Paul Dreher Director of Personal Insurance View Bio

Click here for an infographic on how to recognize the signs of a sewer backup.

A sewer backup issue in your home can lead to serious consequences—including clogged pipes, contaminated water, fire hazards and property damage caused by sewage buildup or mold accumulation. The most common cause of a backup in your sewer lateral (the pipe that runs from your area’s sanitary sewer main to your home) is from items that the line is not meant to handle. With this in mind, here are a few tips for protecting your sewer line and preventing backups.

General Best Practices

  • Maintain your sewer system. Contact a plumber or specialist to conduct a routine inspection to check that your system is functioning properly.
  • Locate your property’s sewer lateral to help determine if your line is at risk of being damaged by tree and shrub roots. If so, seek professional help to trim these roots or replace your line with a plastic pipe.
  • Do not allow coffee grinds, grease (including bacon fat), food waste, and other clog-causing materials down the kitchen sink. Instead, dispose of it in the garbage.
  • As a general rule, only flush toilet paper down your drain. Most other products are not designed to deteriorate quickly and can clog your sewer line.

Do You Have Water in Your Basement?

Most water entering the basement is not due to a sewer backup, but rather from poor soil grading around your home’s exterior. If you have a water problem and have ruled out sewer backup, making sure that water is draining away from your home’s foundation properly can often fix the issue.

Check Your Coverage

Many homeowners mistakenly assume that a sewer backup incident will be covered by their homeowners insurance policy, but standard homeowners policies typically exclude such losses.

Don’t make this costly mistake. Be sure to secure additional, personalized coverage to protect your home (and your wallet) in the event of a sewer backup. For more personal risk management
guidance and homeowners insurance solutions, contact us today.

This flyer is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice. © 2008, 2013, 2016, 2021 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.