Protect Your Basement
Learn about causes of sanitary sewer backups, what you as a homeowner are responsible for maintaining and steps you can take to protect your home against sewer problems.
Causes of sewer backups
While most basement water problems are not caused by sewer backups—here are some of the most common.
- Aging sewer systems – Always maintain your sanitary sewer lines. Some lines may collapse over time depending on the material they are composed of and their age which may lead to your sewer backing up into your home.
- Tree roots ‒ Small roots of trees and shrubs make their way into sewer line cracks and service pipe joints, and can cause extensive damage or blockages as they grow larger. The cost of the clean-up will fall to the problem tree's owner.
- Sanitary main blockages ‒A blockage can occur in a city sanitary main. If the blockage is not detected in time, sewage from the main can back up into homes and businesses through floor drains. Usually this happens slowly and there are early indications of a problem. The City of Lapeer is responsible for the sanitary mains only. Please call the Department of Public Works at (810)664-4711 immediately if you notice an issue.
How to prevent backups in your sewer lateral line and in the city main
- Properly dispose of grease. Cooking oil should be poured into a heat-resistant container and disposed of properly after it cools off, not in the drain. Washing grease down the drain with hot water is unsatisfactory. As the grease cools off, it will solidify either in the drain, the property owner's line, or in the main sewer causing the line to constrict and eventually clog.
- Properly dispose of paper products. Paper towels, disposable (and cloth) diapers, hygienic wipes and feminine products do not deteriorate quickly and can cause a great deal of trouble in the property owner's lateral as well as in the city main.
- Periodically cut tree roots. If you have continuing problems with tree roots in your lateral line, you may have to regularly have the roots cut by a professional.
- Replace your line with new plastic pipe. Plastic pipe will prevent tree roots from entering your line is to replace your line and tap with new plastic pipe.
- Correct illegal plumbing connections. Do not connect French drains, sump pumps and other flood control systems to your sanitary sewer. It is illegal to do so, and debris and silt will clog your line. Consult a plumber to correct any pre-existing illegal connections.
- Install a backwater prevention valve. This is a fixture installed into a sewer line (and sometimes into a drain line) in the basement of your home or business to prevent sewer backflows. A properly installed and maintained backwater valve allows sewage to go out, but not to come back in. Be sure to use a qualified plumber.
If you see seepage at the floor drains, call the City of Lapeer Department of Public Works at (810)664-4711 as soon as possible before you call a licensed plumber to assess the city owed mains.