Basement flooding is bad enough. Sewer backup in your basement? It’s one of the worst experiences a homeowner can go through.
Sewer backup destroys furniture and other valuables. It’s a health hazard. It’s horrible to clean, and it can leave your basement out of commission for days or weeks. You want to do everything in your power to avoid it.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to prevent sewer backup in your basement. Let’s take a look at some of the steps you can take to protect your property and your loved ones from sewage problems:
How to prevent sewer backup
Install a backwater valve
This is, by far, the most important step you can take to stop sewer backup. Backwater valves, sometimes known as backflow prevention devices, are literally designed to stop sewage from flowing into your home.
The idea is simple: when there are heavy rainfalls, the sewage systems in Denver and the surrounding area can become overwhelmed. This can lead to sewage flowing away from the sewer system – and into your home’s system. Backwater valves prevent this by flipping up when there’s sewage flowing in the wrong direction, and blocking that sewage.
Backwater valves are relatively inexpensive to install, and they provide a ton of security. Most homes in and around Denver already have them, but if yours doesn’t, get one right away!
Watch what you flush
Backwater valves will protect your home from sewage backup when the city’s systems are overwhelmed, but they do less to protect you from clogs in your own system. That’s why it’s important to avoid flushing things like “flushable” wipes down the toilet. Keep food, grease, feminine hygiene products, and basically anything else that isn’t human waste, toilet paper, or water away from your toilet.
Get your drains unclogged
When one drain is clogged, you can usually unclog it yourself with a plunger and a bit of elbow grease. When all of your drains are clogged, on the other hand, it’s probably an issue with your whole plumbing system – and that’s going to take some intervention.
It could be tree roots clogging your pipes, it could be from years of build up, or it could be broken pipes. In any case, don’t wait until you experience sewer backup – get the problem solved early.
Dealing with sewer backup
When sewer backup does occur despite your best efforts, it’s important to deal with it quickly and efficiently. Remove any valuables from the area, taking care to ensure your own protection with the use of gloves, a mask, and rubber boots.
Then, call a plumber right away. They’ll figure out what caused the backup and fix it. They can even give you tips on how to prevent backup in the future. Those tips will almost definitely be some of the things we’ve discussed in this article, but they’ll be able to tell you what specifically caused the backup in your home, which is important.
If you ever experience sewer backup, and you’re looking for an emergency plumber in Denver, we can help. We’re open 24/7, so give us a call.
