In the Five Boroughs of New York City it is common for homeowners to experience sewage backups with heavy rains. The act tends to confuse most homeowners, leaving them in a panic and calling every sewer cleaner they know to resolve the issue. Most often the homeowner will put a temporary solution in place without understanding why this is a re-occurring issue. Many of these backups lead to thousands of dollars in damages, for this reason it is important to understand why your sewer is backing up in rainy conditions.
Malfunction of the city sewer
Many of the NYC sewer systems are older than the properties they are servicing. The sewer system fronting your home may have a break in the pipe which is not allowing the rain water to flow at full capacity.
City sewer backup
In other cases the city sewer may have a complete blockage, disallowing the water to flow. The result may end up in the water backing up into your private sewer, and your basement. If you think there is a problem with the city sewer, it is suggested to call 311 and request that “the sewer is dragged”.
Issues with your private sewer
The second most common reason for experiencing backups from rain water is due to a break or clog in the homeowner’s sewer line. It is always suggested to contact a reputable sewer cleaning company for a detailed diagnosis. Many homeowners want to avoid spending $300-$500 on a diagnosis and may end up paying $75 for a routine sewer cleaning. The problem is that the homeowner never really became aware of what the problem is and how they are going to make a permanent resolution.
If you are lucky enough to get out of the situation with a clogged sewer, the process should take 1-2 hours before the pipe is cleared and functioning. If the sewer cleaning does not resolve your issue, you may have to insert a camera to determine what the actual problem is. If you have reached this point there is a good chance that the pipe is separated or cracked and will require excavating to repair the pipe. In this case the rain water is backing up due to a limited capacity of water flow and ends up back in the house as it has nowhere else to go.
Check valves or sewer back water valves
Many homeowners are quick to install a valve before they truly understand the root of their sewer problems. Unfortunately a back water valve will only serve as a band aid if the sewer has a break or separation in it. Another scenario where people try to avoid spending money today, and fail to understand that this will result in a much greater cost once the “band aid” fails.
A check valve is suggested if the problem has to do with the city sewer line. There are many types of valves and setups that may best serve your home. It is best to have a professional and licensed plumber perform an on-site diagnosis to determine what is best for your home.
