Safeguarding Your Basement From Sewage Backups: Essential Tips

The Problem: Sewage Backups

Imagine your basement is like a big, empty swimming pool. Now, what if one day, this pool starts to fill up with not water, but yucky sewage? That sounds gross, right? Unfortunately, that's what can happen if we're not careful, and it's called a sewage backup. This happens when the water that should go down the drains in our house and away from us, decides to come back up, bringing a lot of mess with it.

Why Does it Happen?

1. Rain, Rain, Go Away! – When there's a lot of rain, the sewers outside can get filled up like a bathtub. If there's too much water, it can push the dirty water back towards our homes.

2. Tree Roots – Trees outside like to stretch their roots, sometimes into the pipes carrying away the dirty water. This can block the water from moving, causing it to come back up into our homes.

3. Clogs Inside – Sometimes, things get stuck in our home’s pipes (like toys, food, or a bunch of hair) and can stop the dirty water from leaving our homes properly.



How Can We Stop It?

Keep the Drains Happy

Teach everyone in your home and remind guests what's okay and not okay to flush down toilets or pour down sinks.

For Kitchen-Avoid pouring cooking grease, food (rice, coffee grinds)  sticky foods like mashed potatoes, pasta, and paint. Keep track of your straws- these are notorious for slipping down the kitchen drain and causing a blockage.

For bathrooms- use drain covers to keep hair from going down the drain, do not flush paper towels, wet wipes (even if they say flushable), food, or  personal hygiene items (tampons,

Trees and Pipes: Keep Them Apart

Trees are lovely, but their roots can be trouble for our pipes. If you’re planting new trees, make sure they are far away from any pipes. If there are big trees near your home already, a grown-up might need to check if the roots are causing any problems.

Install a Backwater Valve

A backwater valve is like a magic door that only lets water go one way. If dirty water tries to come back into your house, this door closes and keeps the mess out. Having one of these installed can be a game-changer. Call The Plumbing Doctor staff are Certified Cross Connection Control Specialists (have completed the Ontario Water Works Association accredited cross connection control training)

Regular Check-Ups

Just like you visit the doctor for check-ups to make sure you're healthy, your home's plumbing needs check-ups too. Have a grown-up call a professional to inspect your basement and pipes regularly to catch any problems early.

What if a Backup Happens?

If a sewage backup happens, it's important to act fast:

1. Safety First: Keep away from the sewage since it's not clean and can make you sick.

2. Call for Help: Call your insurance company right away to have the area cleaned and *Call the Plumbing Doctor* to come and and fix the problem.

Keeping Your Basement Safe with Call the Plumbing Doctor

Remember, keeping your basement safe from sewage backups is all about being prepared and making smart choices. If you think there's a risk of sewage coming into your basement, or if you're not sure how to protect your home, we're here to help. The experts at *Call the Plumbing Doctor* are like superheroes for your plumbing. We can check your home, give you advice, and install things like backwater valves to keep your basement dry and clean.

Don't wait to find out you have a problem. Call us today at 1-800-814-7014 to make sure your basement stays dry and safe. Remember, a little prevention now can save a lot of trouble later!

Keep Your Basement Safe and Dry

So, now you know how to keep your basement dry and free from sewage. It's all about being careful with what goes down the drain, keeping an eye on those sneaky tree roots, making regular checks, and maybe getting a little help from a backwater valve. If you ever need help or have questions about keeping your basement safe, remember, Call the Plumbing Doctor is always here to help you.