Getting plumbing installed in a new home once you’ve moved in or before moving can make or break the way that your house will continue to operate for the next few decades that you decide to settle in it. One of the biggest issues that people report occurring is a plumbing backup or a sewer backup that ends up happening for one reason or another.
While everyone dreams of the perfect home, no home is complete without a few mess-ups here and there that are bound to happen no matter what. One of the biggest issues that people report occurring is a plumbing backup or a sewer backup that ends up happening for one reason or another.
Not only can it get super irritating, but the smell that can accumulate due to the backup can be disgusting and can single-handedly make you want to move out of the place you once called your home.
For that reason alone, our article aims to cover all the reasons why a sewer backup may be occurring and some of the best ways to figure it out. We will also tell you just what a plumbing backup is!
What Is A Plumbing Back Up?
First things first, we need to figure out just what a plumbing backup is and what it entails. In the simplest of terms, a sewer or plumbing backup takes place anytime dirty water or sewer water starts to flow in the wrong direction.
Essentially, the water that runs through the sewage pipes is supposed to flow omnidirectional. However, issues can cause the water to start flowing the opposite way, which can, in turn, cause the water to run back to the pipes that are installed in your home, your office, or any commercial building.
This can cause major problems and health issues, too, if it is not fixed and keeps on lingering. It can also lead to major nausea, vomiting, or, worse of all, would need a complete renovation if not catered to in time.
Reasons Why The Sewer Keeps Backing Up
Moving on, there are quite a few reasons why the plumbing backup occurs, and they are all going to be listed below.
Blocked Pipes
Now, one of the biggest signs that may cause you to think that your pipes have been blocked is if you start to smell a horrible smell, something that wouldn’t happen if the sewage water was flowing the right way before.
One of the main reasons that might continue to happen is a blockage in the pipes. If waste gets stuck in the pipes, the water flow is disrupted, as the waste blocks the water’s flow, and therefore, the water might start to flow back.
It causes it to go back down the drain or the toilet, making it smell horrible. If not dealt with in the proper manner, this can be extremely nauseating.
Roots Rooting Up
Ignoring the horrible pun in the title, another reason the plumbing backup might occur is tree roots. If you have a tree growing near the drains or near the area where the plumbing has been installed, it can pose a significant risk there.
The main issue is that tree roots can start to grow around the pipes, or worse, even inside the pipes, which will seriously disrupt the way the water is supposed to be flowing.
The roots can then further block the passageway, eventually making the water flow backward.
Raining Down
Another major reason why your plumbing backing up is extremely heavy rainfall. Consistent rainfall over and over again can cause major issues to the pipelines even if a backup does not occur.
However, during heavy rainfall, water can infiltrate into the pipes, causing them to flood and start to leak out. For that reason alone, it is recommended to empty the drains or get them drained professionally so that the sewer does not start backing up.
Issues With The Pipelines
Another reason that you might have completely skipped out on plumbing backup occurring is due to issues that occur within the pipeline,
During the installation process, if the pipelines haven’t been installed properly, while it may not cause any issues for the first few years that move into your home, it most definitely starts to cause an issue further down the line.
These issues can include manual installation issues at the time of sewage setup, or so much so as a leak in the pipeline can cause the entire system to overflow.
How To Notice A Plumbing Backup
Moving on, now that you know why a backup may occur in the first place, there are a few ways that you can figure out just why a backup may occur.
Water Backup
One of the main ways that you will instantly know is if, when you are showering, the water starts to come back up the drain if you try to drain it once you are done.
Typically, the water should flow down, and the tub should be drained of any water, but in the case of a backup, the water will start flowing back up.
Slow Drainage
Apart from this, drainage typically occurs quite quickly, and you won’t even notice it happening. However, if your drains are blocked and there is a backup, then water may take a longer time to drain, and this becomes very noticeable over time.
Noises While Draining
While minimal noises are pretty common when draining occurs, it is not normal for them to make so much sound. So, if you hear a lot of noise, there might be a drainage issue.
Conclusion
While plumbing backup can definitely occur, it is not that big of a problem and can be solved very easily by hiring the most reliable plumbing services in Philadelphia!