There is not much worse than a sewage backup in your home. Standing sewage in your home can smell incredibly unpleasant and carries bacteria and viruses that are very harmful to your family.
If left unattended, a sewage backup can cause more significant damage to your home, including mold and mildew growth and structural damage. But sometimes, it is difficult to identify any drain blockages in your home as a sewage backup.
There are many causes of sewage backups, including flooding and broken or overflowing sump pumps. In order to identify a sewage backup, you need to know the signs that you are experiencing one in your home.
Our team at Liberty Restoration has identified six of the most common signs of a sewage backup in your home so you can spot them before they become a more significant problem for you.
1. Foul Odor In Your Home
Our homes are full of various odors all the time. The smells constantly change from the food we cook to perfumes and colognes we wear. But if this odor is especially bothersome and only seems to present itself when you are near sink, shower, or bathtub drains, you may have a sewage backup in your home.
Sewage backup smells like a mix of rotten eggs and sewage and is incredibly unpleasant when it begins to linger in your home. You can spot the location of a sewage backup in your home if the smell is concentrated on one specific drain.
2. Slow Draining
It is not unlikely that you have experienced a slow drain at least once. While there are many causes of a slow-moving drain, there is a chance that a sewage backup in your home causes the slow draining.
If you are unsure what the cause of the blockage in your drains is, you should begin by pouring boiling water down the drain. In many cases, this should clear any blockages. However, if you pour boiling water down your drain and the slow draining persists, you should reach out to a professional to inspect the drain because this indicates a more substantial problem.
3. Gurgling Sound Coming From The Drain
We do not often expect to hear noises coming through our drains. However, if you hear a gurgling sound coming from your toilet or sink and shower drains, it may indicate that you have a blockage in your sewage line. When you hear this gurgling noise, it is a sign that there is a blockage along the line that has created pressure.
This gurgling sound can result in air bubbles forming in the line. As the air bubbles escape, we hear the gurgling. If you are experiencing persistent gurgling sounds from your drains, you should reach out to a professional because this may be a sign of a sewage backup in your home.
4. Water Back Up In Your Shower Or Bathtub
Much like when dealing with a slow-moving drain, the presence of standing water in your shower or bathtub does not necessarily mean that you have a sewage backup in your home. However, it is undoubtedly a problem that you should try to remedy and keep an eye on.
While you may notice some standing water in your pipes, it shouldn’t pool in your bathtub or shower. This persistent standing water might present even more problems for your plumbing down the road and should be addressed by a professional as soon as possible.
5. Standing Water In Your Yard
After an especially heavy rainstorm or flooding, you may notice standing water in your yard. However, if you see standing water in your yard without cause, this may be a sign that you have a sewage backup in your home.
You should examine the standing water in your yard to see if you can identify where the water is coming from and if it is coming out of a sewer line. If this is the case, you should contact a team of professionals to come check out the plumbing in your home. They can verify if there is a blockage in the line and remove it before it causes more substantial problems in your home.
6. Lush Grass Spots
Gardeners purchase manure to fertilize their plants with rich nutrients not readily available in their local soil. If you notice incredibly lush spots in your yard, your grass may be pulling in these nutrients from sewage that is backed up and leaking into your yard.
If there is no reasonable cause for this lush, overgrown patch in your yard, it is a sign that you have a sewage backup in your home. While you may enjoy having a lush, green yard, it is essential that you reach out to a professional if you notice this because it can result in sewage lingering in your home.
Seeking Flood Restoration After A Sewage Backup In Your Home
If you are experiencing a sewage backup in your home, it is crucial that you seek out help from a professional as soon as possible. If left unattended and uncleaned, you and your family may be exposed to diseases, including hepatitis A or E. coli.
A team of restoration professionals can help dry out any affected areas and prevent the development of mold and mildew, which may result in even more respiratory irritation. Our team at Liberty Restoration is trained and experienced and can quickly restore your home to its former glory. In addition to sewage cleanup, we provide asbestos abatement, board-up services, and fire restoration. If you are dealing with a sewage backup in your home or would like to speak to our team about other services we provide, reach out today.