Why Does My Sewer Keep Backing Up?

03 Jan Why Does My Sewer Keep Backing Up?

Understanding what causes your sewer to keep backing up will help you take preventative steps for the future. Additionally, you can ensure you have the needed tools on hand if it occurs again, who to call to help clean up and who to call to to clear or repair the sewer line so the backup will not occur again. There can be problems caused by either the main sewer line, which will be the cities responsibility, or the lines leading from the main line to your home. If this is the case, the issue is your responsibility to take care of.

When it comes down to determining the cause of a sewer backup, there are three basic culprits. Some are fairly easy to detect, while others may be hidden and need professional detection methods to diagnose the problem correctly. In most cases a sewer line camera will be used by a trained professional to diagnose the issue. Use this guide on how to determine and recognize the most common types of sewer issues.

• Flushing of foreign objects. This is the number one cause of sewer back-ups. This typically occurs between the home and main sewer pipe. Some of the most common culprits are feminine products, diapers, broken dishware and other solid items. When this occurs it will typically only affect the home where the item was flushed and cause a backup in the drains in the home. While they may slowly drain, the issue typically reappears when the water is turned back on. Professional assistance is usually needed to clear the offending object.
• Problems with the structure of the pipes. The structure of the pipes of a sewer will deteriorate over time leading to serious issues. This can occur on both the main sewer lines as well as ones that go directly to your home. Some of the most common structural issues that can occur include: collapsing pipes, sagging lines, holes or cracks in the pipe or pipes that are not properly lined up. These problems can be fixed using a trenchless sewer repair process called cipp pipelining. If there is too much damage to the sewer line, replacing the sewer line may be the only option.
• Tree roots. There are many times that tree roots can cause cracks, holes or misaligned pipes as they grow. Additionally, they will cause blockages as they travel up the pipes. This can be an extremely costly issue if not caught right away. Again, this problems can be fixed using a trenchless sewer repair process called cipp pipelining. But if there is too much damage to the sewer line, replacing the sewer line may be the only option.

Heavy rains and vandalism can also cause the sewer lines to become backed up. There are many cases when the sewer cannot handle the amount of water that enters, thus causing backups in residential drains. Knowing the most common causes may help you prevent problems in the future.

If you are in need of a trained professional to diagnose and repair your sewer line, please Contact Us for a quote.