4 Tips to Prevent a Sewage Backup

6/2/2022 (Permalink)

Four Things You Can Do To Prevent a Backup In Your Home

Going about daily life rarely comes with thinking about where your waste goes. That quickly comes to the forefront when a sewage backup happens in your Rock Hill, MO, home. At the basic level, this happens when water flows backward into the home. Common culprits include flooding, storm damage, blockage from roots, and broken pipes. Below are four things you can do to help prevent a backup in your home.

1. Avoid Clogs
Sinks and toilets are designed for certain things to be flushed away. In the kitchen, be sure not to pour grease or oils down the drain. They can solidify, blocking the water flow. Drain traps can be used to catch larger pieces of food that don’t easily break down. Consider cleaning drains once a month. This can be as simple as using a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and water. When it comes to toilets, always remember that human waste and toilet paper should be the only things being flushed.

2. Inspect Plumbing
Instead of waiting for sewage waters to rise and needing a plumber to provide sewer cleaning services, regularly check plumbing fixtures. Ensure there are no leaks or damage that could result in water overflowing the main sewer drain.

3. Install a Backwater Valve
Although they may not be suitable for every home, these valves can be a benefit for many others. It is designed to detect backward flow while still letting water from fixtures easily flow out of the home. Once it detects high levels, a flap on the valve closes to keep the unwanted water out.

4. Replace Old Lines
In more established areas, the sewer lines may be made of metal or clay. Tree roots and rocks can eventually lead to cracks and breakage. If it seems you need to call a plumber more often than you should, it might be time to replace these lines with advanced plastic or PVC pipes.
If a backup happens, it doesn’t have to mean long-term damage and odors. Flood, water, and mold damage experts can quickly clean up the mess and make the right repairs to get your home back to normal.