What to Do About Sewer and Water Problems

By WebDrafter.com, Inc. w/ permission

Of all the jobs on the homeowner's "to do" list, chances are plumbing related work is not likely under the heading "Love to do". And in the world of plumbing, perhaps the least favorite job for a homeowner is that of sewer and flooding problems. After all, when there are sewer related problems then other issues such as loss of property, damage to the home, electrical malfunctions as a result of the excess moisture and even the risk of disease for one's family can occur. Consequently, it is necessary to do all you can to prevent sewer and water problems from being a part of your work list.

One of the most common water problems is a wet basement. When this is experienced as a homeowner, it is important to determine where the water is coming from. This is typically the result of one of four common sources:

  1. Surface water that has run down the foundation walls. When this happens take a look at these areas: Check the gutters to see if they are blocked with any type of debris, if so, clean them out. Also, the downspouts should extend at least 10 feet away from the home; though many home owners find this unattractive, it is the minimum distance needed to prevent water from being prone to wet basements. If you have any paved areas, check for settling as this can allow water to seep down the walls of the foundation. In addition, be sure that the ground around the home's foundation does not have any slopes, if there is sloping, fill in with dirt.
  2. Groundwater in water-flooded soil that is pushed into the basement by hydrostatic pressure. The best way to prevent this is with the installation of an under-floor drainage system as it relieves the pressure before the water reaches the floor of the basement.
  3. When the municipal storm sewer water system backs up into the home's drain system and then leaks into the basement. This is more common in home's built before 1980; the best way to deal with this issue is by installing an interior perimeter basement drain system that is connected to a sump pump. If this is does not solve the problem, then you may need to dig up and cap the pipe that runs from the house to the street-definitely a job for a professional!
  4. When sanitary sewer water from a combined municipal storm/sanitary sewer system backs up into the home drainage system, sewer water will resurface through lower level sinks and floor drains. This frequently occurs in cities where the sanitary system and the sewer system are combined, and is usually caused by excessive amounts of rain. This can be corrected by the city, but in the interim, homeowners can have backflow preventers installed to help stop the sewer water from backing into the house. Keep in mind that these backflow preventers need to be maintained regularly and should be kept free of debris.
For more information on how to handle you water and sewer problems visit
http://www.geneswaterandsewer.com today or contact them at 612-781-3737.


Article independently authored by Janet Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Gene's Water and Sewer.

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