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5 Ways to Prevent Sewage Backups in Madison, CT
10/27/2022 (Permalink)
Sewage backups in Madison can be avoided if homeowners take the proper steps and know the signs of a possible issue.
There are numerous reasons why a sewage backup may occur in your Connecticut home, and when you read about all the different ways they can happen, it can feel inevitable.
When your sewer backs up, it can cause serious water damage and contamination to spread to various areas throughout your property, which is dangerous for both your home’s structure as well as your family’s safety.
Here, we will outline why your sewer may be backing up, in addition to how homeowners can help prevent sewage backups from occurring in the first place.
Need Sewage Backup Cleaning in Madison, CT? Call Us 24/7 - 860-388-1776
Why Is Your Sewer Backed Up?
There are several reasons why your sewer may back up, including:
- 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 your home’s drain pipes or the city’s main sewer lines become clogged, waste that should flow into the public sewer system can actually flow back into your home.
Blockages are often caused by flushing items like diapers or sanitary napkins down the toilet. Washing grease, coffee grounds, or other solid materials down your drain can also clog your sewer line and cause a backup.
2. Physical Damage to Sewer Lines
When sewer lines become cracked or damaged, wastewater is unable to flow through them, so most of the waste builds up in the line and causes a backup.
Old sewer lines are often made of cast iron and clay piping, which are likely to become damaged.
3. Tree Roots Growing into Pipes or Septic System
Since septic systems are located underground, tree roots are often a culprit of damaged or cracked sewer lines.
Because tree roots are naturally drawn to water, they will actually grow towards any small leaks present in a sewer line. Once the tree reaches the pipe, it can grow through the pipes and create a blockage that eventually causes a backup.
4. Overflowing Septic Tank
When a septic tank becomes flooded with too much water at once, it can overflow.
An overflowing septic tank is unable to take any more water, forcing wastewater to flow back into the house and cause a sewage backup to occur.
5. Heavy Rains or Flooding
Since municipal sewer systems collect all of the runoff in periods of heavy rains or flooding, the sewer system could reach its maximum capacity.
When the municipal sewer system becomes overfilled, excess water can flow back into your home’s sewer line and cause a backup.
How To Prevent Sewage Backups in Madison, CT
There are a few steps you can take as a homeowner to help prevent a sewage backup.
- Only flush toilet paper - Items like feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, and diapers should never be flushed down the toilet because they can damage the plumbing and local sewer or septic systems.
- Never wash cooking grease or oil down the drain - While it may seem okay to wash grease down your drain, it can actually quickly solidify and clog your drain or lines. Other solid materials, such as food scraps, coffee grounds, and hair can also clog your sewer lines and cause a backup.
- Replace your sewer line with plastic pipes - Older homes often have clay or cast iron piping that is especially prone to damage. By switching to durable, plastic pipes, your sewer line will be better protected from becoming cracked or damaged.
- Install a backwater prevention valve - Backwater prevention valves allow sewage to go out, but prevent it from flowing back in. However, having a plumber install a backwater prevention valve in your home will only prevent backups from the main sewer line, and not your own service line.
Need Sewage Backup Cleaning in Madison, CT?
After a sewage backup in Madison, CT, you want to seek immediate assistance from a cleanup service that has the right training and equipment to properly restore your home to safe and sanitary conditions.
As your local biohazard cleanup and water damage restoration company with over 15 years of experience, you can trust SERVPRO of Old Saybrook to provide expert sewage backup cleanup near Madison and the surrounding areas. Our team of IICRC Certified restoration specialists are ready 24/7 to respond with all of the training, equipment, and resources needed to handle any size disaster.
When you call SERVPRO of Old Saybrook for professional sewage backup cleaning in Madison, CT, our goal is to make your backup “Like it never even happened.”
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