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    Sewer Backup

    What are your best options when facing a sewer backup situation in your home? Get the facts you need.

    There are few things as terrifying as a sewer backup. When you experience a clogged sewer and it backs up into your home, itā€™s important to deal with the problem immediately. Sewer backups are dangerous, not just due to the property damage they create, but also because of the serious potential for health hazards.

    Keep reading to learn what you need to know about diagnosing and treating sewer backups.

    What Causes a Sewer Backup?

    A sewer backup happens when the main line to the sewer becomes clogged. Your home has a multitude of pipes, but all the pipes leaving your house eventually connect to a single line that goes to the main sewer system. The sewer system itself can back up, which will eventually cause sewage to back up into your home. While some backups will only impact a specific room in your home, problems throughout your home are more likely to deal with the main sewage line.

    There are many things that can cause a sewage backup, including:

    • Putting the wrong things or even too much of the right things (toilet paper) down the drains
    • Grease down the kitchen drain that builds up over time
    • Physical damage of the sewer system or pipe problems
    How Do You Diagnose a Sewer Backup?

    There are some telltale signs that point to various reasons for a clogged sewer:

    • Water is backing up in multiple drains: This is an indication that it is the main line malfunctioning rather than a single pipe inside of your home.
    • Clogs are occurring in multiple drains: If water isnā€™t yet backing up, but appears to be draining slowly or partially clogged, then you may have caught a sewer backup as it is about to occur. Problems that pervade your entire house generally have to do with the main water lines rather than with your homeā€™s plumbing.
    • Toilets arenā€™t flushing or are flushing slowly: When toilets start flushing slowly around your home, itā€™s an indication that there will be a plumbing issue to come in the future. If these toilet issues are recurring and you keep getting your home lines snaked, itā€™s an indication that there could be a problem thatā€™s all the way down next to the main sewer line.
    • There are bubbles in your lines: The design of a plumbing system runs a single way. Any time something (like air) is going up rather than down your drains, something has gone wrong. In this case, it likely indicates that thereā€™s some kind of disruption in your main sewer line that isnā€™t letting air or water down as it should.
    How Do You Fix a Sewer Backup?

    If you suspect a main sewer line clog, you need to get the help of a professional right away. Trained plumbers have tools designed to flush out the sewer line with very little hassle. Sometimes this is a mechanical auger which goes down the line and clears it. Other times itā€™s the use of a water jet system, which flushes high pressured water down the sewer line at a pressure powerful enough to blow out any existing clogs.

    Either way, a sewer backup requires professional attention. Itā€™s not possible to use over-the-counter chemical solutions to deal with clogs of this nature; in fact, attempting to do so can make it worse.

    What Are the Dangers Associated with a Sewer Backup?

    sewer backup isnā€™t going to resolve on its own. It will just get worse over time. If youā€™ve already noticed your drains are draining slowly and your toilets arenā€™t flushing as they should, itā€™s time to get professional help.

    Once a sewer backup occurs, it can become a dangerous situation. Hazardous materials will overflow from the sewer and you may need a professional cleaning of the affected areas. Backups in and of themselves are often harmful, because they lead to flooding and water damage. Water damage alone can cost many thousands of dollars to fix.

    If your sewer is backing up (or in danger of backing up), the time to act is now. Call Morningside Plumbing immediately so we can diagnose and repair your sewer backup before it causes permanent damage to your property.

    Sewer Line Repair and Replacement: The Complete Guide

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