Sewage Backups: How to Handle Them!

If sewage is pouring into your home from a drain, it can cause panic, knowing what to do when a sewage backup is happening is key to managing it quickly. Sewage is unsanitary and can cause damage to your home, especially if you don’t act quickly enough.

Is it a Sewage Backup?

Sometimes clogs can look like a sewage backup because sewage is backing up into your home. However, if it is just a drain or two, or maybe perhaps your toilet; it is probably not a true sewage backup. It is more likely that there is a clog deep in the pipe.

A true sewage backup involves every drain, toilet, and sink in your home; sewage would be spilling out of every single one. That is a true sewage backup that needs to be handled quickly. You should not come into contact with the sewage. If you need to for whatever reason, which there should be no reason to, make sure you have rubber boots, your skin is fully covered, along with your eyes. We also highly suggest throwing a mask on. Sewage touching your skin, getting in your eyes, or inhaling it can make you extremely sick. It is not a DIY problem, even if you are fairly handy.

Causes of a Sewage Backup

It is important to know what the cause of a sewage backup can be, that way you can try to prevent it (more on that later). The main causes of a sewage backup tend to be broken or corroded pipes. How do they get like that? One way is tree roots infiltrating the line. Tree roots grow as far out as the tree is tall and seek water out. A tree root is capable of crushing your sewer pipes and growing through them.

Another way is shifts in soil. Even small, somewhat subtle shifts can cause extra pressure on a pipe. All that extra pressure can lead to pipes cracking. A crack in the pipe disrupts the flow of sewage and can easily cause more clogs.

Rust or corrosion also disrupt the flow of the sewage, that can create small holes in the pipe. This generally only occurs in metal pipes (cast iron, galvanized steel).

How to Handle a Sewage Backup

The answer here is simple, call an emergency plumber. We happen to know a great one, 1-Tom-Plumber. We are available nationwide, 24/7/365. It is not a DIY situation in the slightest, as we mentioned earlier. The toxicity of it should only be handled by professionals.

It is also a good idea to give your homeowners insurance a call. This issue could be covered under your policy to have the sewage backup, sewer line replacement (if necessary), and water damage restoration done. Make sure you take pictures during the whole process, and save any sort of receipt or documentation any of the professionals give you.

Clean Up and Restoration

After the sewage is cleaned up by your plumber; you may need a restoration company. They can help make sure everything is sanitized and dried so you can live in a safe, healthy environment. Again, something like this may be covered under your insurance. It is best to give them a call, as this process can be pricey.

Prevention of Sewage Backups

There are a couple of things you can do to prevent or catch a backup before it is an issue. The first is regular drain cleaning and maintenance. This can help clear out any smaller clogs before they get worse or pushed deeper into the pipes. Next, is regular camera inspections. A small camera can be sent through your drain lines, which will catch any broken pipes, build-up, or anything else that can cause a sewage backup.

Final Thoughts

A sewage backup is a stinky, stinky mess that is best left to the professionals. You should have an emergency plumber’s number on your phone. Ours is easy to remember, the name is the phone number! Give your emergency plumber a call at the first sign of a sewage backup.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber 

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need any plumbing, drain cleaning, or excavation service. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.