Causes of Sewer Damage
One of the most costly and disgusting disasters that can happen to your home, sewage damage can cause irreparable injury to your property, structure, appliances, furniture, and carpeting. Sewer damage is more common than people may think, and so it's important to know what could lead to sewage blockages or overflows so you can prevent it. Here are some causes of sewer damage, brought to you by disaster cleanup experts.
Flushing Debris Down the Toilet
A fast way to cause sewage damage is treating your toilet like a trash can. The only things that should be flushed down the toilet is human waste and toilet paper. Solid and non-biodegradable materials such as garbage, diapers, toys, plastics, and metals can cause blockages in the sewage drains.
Root Infiltration
One of the biggest culprits of damaged sewer lines is root infiltration. Tree roots seek out water wherever they can, and an easy source for them to find is your sewer line. They grow into or break through pipes to access the water within. As the roots expand over time, they can cause blockages or leaks throughout the pipes.
Structural Defects
A damaged sewer pipe can't properly drain sewage, and can result in sewage backup or overflow. Pipes can break, collapse, rupture, misalign, leak, corrode, and crack, caused by anything from shifting soil to pressure from the soil above. Structural defects are especially common in older homes with pipes built from cast iron or clay piping that are more likely to break down.
Flooding
Any type of flooding can put pressure on your sewage system, causing sewage damage and backup that can overflow into the home. Flooding can also occur from sewer damage in some situations. If you live in an area that often experiences heavy rainfall or is considered a high-risk flood area you may want to take precautions against sewer damage.
Pouring Grease Down the Drain
The worst thing to wash down the drain? Grease, fats, and oils. Some people mistakenly believe that washing hot grease down the kitchen sink will help wash it away, but it will still cool eventually, and when it does it will be somewhere in your pipes. Grease that has hardened and sticks to your pipes will lead to sewage clogs and eventually cause sewer damage. Grease, fat, and oils should never be poured down the sink.
Age
Age is perhaps the most major cause of sewer damage. As time goes by, your sewer line will eventually begin to deteriorate and become more susceptible to numerous kinds of damage such as corrosion, breaks, leaks, and collapse. If you own an older home, sewer line replacement may become necessary.
There are many possible causes of sewer damage, but the result is the same dangerous and costly accident. Knowing what can cause sewer damage can help to prevent it from happening to you.
Do you have any questions or concerns? Disaster Professionals offers 24/7 sewage cleanup and disaster response experts who can answer any questions you may have. We're happy to help!