Basement flooding is a complete nightmare for homeowners. No one wants to walk down the stairs and see water pooling across the floor — or worse, to see sewage back-up coming out of their drains. If you want to keep your basement safe from disgusting back-up, you should get a specialized plumbing device installed.
Sewer backups generally happen because of dated and inefficient sewage infrastructure. Many older homes will be connected to a combined sewer system, which joins the passages for waste and stormwater together. Newer constructions tend to be connected to a singular system for waste removal and treatment. The stormwater system will be separate.
During rainstorms, the combined system can get overwhelmed by the runoff and send the contents through the nearest exits — these are usually the main sewer lines belonging to residential buildings.
Spring and summer are seasons that put homes at a greater risk because they bring higher chances of heavy and sudden rainstorms. If you are part of a combined sewer system, you should take the initiative to protect your basement this spring by getting a backwater valve installed in your home’s sewer lateral.
IMAGE: PEXELS
What Is A Backwater Valve?
A backwater valve is a simple plumbing device that prevents upstream sewage flow from the public sanitation grid. Its innovative design means that while waste can flow downstream (away from the house), it cannot flow upstream (into the house) — if water or waste should start to flow back into the house, it raises a flap that will seal off the pipe. Once the backflow stops exerting pressure, the flap will open again and waste flow will continue as normal.
Homeowners will want to make sure that their backwater valve installation is handled by plumbing experts who know how to hook up the device properly to guarantee that it will function as intended.
Why Should You Get A Device Installed?
A flood of sewage back-up can’t be treated like other plumbing emergencies where you can turn off the main supply-valve and reduce water damage. Once back-up pushes its way through your drains during a storm, there’s nothing you can do except for calling a local emergency plumber and move your valuables out of the way. When it comes to this specific type of basement flooding, there is no better defense than a backwater valve. No other tool will block the back-up from coming through your drains.
Another reason that you should invest in one is that basement floods are financially daunting. On average, homeowners pay $43,000 for basement restoration after a flood — this will entail repairs for water damage, mold growth, electrical and plumbing problems. If you don’t have insurance coverage or your claim is denied, you could be making payments to fix the destruction for years.
A single device could save you from an expensive disaster. After the installation, you will no longer worry about your basement every time you see ominous rain clouds looming in the sky. You’ll know for a fact that your property can weather the storm.
If you are interested in even more technology-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
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