Back-ups of sewage are as scary as they are unsightly and dangerous. When sewage backs up in your home’s plumbing system, it may create a variety of issues and damage—and the longer the backlog is ignored, the worse it will get and the more damage it will do.
The good news is that recognizing the indicators of a sewage backlog may help you act quickly to resolve the issue and avoid more harm.
What Are the Causes Of Sewage Back-Ups?
Sewage backups may be caused by a variety of issues, such as a clogged sewage line:
- Clogs
- Breaks or cracks
- Collapses
- Infiltration of tree roots
Sewage pipes are usually larger than ordinary home pipes and able to handle much more flow. Sewage pipes can range in size from two inches to over eight feet in diameter. Sewage pipes are most commonly made from concrete, clay, or plastic. Concrete sewage pipe is very strong but can be quite heavy and brittle. Regardless, sewage pipes of any size, shape, or material is susceptible to backing up if too much of the wrong waste is sent through them.
Identifying and repairing the cause of the issue is the best strategy to stop and remedy sewage backups.
The Seven Most Common Symptoms of Sewage Back-Ups
- Your drains are emitting sewage-like odors: Your drains should be carrying wastewater away from your house and out the door. As a result, any foul odor emanating from your drains—or a persistent sewage odor in your home—could indicate a main line sewer blockage.
- Bubbling drains or toilets: If air bubbles appear in your drains or toilets while you’re using them, wastewater isn’t flowing properly through your plumbing system. If wastewater cannot move through your system, it will back up since there is nowhere else for it to go. As a result, bubbling drains and toilets are often among the earliest signs of sewage blockages.
- Multiple drains are sluggish to empty when wastewater cannot travel through your pipes and sewage line. As the backlog crawls up your pipes and sewage line, it usually begins with the lowest drains in your house. If your basement or first-floor drains are all sluggish to empty wastewater, it might be an indication that you have a sewage backup issue.
- Clogs in many drains at the same time: A sewage backup is likely to be the cause if more than one drain in your house is blocked and not allowing wastewater to move through at all, similar to the prior warning. These drain blockages, like sluggish drainage issues, generally impact the lowest drains in your house first.
- When employing one plumbing fixture, strange things happen: This warning sign may appear in a variety of ways, such as a sewage backup in the shower after flushing the toilet or backups in sinks after washing the clothes.
- A sewage cleanout pipe is a capped pipe that enables direct access to the sewer system. Wastewater may be forced up via the cleanout pipe, which is normally outdoors or in a basement, when the sewage line backs up. A sewage backlog is most likely to blame if sewage is flowing out of a pipe in the yard or basement.
- Standing water in a sewage cleanout pipe: Before wastewater flows out of a cleanout pipe, it may remain there for a time while a backup forms. It’s a good idea to examine your cleanout pipe if you’re experiencing other indicators of a sewage backlog. If there is standing water in it, you are most likely dealing with a sewage backup.
When sewage backs up into your home or business, you may notice a rotten smell. If the smell is strong enough to cause headaches and nausea, you should contact a professional.
Contact A Plumber For Assistance With A Sewage Backup
Sewage backups should not be ignored. Contact a plumber as soon as you detect these red signs for prompt, dependable assistance. Qualified local plumbers can unclog a major sewage line, repair or replace damaged sewer lines, and do the work correctly the first time.
The “how to fix a sewer backup” is a common issue that many people experience. It can also be caused by a number of other things, such as a broken pipe. Fixing a sewer backup requires a certain level of skill, the right tools, and some elbow grease.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know if you have a sewer backup?
A: If you smell a foul odor when you flush the toilet, there is likely to be some kind of backup. You can also go into your basement or attic and see if water has collected anywhere in those areas. Sewage backups occur mostly from broken pipes or sewer line failures.
What happens when sewage backs up?
A: This can be due to a number of factors, such as the sewage back up occurring at an area that is not actively being cleaned. In this case, it would likely lead to toxic waste and other pollutants entering into your home or business. Its important to call in professional help ASAP if you suspect a problem with your sewer line.
Can sewage backup make you sick?
A: Yes, sewage backups can lead to a variety of health issues. You may be exposed if the sewage is untreated or improperly treated and this could cause you to develop infections from bacteria in water, as well as other problems such as high exposure levels of E-coli.
A sewage backup is distinctly different from a water leak, which you can learn more about in 5 Signs You Have A Water Leak.
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