It’s another weekend and you know that it is time for you to work in your woodshop in the basement. It has been months since you started building that gazebo frame for your best friend’s wedding. You have to finish it in two weeks so that it could be delivered to the wedding venue on time. It was very early in the morning when you decided to go down to your basement. You wore that same optimistic smile when you started down the stairs. But when you got to the bottom, the entire basement floor was flooded up to your ankles with wastewater. Your eyes widened at the soaked base of the gazebo. In a sort of panic, you call your sons to help you elevate your wood project. After that, you realized that with the foul smell, and the dark flooding, your septic system is in trouble. You immediately called your septic professional.
A clog in your septic system is never something you want to take lightly. The smell is terrible and it always affects the drains situated at the lowest areas in your house. It is usually the basement that is greatly affected if your house is built with one. Of course, the initial move for you is to think that somewhere is a clog or blockage that makes the sewage back up.
Here are some of the reasons why your basement drain is backing up:
1. Old drain issues
Houses that are old have drainage systems that are inadequate. This results in clogs, fixtures in the plumbing that are not vented, drain lines that are narrow, tree roots invading a collapsed line or the main line of the sewer. There are also temporary blockages that are caused by dumping solid wastes into drains. Make sure that you check every basement drain for cloggs. If the backup incident only occurs in one toilet or in one drain, then it must be an isolated clog. But is this is happening everywhere including your basement fixtures, and then the problem must be in the main line of the drainage.
2. New drain issues
For newer house, they are less likely to have such problems. With the modern plumbing methods and fixtures, clog would most probably be caused by large amounts of grease and solid wastes dumped down the drain. If you have such a home, you should have your tank pumped out regularly to prevent clogging.
3. Septic system blockages
A septic system is usually installed in homes that have an access to the community wastewater treatment facility. If you live in a rural area, then you must be a septic system owner. This would be composed of a septic tank, a network of pipes, and a drain field. With regular pumping of the septic tank, the sludge that may clog the system is removed. If this is not done, then the resulting clog will be evident when your basement backs up.
It is very difficult to see the damage that a septic system clog can do to your home, starting with your basement. Moments like this makes you reflect on how prudent you are as a homeowner. You have an obligation to maintain and care for your septic system. Calling a septic professional would be of great help to your dilemma but knowing what to do on your own first would give you a better grasp at the situation. Try getting the clog out with a drain cleaner or a plunger. A sewer auger or a snake could also help get rid of the blockage in your basement drain. You could purchase this or rent I, whichever you prefer. A plumbing or a septic professional would be of great help in the excavation of your septic system. Just be ready when the septic professional recommends it.
With the proper intervention, your septic system will be corrected in no time. Just be sure to be vigilant in doing what it takes to care for your system.