?

If you notice any of these issues at your home, you may be experiencing a sewer backup. You’ll need to call a sewage disaster remediator, like SERVPRO® of West Hartford, as soon as you can.

• Floor, shower or bathtub drains making gurgling sounds or backing up with water
• Water rising from your home’s sewer cleanout pipe

What Causes a Sewer Backup?

When one of the following problems occurs, sewer water can get forced up through your home’s sewer pipes and emerge through toilets, floor drains and shower or bathtub drains. Common causes of sewer backups into a home include:

• Tree roots that block sewage pipes
• Aging home and city sewer systems that need repair
• Blocked city sewage mains
• City pipelines carrying both rain and sewage water that become overwhelmed with water after heavy rainfall

Ways to Prevent a Sewer Backup

Fortunately, there are measures you can take that will greatly reduce the chances of experiencing a sewer backup.

• Install a backup water valve: A licensed plumber can install a water valve in sewer or drain lines to let sewage water flow out of the pipes, but not back in.
• Properly dispose of household waste: Items like paper towels do not decompose quickly and can clog sewer lines if they are flushed down a toilet. Properly dispose of cooking grease—if you pour it down the sink, it can solidify in the pipes.
• Inspect and trim tree roots: If you have noticeable tree roots throughout your yard, you may need to have a professional trim them back to lessen the risk of them growing into a sewer line.

Consider Insurance Coverage

Sewer backups aren’t typically covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, so you may want to consider adding water backup coverage to your homeowners insurance policy to help pay for repairs after a sewer backup.

If you do suffer damage to your home from a water disaster, call on an experienced disaster recovery company like SERVPRO of West Hartford, which has specialized training, expert staff and the latest equipment to help you restore your home and possessions.

If your home or business suffers a flood, call SERVPRO of West Hartford today at 860-216-2785 for immediate water damage cleanup and restoration of your structure and property

We’re Here for You

The team at SERVPRO of West Hartford has specialized training and experience in water damage remediation, fire restoration services, natural disaster prevention, chemical cleanup, and natural disaster cleanup. Call SERVPRO of West Hartford (860.216.2785) any time.

Other Helpful Blog Posts

SERVPRO publishes educational articles on how to protect your home or business from disasters and how to deal with water, sewage, storm, mold, fire and other damage.

SERVPRO of West Hartford
716 Oakwood Ave, West Hartford, 06110
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Certified SERVPRO technicians
Call 860-216-2785
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If your home or business suffers a flood, call SERVPRO of West Hartford today at 860-216-2785 for immediate water damage cleanup and restoration of your structure and property