How To Maintain a Private Sewer During and After Flooding

6/12/2019 (Permalink)

The maintenance of private sewer systems presents unique challenges

Severe storms and natural disasters can cause excessive damages to your home and property. If your home utilizes a private sewage system in New Hope,PA, it will likely be damaged as well. Sewer cleanup is never a fun subject to discuss, but the following may be necessary to protect your home and plumbing.

What To Do Before and During a Flood

Since private sewers are essentially a giant septic tank, they rely on the soil below to absorb excess water. In flooding scenarios, the soil underneath a private sewer will be too saturated with water to effectively absorb what it needs to. Therefore, it is recommended that these steps be enacted.

• Do not use the water from a well or sewage system in any capacity. This includes water for drinking or use of the restroom
• Stock up on water bottles and other liquid necessities beforehand
• Use portable toilets or find another sanitary way to dispose of waste. A flooded toilet can rapidly lead to all drains in the house getting clogged
• Plug floor drains to prevent sewage from backing up into the house
• Shut off power to the sewage system, if possible
  
  

How To Recover From a Flood

If you suspect damage or encounter sewer backup after the floodwaters recede, contact a professional water damage repair company to inspect the tank for any damages. Sewer cleanup is a dangerous and dirty job, so professional help is recommended for best results. Common signs of a busted sewer can include: backed up drains, noxious smells persisting from the tank and soggy soil over the drain field days after the flood.

The maintenance of private sewer systems presents unique challenges. If your home is affected by flooding, you must act quickly to protect your sewage system from damage. Should your tank get damaged, promptly scheduling sewer cleanup will protect the long-term health of your plumbing.