5 Signs of a Brewing Sewage Backup

Springtime is upon us in Derby! While many are stopping to smell the roses, see the trees bud, and watch the grass turn into a beautiful shade of green, this is the time of year when Professional Carpet Systems gets flooded with calls about water in the basement and unexpected sewage backups.

There are a number of reasons homes tend to flood more in the springtime, mostly related to more rain. Or, perhaps a root that stopped growing in the frozen ground over the winter was able to grow just that extra few centimeters after the spring thaw to penetrate a pipe in the yard.

Here are some warning signs that there might be a problem brewing in your sewage line:

Foul smell coming from the drains.

If you ever turn on a faucet anywhere in your home, and it is accompanied by a foul smell coming up the drain pipe, it might be an indication of a problem. Drains going out of your house should not have a smell.

Bubbles: If you have a clogged drain, or suspect a clog, watch for bubbles to come back to the surface of the water as you run the faucet. You may also notice bubbles in the toilet when you flush. If it happens repeatedly, it could indicate a problem in the line.

Slow Flushes: Just having a clogged drain (we will talk about that in a moment), a slow flush is somewhat common and often solved by a plunger. However, if one of your toilets is suddenly flushing slowly all the time, you’ve found another possible warning sign of an issue in your sewer line. If there is a problem with the line, normal plunging won’t improve the water flow out of the house, and there is a bigger issue that needs to be addressed.

Multiple Clogged Drains: Clogged drains are relatively common in every home, and one clog certainly does not necessarily indicate a bigger problem. It could be as simple as a hair clog. However, if there are multiple clogged drains in your home, especially in lesser used sinks like a laundry room or guest bath, there might be an unseen problem lurking.
Running one faucet triggers a backup somewhere else: This is pretty straight-forward! If you are running the upstairs shower and the water starts to back up in the downstairs bathroom sink, there is likely a problem somewhere in the line.

A sewage backup can mean major, costly damage to your home and belongings, and create a pretty unpleasant situation all around. However, knowing the warning signs and calling for help early can help get ahead of the problem. The bottom line is, if there is sewage in your home, you will know it – and you should not wait to have it cleaned up, nor is it a good idea to try to clean it up yourself. The team at PCS has all the necessary equipment, safety gear and disinfectants needed to do the job for you as quickly as possible.