What to do when your basement drain backs up?

• First off DO NOT ENTER A FLOODED BASEMENT. Make sure to contact the city or professionals like Emergency Plumbing Markham to ensure your safety and the preservation of your property
• Drain or pump out all the sewer water right away
• Remove everything that came into contact with the sewer water
• Wash down walls and floors with detergent and then afterwards with a disinfectant
• Rinse with warm/hot water
• Let the area dry by using fans and opening windows.

Why did my basement drain backup?

1. Drain backup of overflow from the city’s main sewer line, usually located out on the street
2. A drain blockage or clog in your lateral sewer line leading from your house out to the city sewer line
3. Groundwater pushed into the basement by pressure
4. Surface water running down foundation walls

Why did the city's sewer line backup?

A blockage between the city’s sewer line and your home can be caused by a number of factors. Damaged or corroded pipes, tree roots, misaligned joints, FOG (fats, oils and grease), heavy rainfall are some of the most common reasons. Sewer backups into the home are a smelly and frightening occurrence. Sever damage can be caused to property, odours can be intolerable and fears about health safety are raised. Water that might have been sitting in the lines and pipes before the flood may contain bacteria. After a sewer backup, cleaning should happen quickly.

How can I tell if the sewer line is about to backup?

Sewer blockages can be generally be detected with a few symptoms. Water pooling around the basement drain, odd smells coming from the basement drain. In cities with older or aging sewer lines, homeowners should consider having annual checkups with plumbing professionals like Emergency Plumbing Markham to ensure that your pipes, lateral lines and drains are all working and in good working condition. Other measures that can be taken are to make sure you properly dispose of fats, oils and grease. When these substances cool off they form giant fatburgs in the sewer system that have been literally known to make sewer lines burst. Drain backups can also be caused by improperly disposed of waste products and objects that accidentally find their way into the pipes and sewers.

Is my lateral line backed up?

Sewer backups aren’t the only cause of water backing up in your drains. The source of the problem can be a blockage in your main line that leaves the home. The sewer lateral line is owned by the homeowner and it the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain. These sorts of drain backups can be caused by improperly disposed of waste products, food waste, objects like toys, FOG, and tree/shrub roots.

Can groundwater cause my drains backup?

If the groundwater level is higher than you basement, then you there is the possibility of backing up drains and causing flooding.

Can water leaking down the foundation wall cause basement flooding?

Making sure that the ground tilts away from the foundation around your house in addition to making sure that downspouts are at least 6 feet away from your basement walls to prevent basement flooding. Examine cracks in the patio, decks and driveways and make sure that they’re draining water away from your basement.

Are gurgling sounds coming from your toilets or sinks? A foul odour from your drains, particularly basement drains? Is water draining slowly? A drain backup can be significant of many problems. Call Emergency Plumbing Markham right away if you detect any of these problems. Proactive actions can save you time and money.

How to unblock a backed up kitchen or bathroom drain

1. Use a plunger to push or break up the clog in a single-sink unit
2. For a double sink, make sure to stop one sink and plunge the other. Use a cloth, the stopper or some other method to stop the sink.
3. Use boiling water to break up a clog
4. Use baking soda and vinegar followed by boiling water to wash it out

Emergency Plumbing Markham highly recommends inspections of your house’s plumbing systems and drain cleaning to ensure prevention. Maintenance is a great way to keep your plumbing healthy and happy.

Do you have a drain backup? Sewer line blocked and flooding your basement?

At Emergency Plumbing Markham, we have all the tools and experience you need to have your clogged pipes fixed quick and affordably. We always have all the tools we need on hand and we are prompt, professional and qualified to detect and resolve your plumbing requirements. Protecting your home is our passion and plumbing is our expertise.