Sewage backups are frustrating and inconvenient. Furthermore, they introduce your home to raw, contaminated wastewater. This is an immediate health hazard that requires costly professional remediation. These situations can also lead to structural damage to your home and property. By learning how to prevent sewage backups in your drains and sewer lines, you can keep your home protected.

Safe Disposal Habits

Never pour grease down your kitchen drain. Fats, oils, and grease will solidify in your pipes. It can then trap debris, which creates stubborn blockages. Instead, pour your grease into a sacrificial container and throw it in the trash.

Only flush waste and toilet paper down your toilet. Paper towels, diapers, and hygiene products won’t break down. Even products like wipes that are labeled as “flushable” shouldn’t be flushed.

Watch what goes down your bathroom and laundry drains. You can use special strainers in your tubs and sinks to catch hair and soap scum. Remove any lint you find in the washing machine and throw it away.

Plumbing Safeguards

Install a backwater valve. This is a one-way valve that lets water flow out of your house, but it keeps sewage from flowing backwards. It does this by automatically closing during a city’s main overflow or major clog.

Consider using test plugs or expansion plugs to seal your basement floor drain when you’re not using it. These can be found in your local hardware store. For additional protection, use a sewer popper. This is a relief valve that you replace your yard cleanout cap with. If the sewer line backs up, it pops open. This allows the sewage to spill into your yard rather than flooding your home.

Main Sewer Line Maintenance

One of the best things you can do is schedule routine camera inspections. This is when a professional plumber inspects your main sewer line with a camera. Have this done every 1 to 3 years to identify sagging, cracking, and root intrusion.

Tree roots find their way into your pipes as they search for water and nutrients. If this happens, have a plumber clear them from your lines.

Make sure your sump pump, downspouts, and French drains are not connected to your sanitary sewer line. They can overload the system and introduce debris and silt into it.

Simple sewer line maintenance, plumbing safeguards, and safe disposal habits will help considerably with preventing sewage backups. Make all of these a part of your normal routine. It’s a wonderful way to protect your home, property, and health. If you have concerns or require sewage cleanup services, contact Springfield Restoration in Fort Wayne, IN.