Prevent Sewer Damage and Check Septic Systems for Safety

If it has recently rained a lot or your area has been victim to a flood AND your home uses a septic system or well, officials advise that you should have your septic system and well checked for safety.

Floodwaters can cause septic tanks to fill and overflow, resulting in possible health risks and environmental problems. Private water wells can become contaminated by bacteria and pollutants carried in flood waters.

If you live in an area that was flooded, do not drink private well water until it is tested. Also, if possible, do not use the septic system while your yard is saturated, as wastewater will not be treated and will become a source of pollution.

Some of the warning signs that your septic system may be failing include the following:

The ground around the septic tank or over the leaching bed may be soggy or spongy to walk on.
Toilets, showers and sinks may back up or may take longer than usual to drain.
Occasional sewage odours may become noticeable, particularly after a rainfall.
Gray or black liquids may be surfacing in your yard or backing up through fixtures into the house.
E. coli or fecal coliform indicator bacteria may be found in nearby well water or in a surface ditch close to the leaching bed.
The water level in the septic tank is higher than the outlet pipe (this indicates that the water is ponding in the distribution lines) — inspection should be conducted by a qualified practitioner.
Wastewater is ponding in the distribution lines — inspection should be conducted by a qualified practitioner or an engineer.

If a homeowner suspects there is damage, they should have their septic tank professionally inspected and serviced. Contact the local health department for a list of septic system contractors that work in that area. Signs of damage include settling or an inability to accept water.

Most septic tanks are not damaged by flooding since they are below ground and completely covered. However, septic tanks and pump chambers can fill with silt and debris, and must be cleaned by professionals.

FEMA recommends that if a well has been overtopped by flood waters; wait for the water to recede. Thoroughly disinfect the system and then sample and test the water to assure its safety. Well water should be tested at least once a year, especially if there is a noticeable change in taste, smell or appearance.

Water well servicing work should be performed by licensed well drillers or pump installers. Well water analysis should be performed by the local health department or by a state certified laboratory.


1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is a full service water damage restoration company that provides emergency water removal, water mitigation, carpet drying, mold removal, flood cleaning, fire damage, sinkhole and sewer backup flood cleanup services. 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is located in Port Richey, Florida, and proudly services the West Gulf Coast of Florida.

Call us now at 1-800-379-6368. Free Water Damage Inspections available. 24/7 Emergency Services available.

For more information, please visit http://www.drymeout.com

How To Deal with Sewer Backup and Toilet Overflow!

Toilet overflow and backups. They can happen any place, anytime (always at a bad time). If you have ever experienced the wrath of a sewer backup, you may be convinced that it is a personal vendetta. Actually, it is the result of the result of sewer damage. Vendetta aside, if you’ve experienced as many sewer backups as our friend Anne, you may end up having nightmares.

We thought that we could help Anne sleep again by sharing her story and by offering a few tips as well to help get you through the nightmare should it ever happen to you.

Learn more: How To Deal with Sewer Backup and Toilet Overflow

1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is a full service water damage restoration company that provides emergency water removal, water mitigation, carpet drying, mold removal, flood cleaning, fire damage, sinkhole and sewer backup flood cleanup services. 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is located in Port Richey, Florida, and proudly services the West Gulf Coast of Florida.

Call us now at 1-800-379-6368. Free Water Damage Inspections available. 24/7 Emergency Services available.

For more information, please visit http://www.drymeout.com

Sewage Backflow Leads to Flooding

Recently, we were called out to Odessa, Florida, to investigate a major flood due to sewage backup.
The homeowners were a young couple and this was their first home.

“We literally bought the home, got married, went on a honeymoon and moved in,” Jack, one of the homeowners told us.

“We fell in love with the home mainly because of the kitchen and open concept living area,” Annie, the other homeowner told us.

Unfortunately, for Jack and Annie, the romance of their honeymoon came to a disturbing halt when they came home to a flooded house. Not only was the entire area flooded, but it was also contaminated with sewage that had backed up into their home through a shower drain on the main floor. Jack and Annie dealt with the situation as best as they could: they cleaned up the mess and mopped down the area that wasn’t covered with carpet. For the carpet, they rented a carpet cleaner from the grocery store and did a quick once over. However, they suddenly noticed an odor that wouldn’t go away.

And then sewage backup happened again. Fortunately, this time Jack and Annie called 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT for sewer repair and house flood damage help.

Read the rest of Follow Through On Your Home Inspector’s Advice

Sewer Damage | Can I Prevent My Toilet From Back Flowing?

Thanks to Kris for this great inquiry on toilet backflow:



Dear 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT:


Is there anything one can do to limit the possibility of a toilet backup after one has already occurred?

One of my bathrooms has back flowed so I barely use it but I have guests in from out of town Tues to Thur next week and I am worried about them using it. When it back-flowed, I was able to stop it by turning off the water and plunging it.

Finally, when I turned the water back on, I didn’t turn it up all the way – should I have?

Thanks so much! You are all the best!

Kris



Here is our response:


Hi Kris,

Thanks for your great question! I bet many people have the same question as you so if you don’t mind; we’d like to post this to our blog.

Toilet backup is a common occurrence in homes, especially homes that are not new and especially vintage homes. Toilet backup will occur when there is a clog in the sewer drain pipe. As the toilet is used, toilet tissue and waste matter may collect somewhere along the sewer drain pipe. Over time, this blockage, coupled with grease, hair and other debris, may cause a slow drain that prevents the proper air flow through the line. When the plumbing line is unable to pull air from the outside, so that the water flows through the lines, the gurgling sound will occur. If the sewer line feeds into a septic tank, then gurgle and back up may indicate that a complete clog or overflow is about to occur. As the septic tank fills up, there is less room for air in the tank.

Kris, from your letter, may I assume you are on city sewer? Do you live in a single family home or apartment?

What you are describing sounds like a blockage to your main sewer line from that one toilet. The reasons can vary depending on your living quarters and include the reasons listed above. Another reason clogs occur in sewer lines is due to tree root intrusion.

In sum, there is nothing you can really do to prevent the toilet from backing up at home by yourself. Prevention comes in the form of calling a plumber or restoration company for an inspection. The sewage repair inspector can now put a camera and look down your pipes to see what the problem is. Just always be careful to work with a reputable company.

In the meantime, if you had a clog that you successfully dealt with and haven’t had a problem since, you should be okay to have your guests use the toilet without problem. Regarding the water, yes, turn the water back on all the way to maximum. That has nothing to do with the clog issue. Also, whenever using a plunger, make sure your plunger is flanged (see here for example)

Finally, I would recommend calling someone to come and inspect the sewer pipe for further toilet clog prevention, peace of mind and because we don’t want you to have water damage!

Hope that helps!

Thanks,

Josh
1-800-DRY-ME-OUT



Have a water damage, mold removal or sewer repair question for us? Contact 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT here.

1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is a full service water damage restoration company that provides emergency water removal, carpet drying, mold remediation, fire damage, sinkhole and sewer cleanup services. 1-800-DRY-ME-OUT is located in Port Richey, Florida, and proudly services the West Gulf Coast of Florida. For more information, please visit http://www.drymeout.com