Flooding caused by backwater in the sewer can cause damage and costs in cellars and cause power and time.
Modern backwater systems can help.
Heavy rains are becoming increasingly common and can completely overload sewer networks. When the
absorption capacity is exceeded, the water accumulates up to the top of the road and then looks for its way.
The result: the water pushes back into the house as a so-called backwater and causes damage to buildings
and household effects. The clarification of liability issues is then often tedious and complicated.
Backwater can always occur
The public sewer system is only designed for a certain amount of water. So if it rains heavily for a longer
period of time, it cannot drain off the huge masses of water quickly enough. The water level then rises to the
backwater level (usually the top of the road). For parts of buildings below this level, the water then pushes
back into the house through floor drains, toilets or washing machines, for example. But even in sunny
weather you are not safe from backwater. Deposits, blockages or pipe bursts in the sewer system can also
cause backwater.
What are the causes of sewer backup?
Different things can cause sewer backups, for example:
• A plug in the main sewer line (which may be caused by oil poured into a sink or items, such as diapers,
litter or paper towels, thrown into the toilet).
• Tree roots that have grown in the pipes and have punctured or blocked the pipe.
• Obsolete drainage systems in old homes or neighborhoods that still use cast iron or clay pipes that can
break or collapse over time.
• Heavy showers or rapid melting of snow that generates excess water in the sewer system.
How to avoid sewer backups?
As with all potential risks, taking preventive measures is always the best option.
• Do not throw anything other than toilet paper in the toilet.
• Avoid throwing foods that can create corks, such as grease, oil, or ground coffee in sinks.
• Install a dewatering pump to drain the groundwater under your house and make sure that it does not flood
your basement. If you already have a bilge pump, have regular maintenance to make sure it works well.
• Install a check valve (or non-return valve). When the main sewer line overflows, sewer backup may occur.

Finishing, Add the sewer back-up guarantee to your home insurance policy!
Sewer backup is usually not covered by a standard insurance policy and is optional. Adding this coverage to
your home insurance policy is a good idea if you live in an area where the risk of flooding is high. Although
there is additional coverage, the extra few dollars you pay each month are well below the cost of cleaning
and repairs, which would be several thousand dollars.

 

For more information, contact Vinny’s Jersey Plumbing, located in Wayne, New Jersey.  We also service other cities in New Jersey, such as Westwood, Wyckoff and Ringwood.