What You Need to Know About Home Sewage Backups

8/5/2021 (Permalink)

If your sink is overflowing that means you have sewage backup in your home.

What You Should Know About Sewage Backups at Home

Sometimes a sewer system in Leawood, KS becomes overwhelmed, as in the case of a storm, and there isn't much you can do to stop it. There are often there are some subtle hints of the problem before it happens. Here are some things you should know about a storm-related sewer backup.

Increase Your Awareness

Sometimes rain is just too much and too fast, dumping large volumes of water on a sewer system. This is one reason that a sewer backup can happen in a home. The problem is compounded when the sewage system isn't operating at its best, but how do you know something is afoot? Well, be sure you don't dismiss some foretelling signals such as:

• Sewer gas odors
  
• Gurgling or bubbling in drains, sinks and toilets
  
  

Call a professional as soon as you notice these clues, so the next bout of rainwater doesn't cause a major backup. If you are on a septic tank, you most certainly are responsible for any maintenance, but call your local municipality first for a sewer line problem. It may be your responsibility depending on where the problem lies.

Clean the Mess

When you do have a sewage backup that contaminates your home, you need to make sure the cleanup is done carefully. The first step is always to solve the problem that led to the backup to prevent additional contamination in your home. "Black water" is the worst category of flood water because the flood has harmful bacteria and other pathogens. This kind of flood requires special cleaning.

A professional water remediation specialist can clean a sewer backup safely and effectively. They know porous materials are best removed and disposed, but they are also able to effectively clean other parts of your home with antimicrobials to keep your family safe from the contaminated water. Experts have access to specialized equipment and training to make sure your water damage is completely clean to prevent mold growth.