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Preventing Sewage Backups

By Jim Brown
Published: May 1, 2006

There are three reasons to take a proactive approach instead of a reactive approach when thinking about sewage backups:

1. Prices
   Preventing a sewage backup is cheaper than cleaning and repairing after it happens. A sewage cleanup costs are significantly higher than prevention costs. Sewage cleanup can be even more expensive if your insurance policy doesn't cover it.
2. Property Value
   The sewage system is one of the problems, looked for during property inspections. Once sewage problems are detected, they may decrease property value.
3. Health
   Sewage backups promote health condition and illness of your property's occupants.

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Basic Sewage Backup Prevention

There are 6 basic sewage backup prevention techniques:

1. Inspection
   Hire a professional to perform a sewer inspection. This procedure will provide you with an accurate report on your sewer condition. Sewer inspections will also help finding roots and structural damage in your sewer lines, allowing you to make necessary repairs before you experience a sewage backup.
2. Make Repairs
   Do not overlook any problem in the sewer lines. For example: if you experience slow drainage after using the bathroom, then there must be something stopping the water from draining properly. Hire a professional to fix the problem immediately.
3. Maintenance
   Maintain your sewer system properly by avoiding flashing large objects such as diapers, and feminine products.
4. Backwater Prevention Valve
   Install a backwater prevention valve. A backwater valve is a fixture installed into your sewer line and into a drain line in the basement to prevent sewer backups. A backwater valve works on a one-way system, sewage can be flashed out, but cannot flow back.
   
   Installation costs may vary and are dependent upon the type of plumbing and the difficulty of installation.
5. Grease
   When grease goes down the drain, it, eventually, cools off, and solidifies either in the drain or in the sewer. When this happens, the line constricts, and eventually clogs.
6. Roots
   Be careful when planting greenery around your sewer line. If you have problems with tree roots in your lateral, you may have to have them cut periodically.

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