Sewer backup in a basement can be devastating for any homeowner and often cannot be prevented. Heavy rainfall or melting snow puts undue strain on underground sewer systems, leading to backups that flood into homes resulting in the overflowing of sewage into them. But steps can be taken to lessen its severity.
Step one in dealing with backed-up sewage should always be to take necessary safety precautions. Since sewage contains pathogens that could pose threats, the first step should be turning off power at the circuit breaker box and wearing protective equipment like rubber gloves, goggles, and face masks as necessary.
Once your area is secure, the next step should be clearing away clogged drains and sewer lines. For floor drain clogs, use a plunger; just be sure that its cup covers the entire drain opening. For main line blockages, try using either a plumbing snake or wet-dry vac to unclog. However, this task should only be attempted under professional guidance.
If the clog is located in your floor sink, shower, or bathtub drain, you may be able to unclog it by pouring boiling water down it followed by baking soda and vinegar in equal parts. Rinse out with more hot water until all signs of obstruction have been cleared away from the drain.
Clogs in your main drain lines may be caused by root intrusion, grease accumulation and sediment build-up. To protect yourself and prevent these problems from arising, simple preventive steps like decanting cooking oil and grease into sealed containers, flushing only with sanitary products in toilets etc may help ward them off.
Over time, your drain line may deteriorate and require repair or replacement due to age or a range of causes such as poor lot grading allowing excess water flow towards the home or urban development that disrupts natural drainage patterns. A broken drain line can quickly cause basement flooding requiring expensive replacement or lining procedures.
Jenkins Restorations can assist if your basement’s plumbing needs help! Contact us to learn about our services or arrange a complimentary consultation; our goal is to keep your space dry while helping keep you and your family healthy! Get in touch today!