Dangers of Sewer System Backups
Sewer system backups are not foreign to many homeowners but they need to be seen as far more serious than a mere annoyance. When your sewer system backs up, liquid and solid waste both back up into your house, entering pipes that were never meant to hold waste. When this happens, it can release toxins and bacteria into your kitchen sink pipes, bathroom sink pipes, even back up into your washing machine!
If you’re smelling something bad coming from your pipes, you’re actually inhaling the bacteria and toxins that are coming up through your pipes from a sewer system backup. As gross as that is, it also poses a significant health hazard that must be remedied as soon as possible, as you really do not want any sewage caused diseases.
The Impact of Sewer System Backups
Every pipe in your house connects at some point to a large pipe that drains all of your excess water and waste into the city sewer system. The mainline that leads away from your house is the sewer line.When there is a blockage anywhere from the pipes which lead into the sewer line or in the sewer line itself, you’re going to be dealing with a sewer system backup. This primarily means that when you flush your toilets, the waste has nowhere to go and will back up into other areas of your plumbing.
Sewage can back up into any pipe connected with the main sewer line including your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and even washing machine connections! Sewer backups are not only harmful to your health but potentially damaging to the rest of your plumbing, you must always prepare for sewer backup emergencies.
Reasons for Sewer System Backups
There are several reasons for clogged sewers and, unfortunately, many of them need a professional to fix. Clogs are the easiest possible reason to fix. When a clog gets trapped in the pipe, it prohibits water and waste from draining into the connecting sewer pipe. A plumber can find the clog and push it through, opening up your pipe to again drain properly.
A more complicated reason for sewer system backups is due to tree roots forming inside the pipes. When this happens, water and waste flow can be obstructed or cut off completely. Only a plumber is able to adequately fix this issue and repair work should never be attempted without proper equipment and training.
How to Prevent Sewer Issues
Proper maintenance of your plumbing system is the most important thing you can do to prevent clogged drains, pipes, and sewer systems. By having a plumber come and regularly clean your entire pipe system, they’ll be able to prevent tree roots from taking hold inside your pipes.It is always better to employ steps of prevention than waiting until you’re experiencing drainage issues and need to fix pipes that have roots inside. Once tree roots take ahold of a pipe inside, if left too long, the pipe will need to be replaced altogether.
If you’re experiencing issues due to clogging, there are several steps you can take to ensure your system flows freely. First, be sure you’re only flushing toilet paper down your toilet. Even items listed as flushable shouldn’t be used, as your pipes were not meant to flush anything other than toilet paper. And this is the simple secret to preventing sewer backups.
Trusted and Reliable Local Plumbers
The Meridian Company serves Lansing, MI providing a variety of plumbing routine maintenance services, replacements, and even sewer line repairs. They offer transparent pricing, professional and personal service, and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
