Plumbing Back Ups After A Storm

6/29/2020 (Permalink)

Tree roots can get into your plumbing pipes causing a potential backup.

Heavy rainfall can cause a plumbing malfunction leaving your home ankle-deep in sewage water

SERVPRO of South Cobb has received many calls regarding water damage after a big storm passes through metro Atlanta. In some cases, the water damage has occurred from a sump pump failure or a foundation leak. In homes with a septic tank, we have seen a rise in sewage damage losses after heavy rainfall due to the storm air pressure change.  If your home has a septic system, we want to ensure that you stay free of nasty water losses. It is essential for our customers to know what the signs are for a failing septic system to avoid any category 3 water losses. 

What are the signs of septic system failure?

A clear indicator that your septic system may be faulty is when you hear strange noises. The typical noise that customers alert our plumbing contractors on is gurgling sounds from a toilet bowl or shower. Any noise coming from a pipe or drainage system is typically from a clogged pipe from your house's plumbing system to the septic tank.  

What are 3 causes of a clogged pipe?

When a pipe is clogged, the drain will likely make a sound and perform very slow draining. We have seen that there are three leading causes of a clogged pipe. 

1. Someone flushed something down the toilet that shouldn't be. 
2. Broken underground pipe 
3. Roots from a tree 

Flushing something other than human waste and paper down the drain is a prevalent plumbing problem that can cause significant damages to a home’s interior from water damage. If the item that is clogging the drain is not snaked out ASAP, it is likely that the water back up will occur and cause more issues. The issues might not happen immediately, but you can be sure that the damages might become present when heavy rainfall occurs.  

A broken underground pipe is another problem that can cause sewage backup into your home. If you see standing water in your yard, that is a clear indicator that you have a broken underground pipe. It is crucial to get the pipe fixed to avoid the sewage water from entering your home. We have seen cases where foundation leaks causing unwanted sewage water to enter the home.  

Old trees surrounding your home create a high possibility that roots will damage the septic system. This issue is difficult to detect at first. Roots can grow in your septic tank and into a home's plumbing pipes.  If this occurs, the water can back up into your home, leaving your basement full of sewage water. 

Sewage water is a category three water loss

Sewage water, also known as black water, is known as a category three water loss. If your home or business has suffered from this type of water loss, it is vital to contact a professional water restoration company like SERVPRO. SERVPRO of South Cobb has seen it all when it comes to water losses. We have handled small jobs where an AC unit has caused minor water damages, to a flooded basement in ankle-deep sewage water. 

If you have recently suffered from water damage after a recent storm, please contact our office at (770) 739-2355. We are available 24/7 365 days a year for any water damage related questions.