Sewage backups are one of the worst scenarios of Tampa water damage a homeowner can experience. Not only do they ruin property damage, but they’re also extremely dangerous for everyone around them. But, why do they happen? Well, when wastewater from toilets, sinks, and drains cannot flow properly through the sewer system, contaminated water overflows directly into your home.
To learn how to respond to a sewage backup, first, it’s important to understand its causes and the harmful effects it can have simply being around it.
Of all the causes of water damage, sewage backups are the most dangerous and can happen for several reasons:
With time, grease, soap residue, hair, and other debris can build up inside sewer pipes. If these blockages become big enough, they can prevent wastewater from draining properly, leading to a backup in your home.
It’s natural that tree roots look for moisture, and in their search of water, they often end up stuck in sewer lines. As roots spread, they can crack, break, or completely block pipes, causing contaminated water to back up into your home.
The older the home, the weaker the plumbing system. And this comes as no surprise as clay or cast iron pipes corrode over time, leading to cracks, or complete collapse even, and ultimately to blocked pipes and backups.
If municipal sewers can’t handle large volumes of rain, wastewater may reverse flow, leading to home sewage backups. When the system reaches capacity, municipal wastewater may have nowhere to go but back up into your home.
Shifting soil, foundation settling, or even nearby construction can put pressure on sewer pipes, leading to cracks or breaks. When pipes become damaged, they can’t properly carry waste away, which increases the risk of sewage backups.
Flushing improper items down the toilet, such as wipes, diapers, feminine hygiene products, or even too much toilet paper, can cause serious blockages in sewer lines. Unlike toilet paper, these items do not break down easily, leading to clogs and backups.
Having wastewater back up into your living space is not only unpleasant, but carries health risks as well, from the contaminants present in it, making it one the most harmful out of all three categories of water damage. Sewage water is toxic and harmful because of:
While sewage backups are sometimes out of your control, there are steps you can take to minimize the risks. These are the top tips for water damage prevention:
In the face of a sewage backup, you might want to take care of the mess yourself, thinking it would be over sooner than having to wait for a professional to arrive. But, that’s not safe! If you do experience this type of contamination in your home or business, these should be your first steps:
If you’re dealing with a sewage backup, you need a trusted professional to handle the cleanup safely and efficiently. At Chris' Carpet Service & Water Restoration, we specialize in sewage cleanup and water damage restoration in the Tampa Bay Area. Here’s how we help:
Need professional sewage cleanup services? Call Chris' Carpet Service & Water Restoration at (727) 888-5111 for expert sewage cleanup and water damage restoration in the Tampa Bay Area, or fill out this online form for a free estimate. Let’s work together to restore your safety!
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