Sewer backups are a common unpleasant disaster that most homeowners experience in their homes. It’s caused by a myriad of things, from a heavy rainstorm to blockage in the sewer line or clogging. The blockage overloads the system, thereby causing wastewater to return back through the sewer line into your home through your toilets, shower heads, and basement drains.
Wastewater from the sewer line can cause serious damage and may also pose health risks, as the water contains chemicals and biological contaminants. What exactly causes this nightmare? Here’s a list of some of the causes of sewer backups.
Clogged Sewer Line
This is the most common cause of sewer backups. Just like drains clog, your main sewer line can also clog with various substances. Clogging in the sewage pipes occurs due to an overabundance of things that shouldn’t go down the sewer line. Some of them include:
- fats and oils
- coffee grounds
- diapers and hygiene products
- soap residue
- Food waste
- Hair
- Paper products like tissues, paper towels, cleaning wipes, or toilet paper
Knowing the differences in drain and sewer clogging is prudent to get a more rational solution. If there’s water waste backup due to drain clogging, you’ll experience only one area is backing up. On the other hand, sewer clogging will have wastewater backup in various areas even when you flush the toilet.
Tree Roots
Another reason you have sewer line backups is due to tree roots from your backyard trees. A tree’s feeder roots are attracted to moisture and nutrients in the wastewater, which acts as its fertilizer. The roots will start to grow towards the sewer pipes, and when they find an opening like a crack in the pipes, they’ll infiltrate. Once in the sewer lines, the roots will continue to enlarge, causing the pipes to also become bigger. Over time, it’ll cause blockage, which in turn causes backups and, evidently, the collapse of sewer pipes.
Cracked or Collapsed Sewer Lines
Old sewers are susceptible to cracks and collapsing, causing backups and other serious damage. You, therefore, need to repair or replace the pipes to avoid backup disasters. As much as these pipes are made from durable materials, it’s not a guarantee that they’ll last forever.
Combining Pipes
Most homeowners make the mistake of combining other sources of water with the sewer lines. A sewer line is designed to get rid of low-volume wastewater from the home. Combining rainwater and the sewer line will only cause you problems. It’ll gradually cause an overflow or backups; something you initially didn’t want to happen.
Sewer backups are not something you can handle alone. When you have backups on your sewer line, you must seek assistance from prompt, professional plumbing service. The experts will clean up the spill plus find and fix the root cause of the backup. They’re trained to clean and sanitize your home after a sewer spillage adequately; ensuring the health of people who live in that home is protected.
