Re: What to do in case of sewage backup?

A) Routine maintenance on your own drains - ensure they are clear and flowing properly. Don't use the toilet as a trashcan - flush nothing but poop and TP. Use your disposal sparingly, and don't put anything that might clog the drains such as potato peals or banana skins down the disposal. A Roto-Rooter contract will cost you a couple hundred dollars, but if you have true concerns this may give you peace of mind about your own drains, but won't do anything if the blockage is in the city's lines.

B) Identify your lowest drain. If the backup is coming from the main line beyond that point, or the city's lines, this is the place it will flow from first. Determine if there is a way to plug this drain, and any other at that level, in case of an emergency. And of course don't use any water if a backup occurs. If the backup is in the city's lines, then your neighbors are in the same boat. In my case I have a basement with floor drains. Fortunately for me, my basement is about one cinderblock shallower than my neighbors on either side (I come up 6 steps from street level to get to my front door, they only have 4-5 steps). Several years ago when there was a collapsed pipe up the street, both neighbors had about a foot of sewage in their basements while I had only a small pool around the floor drain. Bottom line is the water found its own level across the area and unfortunate for my neighbors that meant it filled their basements before it even started coming out of my floor drain.

C) Talk to your Sewer Department. 20-30 year old aren't that old, but a recent article I read did say that infrastructure installed in the last 50 years or so isn't lasting nearly as long as that put in back in the early 1900s. Ask about repair records in your area. Are they seeing failures? Ask them if they've checked for storm water draining into the sanitary system. This is a no-no in most areas since the sanitary systems are not designed for the large amount of water, or the debris that rolls off peoples roofs or gets pumped out of sumps. They can blow smoke into the lines and see if it comes out anyone's downspouts.

D) Install a back-flow preventer. You will probably have to foot the bill, but check with your insurance co. They may give a discount. You might also check with them to see what your flood coverage is, and get additional flood insurance coverage if needed.

"peter" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:oyeoj.5049$9g.1397@xxxxxxxxxxx
I'm trying to prepare for emegency situations, but I have no answer for this one: if sewage backups out of my sink or toilet, what should I do? I live in a 2 story house with crawl space, surrounded by dozens of similar houses all built aound 20 to 30 years ago. This is not a flood zone; there is no backflow preventer. There is also no rentention pond. The area is on a plateau (flat for miles but is a few hundred feet above sea level).


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