Sewer Backup And Water Damage In Toronto

If you experience floods in the greater Toronto area, you know that this can cause extensive water damage to homes and businesses. What few people realize is that the unsanitary issues caused by the sewer backup Toronto from sanitary sewer lines into the home through drainpipes. This creates health hazards in addition to damage that is both difficult and expensive to repair.

Most Toronto homeowners probably do not know that they are responsible for maintaining and repairing the pipeline underneath their home. A pipe filled with tree roots or one that is cracked or deteriorated can lead to groundwater coming in through the system, leading to possible sewer backup problems and water damage Toronto.

What Are The Main Causes of Sewer Backup?

Even though there are several different reasons for a sewer backup, these are the three primary reasons for sewer backup Toronto issues.

• Blockage because of tree roots – Trees and shrubs are going to seek moisture, which can lead them into the sewer line. This may lead to extensive damage due to cracks. Even though it starts small, as they grow, the damage begins to show. Not only can it damage the actual pipe, it may also cause blockages.
• Sanitary main – A blockage in the sanitary main can lead to serious issues as well. The water can enter into the home through floor drains, the sewage water will continue to leak if the blockage is not detected in time. If you notice that the water is entering into your basement rapidly, it is time to call a licensed plumber immediately.
• Water in the basement – Most of the basement flooding and subsequent water damage Toronto is thankfully not related to the sanitary sewer system. In many cases, the water is going to build up outside of the foundation wall and seep inwards. The basement walls and cement floors in many of those buildings are no longer waterproof, partly because of their deterioration. Oftentimes this happens after a saturated ground because of heavy or repeated rainstorms. Water sealing the basement can also help prevent flooding.

Issues That Sewer Backup Can Bring About

Excessive rainfall and snowmelt bring with them many problems. Among those problems, sewer back up is the most common in the city of Toronto. The flooding problem occurs due to overflow of water in the sewers. Often combined sewers are designed to work in tandem with the drainage system. The sewer lines re-route the sewerage when they are “surcharged” or are operating at full capacity. This leads to an excessive flow of sewerage called Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO).

Health Problems

Due to CSO raw and untreated sewerage gets released into the locality. This can lead to contamination of water in the combined lines. Also, the accumulated water can pose serious health problems for the locals. It can cause waterborne diseases like jaundice, malaria, etc. If weeping tiles are connected to the main sewer lines, chances are that CSO will occur.

Basement Flooding

In low lying areas, basement flooding is a very common sight. This can cause high damage to the basements’ structure. If the foundation gets damaged, the building becomes dangerous to inhabit. In case there is some loose electrical wiring, the standing water can act as a virtual death trap. Various methods can be adopted to protect one’s basement from such damages. The first and foremost thing is to disconnect the weeping tiles from the main sewer line. This ensures there is a fall in the back up from sewer.

What to Do in Case of a Sewer Backup

If you experience a sewer backup, remember that it can lead to electrical malfunctions, damage to your house or business, destruction of your valuables, and even disease and illness. You want to make sure that the affected property is quickly cleaned up to ensure that risks of mold, subsequent damage, and other inconveniences are minimized.

Installing a backup system for sewerage is the next step. These systems are cheap to install and are easily available. The basic component in such a system is a backwater valve. The valve can be installed as a double or triple valve system depending on the requirement. These systems are mostly installed in the front yard of a house. This is done to stop the excessive flow at the entry point itself.

By placing backwater valves in sewer lines, they block the flow of water in case of a CSO. This stops the inflow as well as outflow of water from the property. A simple pump and basin structure is essential at such a time. This system ensures that the house plumbing works normally even though the valves are shut. Thus, even during heavy rainfall, you would not have to worry about flooding in your home.

These systems are not easy to install. Professional waterproofing experts should be hired for such a job. Therefore, ensure that the plumber you hire has the necessary know-how about such procedures. Otherwise, you might have to face problems after the installation and get the work re-done.