Why sewer backups is a worst type of water damage

Sewer back-ups can happen to any home, and it does not need to be fully-flooded outside a home for it to occur. All it takes is a tree root, old plumbing fixtures, or a problematic community sewer line for a back-up to wreak havoc in any property.

Home improvement website TheBalance.com tried to explain what sewage back-ups are and how dangerous this can be to the health and the home structure in general. “Sewer backup describes what happens when water comes up or is pushed into your home through the pipes from sewer or drainage systems. It is a very unpleasant type of water damage because it often involves dirty water from the sewers that will not only destroy your personal property but can also impact your health because it’s so unsanitary.” 

Read more here.

Causes of sewage back-up

Flushing items that should not be flushed is one of the leading causes of a backflow. It is important that all household members are aware of this to avoid such an unpleasant type of damage. Ill maintenance and old plumbing system can come into play as well. Causes that could be beyond the control of the homeowner may include Tree roots that infiltrate the sewage system, weather-related flooding, broken or blocked communal drains and pipes. 

Blackwater

Ask any water remediation expert and he will immediately classify sewage backups as Black Water or the worse type of flooding to inundate a home. It can contain bacteria, fungus, viruses, and other microorganisms which can be very harmful to health.

It is very important that it be handled by professional water damage remediation experts because the microorganisms do not only linger on the surface, they can go airborne too and compromise the health of the whole family. The most dangerous risk in terms of inhalation is sewage gas, as mentioned at healthable.org. 

“The two main gases found in sewage are methane and hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide is not only highly flammable but can also cause serious illness or death. Methane can asphyxiate people in the home. Even exposure to small amounts of the gas can cause unconsciousness or even death.” Read more here.

It is very important for every homeowner to immediately resolve sewer backups. And for homes that have not experienced such an occurrence, it will be best to prevent such from happening by being mindful of good plumbing maintenance practices.

San Diego Water Damage Restoration

If you recently experienced flood damage or water damage, the team at Mighty Dry is here to help. Contact us today to get started restoring your home or business.