Summer is the one time of the year when there are endless rains and thunderstorms in most parts of the country. When the excessive water gets into the sewer lines through cracks and other openings, the lines might get backed up, leading to the waste getting back into your house. Such waste presents a severe health hazard to the people living in the home. In case you have noticed signs of a backup, such as toilets not flushing correctly, you should call in an emergency plumber immediately to help in fixing the problem. However, it is also possible to protect the home before the problem occurs.
Install a sewer backflow prevention valve
There is a valve that you can install in your sewer drainage line which will protect the entire system from water backing up into the house. The pipe is usually placed directly outside the house, and it allows one-way water flow from the house to the septic tank or city sewer system. The valve is installed where the main pipe exits the home. If your home is relatively new, the backup valve has probably been fixed. However, older homes rarely have the valve and need to have one installed.
Limiting tree growth near the house
Another source of sewer pipe blockages and backup is tree roots getting into the sewer lines and tearing them open. The presence of tree roots in the sewers happens because roots have grown too long. These blockages can be prevented by merely limiting the tree types that you grow around your property, especially near the sewer lines.
Assessing what goes down the toilet drain
There are certain types of bathroom wastes that lead to blockages in the sewer lines. It is essential to make sure that solids such as chunks of soap, hair and plastic objects are not flushed down the toilet. When solids accumulate in the sewer lines, they create a blockage which prevents the flow of water, and the sewer wastes start backing up into the house.
Plumbing experts recommend regular maintenance of the sewer pipes and sewer lines to protect them from blockages which lead sewer backup. In addition to the routine maintenance, you should improve the general drainage systems from the gutters to the downspouts and drainage trenches. When the rainwater is being carried out of the home efficiently, the possibility of sewers getting clogged is reduced significantly, and your home is protected from sewer backups.
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