How a Storm Affects Your Septic System
Most people don’t think about their sewerage system when a big storm comes around. But the fact of the matter is a severe storm or even prolonged rainfall can have adverse effects on a home’s septic system. In this post, Caldwell Plumbing will be looking at how and why storms can damage a home’s septic system, especially homes across Southern Ontario and Durham Region. We’ll also be looking at how you can prevent or reduce any damage with a simple, one-time installation of plumbing equipment.
The Effects of a Storm on a Septic System
Depending on your septic system, there are three major ways a storm can impact your home:
A backed-up septic system.
When rainwater accumulates and has nowhere else to go, it will start filling up your drain field pipes and eventually fill up your septic tank.
Flooded sinks in your home.
Backed-up wastewater will flow back through your plumbing and cause your skinks to flood. In the worst-case scenario, you could end up with flooded bathrooms or a kitchen.
A flooded drain field.
If the soil around your home and drain field becomes too saturated with rainwater, it won’t be able to absorb any more water. When this happens, water won’t be able to flow out of your septic system efficiently.
Southern Ontario is a Big Target for Septic Damage
You may remember the Toronto flood back in 2013. The flood caused power outages for days for tens of thousands of people. Even a public transit train was caught in the rushing rainwater. It was bad news all around. But a small fixture made the difference for many people on an individual level—it prevented much of the problems listed above that ended up being commonplace. The fixture was a backwater valve.
Backwater Valves Offer a Solution
Whether it’s a massive flooding incident or simply a few successive rainy days, backwater valves make a huge difference in managing your water levels. Many people avoid installing them because they don’t realize how important they are. These little fixtures are mighty combatants when it comes to fending off floods and excessive rainwater.
A backwater valve is a small fixture installed on your septic system that prevents sewage and water from back up into your home when the mainline is backed up. It’s designed to close automatically when wastewater starts back through the lines. You might have also heard it referred to as other names, including a sewer backwater valve, mainline backflow preventer and backflow prevention valve.
With a backwater valve installed on your sewerage system, no water can come back into your home during excessive rainwater or flooding. Often these valves are installed near a basement to prevent water from coming into it, but they can also be added near the first floor near the bottom of a hill. Of all the different services offered by a plumbing company, few are as important as a backwater valve.
Get a Backwater Valve Installed—Before It’s Too Late
Backwater valve installation is an upfront investment in your home. But in just the right—or wrong—situation, it could save you thousands of dollars in home repairs caused by water and flood damage. If you didn’t know about them before, now might be a good time to look into installing one.
Because of environmental concerns, the Greater Toronto area is becoming more and more prone to flooding. If you’re ready to make sure your home stays safe in the floods to come, Caldwell Plumbing can help install backwater valves or repair and maintain your current ones. Our expert plumbers provide excellent service at affordable rates, and we’ll help make sure your home stays safe. Contact us today to learn more!
