Sewer Backups and Insurance
The Western Virginia Water Authority highly recommends that homeowners purchase a “backup of sewer and drain” rider as part of a homeowner’s insurance policy. Insurance agents can provide more information about this coverage.
Fortunately, sewer backups don’t happen very often. It is important, however, to know in advance what to do if a sewer backup happens in a home or business.
What To Do First . . .
If a backup occurs, take immediate steps to seal sink, tub and floor drains. Plug toilets with something like a string mop or wad of rags. Try to determine if the blockage is just in household/business plumbing or in the main sewer line. Call neighbors and ask if they are experiencing any backup or slowness in their drains. If so, the problem may be in the main sewer line. If not, then it could be a problem with your sewer line.
Next . . . Call Us . . .
For 24/7 Sewer Line Emergencies and General Information, call (540) 853-5700.
Reducing the Risk of Future Backups
Sewer backups occur because of sewer line blockages or because of excess water in sewer pipes. While sewer backups are rare, there is an increased chance of them occurring during wet weather. When sewer pipes back up, they can create sewage overflows in homes and along points in the sewage collection system. This is because stormwater gets into the sewer system and increases the total volume of water in sewer pipes. If there is too much water for the pipes to convey, backups can occur.
Stormwater can enter sewer pipes through
- sump pumps, stairwell drains or downspouts that are connected to sewer pipes.
- uncapped sewer clean-outs or cracks in pipes or sewer pipe connections.
- manhole covers.
Homes with a history of sewer backups are more at risk to future backups during severe storms.
To immediately reduce the risk of sewer backups and property damage in basements due to sewer backups, property owners can
- cap basement sewer floor drains if no other plumbing fixtures are on the basement level. Caps are available at most hardware stores.
cap sewer clean-outs in yards.
- move items of value away from sewer floor drains.
Long-term solutions to reducing the risk of sewer backups in wet weather include:
- disconnecting downspouts from sewer pipes
- disconnecting sump pumps from sewer pipes, and redirecting the water outside, away from the foundation of homes
- capping sewer pipe floor drains and sewer clean-outs in yards
Sewer Maintenance
Sewage backups can also be caused by roots that penetrate pipe joints and by FOG (fats, oils and grease) that can build up and cause blockages. NEVER pour FOG down the drain. As it cools, it will congeal, clogging pipes. The maintenance of sewer pipes on a homeowner’s property is the responsibility of the homeowner.