What Causes Sewers To Back Up After a Storm?

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

What Leads To Sewer Backups Following a Storm?

Storms can cause sewers to back up and send black water into structures through drain pipes. There are two main causes of a sewer backup that commercial property owners should consider when planning for possible sources of water damage. Understanding this information can help to prevent backups from occurring during storms.

1. Sanitary main blockage: A blocked sanitary main may lead to backups in commercial properties. This process tends to happen relatively slowly, but you should contact a plumber and utility service to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

2. Sewer lateral blockage: A property owner is responsible for maintaining the pipeline that connects his or her building to the sanitary sewer main. Tree roots may penetrate old lines and cause cracks that allow rainwater to seep into the system and cause backups. This blockage may also be caused by the disposal of unsuitable substances or items.

There are several ways to prevent sewer backup from occurring during a storm. Property owners should consider taking these three preventative steps to reduce the likelihood of this source of water damage:

1. Replace the lateral line with a plastic pipe. This can prevent tree roots from entering the line.

2. Properly dispose of grease or paper products. Proper disposal practices can go a long way toward preventing clogs and backups at any time.

3. Install a backwater prevention valve. This valve can be installed on a drain or sewer line to prevent backflow, and it should be regularly maintained.

Sewer backup is not covered by many standard business insurance policies. Additional coverage is necessary to account for potential sewage loss. You may want to factor in whether one or more of these preventative steps or the cost of an additional insurance rider is more cost-effective for your business. If a backup situation does occur due to a storm in Maggie Valley, NC contact a commercial restoration service that specializes in black water damage.