Sewage Backup After Heavy Rains

12/15/2017 (Permalink)

Sewage Backup After Heavy Rains

Heavy raining and other storms in Asheville, NC can wreak havoc on your business. Most people know about the damage that strong wind, flooding, and lightning can cause during these storms. However, many people are surprised to learn that sewer backup is a significant concern as well.

When your area floods, your business is at risk at having sewage come up the pipes. Of course, sewage in your commercial building is terrible for business. That’s why it’s important to understand what causes this damage and what to do about it when it happens to you.

What Causes Sewage Backup During Rain

When rain water comes down heavily and saturates the ground, it can cause a city’s sewage system to overload. Since most municipal sewage systems are aging and damaged to some degree, this can cause waste to come back up the pipes and into homes and businesses. A few other factors contribute to sewer backup:

• No sewer backflow prevention device in the building
• Combined storm and sewage pipelines
• Damage from tree roots
• A blockage in the city’s sanitary main

Any combination of these factors can lead to what is known as “black water,” or sewage, spilling into your business.

How to Prevent It

You can help prevent black water from entering your business. However, there are no guarantees. With heavy enough rains, backup is still possible. You can take these steps in your building to mitigate that risk:

• Install a prevention valve
• Replace plumbing with plastic pipes that trees can’t damage
• Repair any damaged lines

These solutions involve costly and time-consuming repairs. However, you can also help prevent backup by keeping your pipes as clean as possible. Be sure to dispose of grease and paper products properly.

What to Do

If sewer backup affects your business after heavy rains, be sure to call a professional cleanup crew in Asheville, NC. While you could try to clean it yourself, an expert crew is better equipped to disinfect your business correctly.
Visit http://www.SERVPROashevilleeast.com for more information on water damage.