How Does Sewage Backup Happen?

Are you experiencing a sewage backup or plumbing issue in your Manitoba home? The professionals at King's Services are here to help!

Sewage back is a scene that no person wants to have to handle (or smell!) as they walk in the door. Your property’s sewage system plays a key role in keeping your plumbing functional, but things go awry on occasion. 

How does sewage backup happen? Can you prevent it somehow? In this guide, the technicians from King's Services in Winnipeg, Manitoba, explore five common causes behind sewer backups and how to fix them.

The Top 5 Most Common Causes of Sewer Backups You Might Need Help With

Preventing sewer backups at home starts with understanding how they happen. The following are five common causes of sewage backup and how experts like King’s Services suggest that you go about preventing them:

#1: Gutters, Downspouts, and Sump Pumps Routed Into the Sewer System Illegally

Many homes connect the downspouts, sump pumps, and gutters to the storm sewers. While this is a normal practice, some homes also hook up these channels into sanitary sewers. In certain areas, routing gutters and downspouts into your sewer is illegal, and for a good reason.

Connecting your property’s gutter system and sump pump to a sanitary sewer presents several issues, including frequent sewer backups. Large amounts of water flow through your gutters and sump pumps during heavy rainfall. Most sanitary sewers cannot handle this increased flow, and every storm will make a sewer backup likely.

So, what should you do for these types of sewer backups? The experts will probably recommend rerouting your gutter and downspouts away from any sanitary sewers and back toward the storm sewers.

#2: Municipal Sewer Issues You Can’t Control

Rerouting your property’s gutters and downspouts is an easy fix. However, other types of sewage backups may be completely out of your hands. For example, municipal sewage backups occur in the main wastewater pipes but have far-reaching effects on any homes within their radius. 

How does sewage backup happen in municipal sewer lines? It’s usually a blockage in the main sewer line. It's unfortunate, but in this case, there's no way for homeowners to prevent this type of sewage backup. 

However, while you may feel helpless regarding municipal sewer issues, it’s important to call your local municipality and issue a formal complaint as soon as wastewater enters your home.

#3: Aged Sewer Systems That Crumble or Crack

PVC, cast iron, and clay are frequently used for sewer pipes. While they're strong enough for transporting water and waste, the materials do break down over time.

Statistics Canada confirms that the country’s overall sewer line infrastructure at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels have had an overhaul since the 1990s. This is good news for homeowners, as aging pipes crack and collapse, often leading to a sewage backup. Still, if you're in an older home with outdated sewer pipes, you may need to consider reworking your sewer system (it’s a costly endeavor but will certainly save you from pricey repairs and nasty backup issues in the long run).

#4: Invasive Tree Roots Looking For Water

Many people are surprised to learn that tree roots are a prevalent cause of sewer backups in Manitoba’s homes. When nearby trees or shrubs spread their roots, they seek water and often penetrate the sewer line to get it. This eventually causes a blockage, preventing the proper flow of waste through your sewer system.

Sewer pipes in older homes could be more susceptible to tree root issues, as these pipes are typically made out of clay. Roots slip into the small cracks within clay piping and widen them as they continue growing. 

Notably, this can happen even if there are no trees in your own yard. How does a sewage backup happen without trees on your property? Neighbours’ trees or street specimens close enough to your home can easily extend their roots to reach your sewer pipes under the ground.

There's little you can do about the landscaping next door, but if you’re worried about your pipes, you can always remove trees from your own property that are posing a problem.

#5: Blockages (These Are Often Preventable If You’re Careful)

How does sewage backup happen? In a lot of instances, it's daily habits that lead to your home's sewer backups. For example, clogged pipes are one of the most common causes of a sewage backup, as hair, grease, and soap accumulate to create the perfect environment for a nasty blockage.

The more these types of materials build up in your property’s pipe system, the less water and waste can freely flow through it. Unfortunately, a complete blockage usually has one outcome: a full-blown sewage backup.

Preventing blockages might take a little effort, but it’s well worth avoiding clogged pipes wherever you can. Be watchful of what enters your property’s drains, especially hair, grease, and foreign objects.

Signs of a Sewage Backup

How do you know if your home has a sewage backup? The signs of a sewer backup problem are usually obvious because of the mess and the smell. However, some are more subtle, especially in the earliest stages. 

Look out for the following signs of sewage backup in your home and then call a plumbing service like King’s Services as quickly as possible:

• Slow drains throughout the property
• Waste backup when flushing a toilet or using the washer
• Waste overflowing drains in sinks
• Dirty water overflowing from the toilet

If you notice any of these signs, contact a plumbing professional right away. Wastewater is a biohazard and presents serious health consequences. Thorough cleaning and highly-trained repair services are essential.

Schedule Your Sewer System Repair Today!

How does sewage backup happen? From clogged pipes to invasive tree roots, anything that interferes with your property’s sewer pipes risk a backup.

However, if your home ever does develop a backup, you can rest assured that the technicians at King's Services can answer your distress call. Our contractors offer plumbing and HVAC services throughout Winnipeg, Headingley, and the surrounding communities. This includes sewer pipe repair and installation.

Schedule an appointment with King’s Services at 431-631-0817 today!