3 Potential Causes of Sewer Backup

3/9/2022 (Permalink)

Three Potential Sources Of Sewer Backup

If you own or manage a business, you may offer restroom facilities to your customers or clients. If you run a dining place, there are probably sinks. Commercial buildings are usually connected to sewer systems.

A flooded toilet, blocked-up sink or other issue caused by sewer backup can be a hassle to handle. Such occurrences often result in big messes. You may have to contact a professional remediation service in Pirate Harbor, FL, for sewer cleanup and sanitation. An important part of dealing with sewage-related incidents is locating the source or cause to stop further leakage. There are many possible reasons for a sewer backup.

1. Blockages

Sewer backups may often be attributed to clogs in mainlines and pipes. People, both employees and patrons, tend to throw things they should not into drains or flush them down toilets without considering the consequences. Examples of such products and materials include:

• Grease, oils and fats (in restaurants)
  
• Fibrous food particles (in restaurants)
  
• Pads and tampons (in public bathrooms)
  
• Sanitary wipes (in public bathrooms)

2. Damaged Pipes

Broken pipes may malfunction, leading to a sewer backup. What happens is that they fail to properly drain, causing buildups of sewage that overflow, creating the need for sewer cleanup. Damage may be due to a number of factors, such as improper installation.

3. Nature

One unpreventable factor that can lead to waste problems is nature. Earthquakes are one natural phenomenon that can harm pipes, which, as mentioned earlier can affect their performance, resulting in backups. Tree roots often negatively impact sewer lines as well. They are capable of diverting or blocking drainage and wrapping around, crushing, cracking and/or pinching pipes. They may even cause them to burst. Floodwaters from a storm or rising waters can surge through your commercial property's sewer lines or the city's main ones, pushing chemicals and hazardous materials out.
Insurance may or may not cover sewer cleanup.

If the backup originates on your property, you may be able to have it fixed yourself. However, if it arises due to a fault in the public sewer system, officials will most likely have to get involved.