5 Tips to Prevent Sewer Backup in Your Home

Damaging floors, walls, furniture, appliances, electrical systems, and other home possessions, sewage back ups can be a serious problem. Making it even worse are the costs associated with such destruction, which often aren’t covered by average homeowners insurance policies without the addition of a specific rider.

Even with complete financial coverage, a sewage backup is something better to avoid. Not only does it create a stinky, awful mess, but also increases risk of exposing you and your family to harmful bacteria and disease should sewage water make its way into your home.

Sewage Backup Hazards

Topping the list of worst plumbing problems, sewer backup can lead to large leaks or burst pipes resulting in a contaminated situation that can make you and your family sick. The most common reported illness associated with oral exposure to polluted sewer water is gastroenteritis, or more commonly referred to as a stomach bug or stomach flu, with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.

Organisms, including E.Coli, salmonella, giardia, and cryptosporidium, are commonly found in sewer water, which can become harmful and lead to illness when humans come in direct contact with them. Contact can occur when wiping your face with contaminated hands or gloves, splash back entering the mouth or skin via a cut or scrape, and by hand-to-mouth touching when eating or smoking.

Sewage Backup Prevention

Sewage backups happen for all kinds of reason: blockages caused by foreign objects and tree roots, flooding, structural defects, and sewage line issues. While some backups may be out of your control, taking preventive steps can only help.

1. Grease disposal: Don’t pour liquid cooking grease, fats, and oils down drains, which cannot easily be broken down in the wastewater treatment process as well as can solidify in cold weather.
2. Add drain traps: Insert drain baskets or strainers to catch solid objects and foods that might not easily break down.
3. Keep toilets from clogging: Never flush anything down the toilet with the exception of bodily waste and toilet paper. That includes:
   • Feminine products
   • Paper towels
   • Diapers
   • Cloth rags
   • Hazardous household chemicals
4. Clean drains regularly: Instead of crystal or chemical drain cleaners, keep drains free of clogs by monthly flushing one cup of baking soda followed by one cup of white vinegar and warm water.
5. Conduct a thorough inspection: If residential plumbing and sewer systems are uncommon to you, consider hiring a skilled professional to examine your home. The service person can identify issues that could potentially lead to a future sewer problem, as well as make recommendations on how to most effectively avoid backups from occurring.  

Check out Michele’s video on Common Backup Causes

Contact A&J Property Restoration for your emergency sewage cleanup services today!

While you may want to try sewage cleanup on your own, for the safety of your health, this is a project where professional sewage cleanup services are needed. Call us right away for help if you have sewage damage you need cleaned up.

A&J Specialty Services Inc provides 24/7 emergency water restoration and sewage clean up services for homes and businesses around Madison, Middleton, Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Milwaukee, Brookfield, WI Dells, Fort Atkinson, Watertown, Oconomowoc, Waukesha, West Allis, and surrounding Dane County Wisconsin areas.