A common issue we are contacted about is when homeowners experience a sewer backup. It is not pretty or fun for a homeowner to deal with, and in fact, we recommend that a homeowner not attempt to fix a sewer backup. Potential health problems aside, there could be many reasons the sewer is backing up and those reasons require a professional’s attention. This is what our sewer backup repair service exists for.
You should never let a sewer backup go unattended. The sewage can leak out into your yard which can leave harmful bacteria that could adversely affect you, your family, or your pets. It can also contain fungi or chemicals that are bad for you.
Here is a recent sewer backup we were called to fix in Plant City, FL. If you own a home here, our Plant City plumbing team is the closest crew to you, and we also serve Lakeland, Winter Haven, and the surrounding areas.
Water Began Backing Up in Toilets, Tubs, & Sinks
The homeowner called us as soon as they began experiencing an issue. They were seeing nasty water backing up in their tubs, sinks, and toilets throughout the home. They also noticed a sewage smell and suspected they had an issue they could not handle on their own. Our team, available 24/7 for plumbing emergencies, immediately came out to begin assessing the situation to see what the cause could be.
Wastewater rising in a tub rather than draining out of it is the clearest signal that the blockage is in the main line and not in that one fixture. We explain how to read that in our posts on what it means when water backs up into the bathtub and the warning signs of a sewer line problem.
Common Causes of Sewer Backups Include Tree Roots, Wet Weather, Blocked Pipes, & More
Sewer backups are a very common issue, especially in our area of Central Florida. A huge culprit of sewage backup is wet weather. When the rainy season hits, it can overwhelm the sewer system and that is when we get a lot of our calls. Another issue that can cause sewer blockage or backups is when tree roots grow into the existing pipe. They can put holes in the pipe or in some cases, block it entirely. Root masses that keep coming back usually need hydro jetting during a professional drain cleaning rather than a cable, and we explain the difference in our post on water jetting.
Other causes include foreign bodies in the pipes, such as a clog of baby wipes. Wipes labeled flushable do not break down the way toilet paper does, as we cover in our post on whether flushable wipes are harming your plumbing.
If your property is on septic rather than city sewer, the backup often starts outdoors instead. Soggy grass and odor over the leach lines point at drain field repair, and our post on maintaining your septic tank system covers the pumping schedule that prevents it.
Why the Homeowners Contacted Us Immediately
We were immediately contacted by the homeowners to fix the issue because sewage backups, besides being generally gross, can pose serious dangers to people and pets. Sewage contains several diseases that can be spread if not addressed quickly. Some of these diseases may sound like a thing of the past, but they do still exist when sanitation is poor. Diseases spread by sewage include:
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Cryptosporidiosis: symptoms include fever, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and more
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E. coli: this disease can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and possible hospitalization if the person becomes dehydrated
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Hepatitis A: spread through infected fecal matter, this disease can cause fatigue, jaundice, appetite loss, and more.
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Dysentery: fever, bloody diarrhea, stomach cramps, and more are symptoms of this disease
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Typhoid fever: this disease has many harmful symptoms such as high fever, weakness, cough, stomach pains, and rash
Never attempt to remove sewage yourself, as it can create negative health issues. Always leave sewage issues to a professionally trained contractor. Once the line is clear, contaminated flooring and drywall still have to be dried and treated, which is water damage restoration work. Getting the standing water out in the first hours is water mitigation, and it is what decides whether the flooring is salvageable.
Assessing the Sewage Backup & How it Happened
In this particular case, we were able to research the homeowner’s sewage backup issues and determine that one of the causes was a tree root invading a pipe’s area. Our sewage backup contractors were able to quickly diagnose the problem and replace the pipe that had been an issue. We also found that the drain was clogged and were able to remove the clog, opening the drain and pipes back up so everything could properly flow through them again.
Do not keep flushing while a backup is active. Every flush adds to what has to come back out somewhere, and once the line is clear we check the fixtures themselves so a running or slow-filling tank does not mask the next problem. That is straightforward toilet repair work.
Do you have sewage backup issues at your Central Florida home?
If you are experiencing sewage backup problems, your first call should be to the pros at True Plumbers & AC. We have handled these jobs since 2009 and will quickly help you figure out what the problem is so that we can get it fixed. Our team services properties throughout Central Florida, including Lakeland, Plant City, Winter Haven, and more. Contact us today at (863) 667-6364 so you can get back to enjoying your home.
