Basement Drain Backing Up
Many people don’t think about their basement drains until something goes wrong. However, the sight and smell of your basement drain backing up is enough to scare anyone. So, why is your basement drain backing up and what should you do?
Basement drains back up due to main line blockages, tree root damage, and dry plumbing fixtures. Recent storms and heavy rain can also explain why your basement drain is backing up. You can avoid basement drain backups if you keep the drain clean and run water down each drain in your home.
That said, some drain backups are unavoidable, such as problems with the municipal water and sewage systems. Call for professional help right away if you notice your basement drain backing up. Follow along as we explore why your basement drain is backing up and highlight solutions.
Why Is My Basement Drain Backing Up?
Whether it be invasive tree roots or blockages, basement drains can back up for many reasons. That said, it’s important to enlist professional help right away if you notice a backup in your basement. The most common reasons for basement drain backups include:
Dry Drain
Basement drains can become dry, much like kitchen and bathtub drains. This happens when you don’t use your basement drain for a long time. Dry basement drains produce bad smells and cause backups that can be tricky to fix.
You can stop your basement drain from drying out if you run water down each of your drains regularly. Run each faucet in your house each day to ensure water flows through the system. Otherwise, your P-traps and basement drain will dry out.
Damaged Pipes
Like anything, sewer pipes eventually suffer damage due to corrosion. Rust and damage weaken pipes over time, and they cause backups from your basement drain. Unfortunately, that is often unavoidable as pipes simply fall victim to rust after 25 years or more.
Clogged Drain Lines
Clogged drain lines cause backups and foul odors that can make your home uncomfortable. This happens over time, but it can also happen if you flush items you shouldn’t. For example, baby wipes, paper towels, napkins, and feminine care products can clog a main drain line.
Drain cleaning not only removes blockages, but it protects your home’s plumbing system. While drain cleaning helps, preventative maintenance is the best way to solve this problem.
Blocked Drain
If your basement drain is backing up, it may be because you accidentally blocked it. This can happen if you cover the drain with storage items and furniture. Blockages also occur when the drain cover becomes clogged with dirt, dust, hair, and debris.
That’s why it’s important to regularly clean all the drains in your home. Whether it be a toilet, tub drain, or kitchen sink, blockages can wreak havoc on your basement drain. It’s a great idea to pour boiling water down your plumbing fixture’s drains each month.
You can also prevent blockages if you put a stopper over your shower drain when you bathe. Hair can quickly clog drains, and this can eventually make your basement drain back up.
Tree Roots
As much as beautiful trees add to your yard, they can also damage sewage and water lines. Tree roots grow towards water and sewage lines in some cases, and this can cause damage. That’s especially true if the pipes have small cracks in them as that makes it easier for the roots to enter the line.
The roots can eventually make the pipes burst, and that can cause a sewage backup. This isn’t a problem you can solve without professional help. Granted, this is only common with trees that grow close to houses, but it’s a serious problem. It’s considered a plumbing emergency as sewage water and gases are quite dangerous.
Recent Storms
Has it rained heavily in your area recently? If so, that may be the reason why your basement drain is backing up. Heavy rain and storms can overwhelm water and drain lines, and that can make your basement drain back up.
Ground flooding can push debris into the main line, and that causes blockages. The excess water has nowhere to go, so it may rise through your basement drain. This is mostly a problem with combined sewer systems.
What to Do if Your Basement Drain Backs Up
Shut off the main water supply right away if your basement drain backs up. Unfortunately, you can’t typically solve this problem without professional help. However, you can stop the problem from getting worse if you shut off the water supply.
Sewage water can damage your basement and make it uninhabitable. Not only is the smell foul, but it is also unsafe to be around sewage water. Even the smell itself can cause illness, whether you touch the water or not.
At Drain Boys LLC, we don’t recommend you remove sewage water if it’s deeper than one inch. You can fix minor basement drain backups with an auger if you have one. However, it’s best to enlist the help of professionals if you are inexperienced.
Call Drain Boys LLC if Your Basement Drain Backs Up
Basement drain backups are equally inconvenient and unsafe. Sewage water and gases cause major health problems, so it’s important to fix the problem right away. At Drain Boys LLC, we take plumbing emergencies seriously, and we are always here to help.
Whether it be tree root damage or main line blockages, we use our skills, experience, and equipment to solve the problem. Call Drain Boys LLC at (434)-230-0144 if your basement drain is backing up and will promptly help you.
