It’s that time of the year again. As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers,” but they can also bring an expensive price tag if your sewer lines aren’t properly maintained. Excessive rainfall can cause sewer backups, which could leave your home flooded with raw sewage.
A sewer backup can happen for a number of reasons: pipe blockages, having outdated sewer systems, a collapsed line or having an excess amount of ground water around your foundation. As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining your home as well as the sewer lateral. A sewer lateral is the pipe which connects your home to the sewer line, usually in the middle of the street. If a sewer lateral becomes cracked, it can cause groundwater to get into the system, resulting in a bigger problem.
However, there are several ways to help prevent your sewer from backing up. It is important to properly dispose of grease and paper products, such as paper towels. In other words: don’t flush these items down the toilet! Additionally, installing a backwater prevention valve will assist with preventing a potential sewer backup.
Taking the proactive approach and making sure your home is up-to-date can potentially help eliminate the problem of a sewer backup. However, a backup may occur without warning. Wet-vacuuming, mopping and flushing out fixtures alone are not going to cut it when it comes to cleaning up after a sewer backup. You will most likely need help from a professional who uses the proper air scrubbing machines, cleaning equipment and safety protocols. The last thing you want to do is cross contaminate your home with raw sewage as it will make you very sick. If this happens to you call in a professional that is trained in these Category 3 sewer situations. In most cases some or all of this cleanup work is billable to your insurance carrier.
If you have experienced flood damage due to sewer or sump pump backup, contact Bloomfield Construction today.
