Sewer Damage? Here are some reasons why.

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

One of the most common homeowner insurance claims is because of sewer backups. This ends up being a nasty, smelly catastrophe in your home, but what is the cause of it? There are a multitude of reasons why you could experience a sewage back up, but here are a couple of the most common.

• Tree Roots
• Clogged Drains
• Sewer Main Blockages

Once a tree root has grown into a sewer line, the line will need to be replaced and often times the tree roots removed or trimmed down. This will be a big project involving digging into the ground and replacing the existing sewer lines.

Clogged drains are one of the most common reasons for a sewer backup. Improper use of toilets and sinks can cause a main sewer line to become clogged. Flushing cleaning wipes, diapers, napkins, and many other hygiene items can cause a sewer line to become clogged over time. Sewer lines are filled with a volatile combination of hair, soap, and dirty water, adding things such as grease or excess kitchen waste can clog the drain and lead to a sewer backup.

These types of issues can occur as a result of clogs that build up over time much like the typical clog you may experience in your household line. With household clogs, you will generally have an issue with specific drains in the house. For example, your toilet may not flush correctly, or your kitchen sink may be draining slowly. With sewer main blockages, the majority of your plumbing will not be draining throughout the house. It's common for water to be flooding back into your home from drain openings. Remember, the first thing you should do to minimize damage is to shut off all water supplies of your home and attempt to block all the drain openings.

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