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Why Your Sewage is Backing Up In Fort Lauderdale

Why Your Sewage is Backing Up In Fort Lauderdale

Posted in Emergency Plumbing Services, on August 16, 2021


A backed-up sewer drain is one plumbing problem that every homeowner dreads. Apart from the damage and health risks involved, it needs to be fixed at the earliest for your home to run smoothly. A sewage backup is an emergency that requires the services of a professional plumber in Fort Lauderdale. However, these frustrating flareups can be averted if you are aware of the reasons behind them. Preventive measures can go a long way to avoid hazardous sewage backflow into your home or basement. 

Here’s what causes backups and how you can prevent a sewage backup in Fort Lauderdale:

Drain Clogs 

Why Your Sewage is Backing Up In Fort LauderdaleA clog or obstruction in the main sewer line or drains can stop the free flow of wastewater down your drains, leading to messy sewage backups in your Fort Lauderdale home. These blockages are caused by a build-up of grease, solid paper waste, hair, and other household debris.

Not disposing of kitchen grease in the drain: leftover cooking grease and oils can harden and coat your pipes. Mixed with other debris, it can create a clog and prevent the wastewater from draining correctly. Grease and oils should be poured into disposable containers and thrown in the trash. 

Throwing paper products in the Trash: Don’t flush thick paper products, feminine hygiene products, diapers, etc., down the toilet as they can clog the sewer. As a thumb rule, only toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet. 

Following garbage disposal basics: Do not throw large quantities of solid waste in your garbage disposal. Anything that can obstruct your sewage line needs to be trashed. 

Cracked or Broken Sewer Lines

Often, sewer lines can crack or break due to earth movement, construction work, or improper ground support. Older homes tend to have this problem as the pipes in the past were made of cast iron, cement, or clay. These are prone to corrosion and breakage; hence aging sewage systems should be checked periodically by a professional plumber in Fort Lauderdale. 

Tree Roots

Tree root infiltration is another common cause of sewage backups. These stubborn roots can grow in and around your sewer pipes and cause cracks and blockages. Some even extend through the pipelines or wrap around them, eventually crushing the pipes. Taking care to avoid planting big trees near your sewer lines can help avert the problem to some extent. 

Combined Pipelines

Sewage can back up in plumbing systems that have combined pipelines for storm and sewage. Connecting the stormwater drainage into the sewer can trigger nasty sewer backups during heavy rainfall. With an excessive volume of water during rain storms, the sewage can back up into your basements and home. Remember, sewage lines are only for wastewater removal, so do not connect storm lines or sump pumps into your sewer line!

Why Sewer Drains Get Clogged After a Rainstorm

Summer rain storms can cause an abundance of water that can overwhelm or overload the municipal and sanitary sewers. If this rainwater runoff exceeds the sewer capacity, it can start flowing backward and cause sewage backups through your home’s toilets, bathrooms, or shower drains.

Rain can also push debris and waste into the sewer drains, which can cause blockages. 

Sometimes, heavy rains wash away the soil supporting the sewer pipes. Losing the soil support can cause sewer drains to collapse. These broken sewer lines can cause a sewage backup in your home.

What to Do When Sewer Drains Backup in Fort Lauderdale

Sewage drain backups can be gross—a dangerous mix of garbage, water, human waste, and mineral salts spilling into your house. If you experience a sewage backup:

  • Contact a reliable emergency plumber in Fort Lauderdale for repair and sewage backup cleanup. 
  • Switch off your home’s electricity if flooding reaches electrical outlets. 
  • Shut off the water main and avoid using the home plumbing till repair work is complete.
  • Human waste is a biohazard—avoid the affected area to prevent exposure to pathogens in the sewage.
  • Remove articles or clothing affected by sewage waste.

Need a Plumber for Sewage Backup in Fort Lauderdale?

Sewage backups require expert solutions, not temporary fixes. Broward Plumbing offers perfect sewage solutions in Fort Lauderdale, including drain camera inspection and hydro-jetting. Our licensed crew is trained to provide prompt & reliable services at all hours, all days of the week! Contact us for quality work, transparent pricing, and superlative customer service today! 

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