Preventing Sewer Backups: Tips for Homeowners

Sewer backups are among the most common residential plumbing problems and something homeowners should take steps to avoid. A backup is when the main sewer line gets overwhelmed, resulting in sewage coming out of some of the floor drains and shower drains on the lowest level of the house. In serious cases, you can even end up with sewage backing up and overflowing out of toilets. Having raw sewage flooding out into your basement or bathrooms is obviously unpleasant. The bigger concern is that backups can cause significant damage to your home. Cleaning up a backup also poses a health risk, as raw sewage can contain E. coli and other harmful pathogens.

This article will explain everything you should know about why backups occur and what steps can be taken to reduce the risk of backups and other sewer and drain issues.

Why Sewer Backups Occur

Sewer backups can occur for a variety of reasons. One of the most common issues plumbers encounter is sewer lines getting clogged as a result of people frequently flushing items like sanitary wipes and feminine hygiene products, or routinely pouring fat, oil and grease down the kitchen sink. Tree root intrusion is another common cause of sewer backups, especially for older houses with large trees in the yard.

Soil shifting and settling can cause part of a sewer line to sag, creating a belly that traps solids. If a line doesn’t have enough slope, solid waste and toilet paper often won’t get flushed all the way out of the line. Either of these issues results in a blockage forming that leads to the pipe eventually becoming clogged.

Sewage backups can also be a concern during heavy rains. What can happen is that the rainwater overwhelms the municipal sewer main, resulting in sewage flowing back up through a house’s sewer line.

Tips to Prevent Sewer and Drain Issues

Sewer and drain issues are much easier to avoid than most people realize. The biggest mistake people make is flushing items other than waste and toilet paper and not being careful about what goes down their drains. Scheduling routine maintenance and inspections and knowing how to spot the signs of potential drain and sewer issues is also key.

Routine Drain Cleaning

Scheduling routine sewer and drain cleaning is one of the best ways to avoid clogs and backups. Plumbers can run a drain auger through a sewer line to clear buildup and debris, eliminating minor blockages before they cause the pipe to clog and start backing up. Hydro jetting can be even more effective, as it involves using high-pressure jets of water to flush out blockages and scour the inside of the pipe clean.

Proper Disposal Habits

The biggest key to avoiding sewer clogs and backups is simply being careful about what goes into your drain and sewer system. That means properly disposing of grease, coffee grounds, wipes and sanitary products in the trash and using a strainer when washing dishes to prevent food particles from going down the drain. If you have a garbage disposal, you also want to make sure you never overload it or run any starchy foods like potatoes, rice or pasta through it.

Sewer Line Inspections

Regular camera inspections help to catch issues like root intrusion and buildup that could lead to your sewer line backing up. A camera inspection is also key for assessing the condition of the sewer line to ensure it isn’t cracked or broken and leaking. It’s often possible to fix minor sewer damage without needing to dig up the entire line. If the sewer line is broken or has collapsed, a full replacement is necessary.

Installing Backwater Valves

Installing a backwater valve on your sewer line is important for preventing backups caused by the municipal sewer main getting overwhelmed. The valve allows wastewater to flow downhill to the sewer main. If sewage ever starts flowing uphill in the opposite direction, it will cause the valve to close and block the sewage from entering the house.

Addressing Early Warning Signs

While backups can just suddenly occur, they more commonly result from issues like blockages that develop over time. That means you’ll typically start noticing certain signs before the problem reaches the point that the sewer line backs up. The main signs to watch for include slow drains, gurgling sounds from drains and toilets and sewage odors near your plumbing fixtures. By staying alert for these signs and immediately contacting a professional sewer service if you notice any of them, you can tackle the problem early on to prevent a major backup from occurring.

Protect Your Home With Professional Sewer Services

At Hometown Plumbing, our expert team is ready to assist when any drain or sewer issues arise. From drain cleaning, hydro jetting and preventative maintenance to sewer line repair, we have all your needs covered. We respond promptly to all service calls and are available 24/7 to handle any plumbing emergencies. Our honest, upfront pricing ensures you won’t have to worry about being overcharged or be surprised by hidden fees, and you can trust that our team will treat your home and family with courtesy and respect.

For reliable drain and sewer services in Johnson City and the Tri-Cities area, contact the experienced professionals at Hometown Plumbing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Having to deal with backups or other major drain and sewer issues can be scary. Our goal is to ensure our customers are fully informed and address their concerns through open, honest communication. If you have any questions or are worried about sewer and drain issues in your home, our friendly, knowledgeable team is always here to help however we can.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Sewer Backups?

Sewer backups most commonly happen as a result of flushing non-flushable items like wipes and feminine hygiene products and pouring fat, oil and grease down the sink. Another common cause is tree roots growing inside a sewer line and causing solid waste to get trapped. Old cast-iron sewer lines can also experience frequent backups as a result of rust and corrosion within the pipes.

How Often Should Drains Be Professionally Cleaned?

Newer plumbing systems that don’t experience frequent issues may only need professional drain and sewer cleaning every few years. If your plumbing is older or you experience frequent problems, we recommend scheduling this service annually. It’s also important to schedule the service as soon as you notice any drain or sewer issues.

What Early Signs Indicate a Sewer Line Problem?

Early warning signs of sewer line problems include slow drains, slow or incomplete flushing and gurgling sounds coming from drains and toilets. A noticeable smell of sewage inside or outside your house is also an obvious sign of a sewer issue. A lush, fast-growing patch of grass or wet, soft soil near a sewer line often indicates that the line is leaking.

Can Sewer Inspections Prevent Major Plumbing Emergencies?

Yes. Regular camera inspections can identify problems or any causes for concern before they lead to a backup or other plumbing emergency. An inspection allows plumbers to spot issues like blockages, debris buildup, tree root intrusion and sewer line damage.