Blocked sanitary pipes are the most common cause of sewer backups. Sanitary pipes are usually located between homes and the municipality's sewer main.
Blockages occur for many reasons, including:
- Soil settlement
- Misaligned joins
- Infiltration of tree roots
- Collapsed pipes
- Presence of objects or debris
- Fat, oil and grease (FOG)
Sewer backups: What to do
Your floor drain will usually show you if there is a problem with your sewer system. You might see sewer discharge rise in the pipe inside the floor drain, or even spill out of the drain onto your floor.
If you have a sewer blockage, follow these steps:
Stop using plumbing fixtures |
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To avoid more sewer discharge, stop using your plumbing fixtures. Plumbing fixtures include sinks, toilets, dishwashers, washing machines and any other fixtures or appliances that drain wastewater. |
Call a plumber or drain cleaning company |
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Call a plumber or drain cleaning company to determine the source and location of the blockage. Sewer blockages can happen on either the homeowner's property or along municipal property. Responsibility for the repair will depend on the location of the blockage. Homeowner's and business owners are responsible for blocked pipes within their property lines. To determine the location of a suspected blockage, businesses can contact PULSE. |
Blockages from tree roots
Tree roots can sometimes enter pipes in older neighbourhoods and cause blockages. The root can travel a long way, depending on the type of tree. If you or your plumber suspect that tree roots are entering the sewer system and causing a backup, please call Pulse at 780-743-7000.
The municipality will investigate. If the municipality identifies root infiltration, it will implement a plan to eliminate or control the root growth. However, if the investigation finds root infiltration on private property, the homeowner or tenant will be billed for the time spent investigating.
Sewer main backup
On rare occasions, a municipal sanitary main can become blocked. If the blockage is not detected in time, sewage can back up into homes through the floor drain. Usually it happens slowly and is like a service blockage.
If you or your plumber suspect a sewer main blockage, please contact PULSE.
Water in basement
Poor landscaping sometimes allows soil to settle adjacent to the house. If the problem is not corrected, rainwater can flow towards the house and run down the outside foundation wall. In older homes, cracks may have developed in the foundation or floor slab. The cracks allow the water to enter the basement.
The first step to correcting the issue is to improve lot draining on your property. It is important to also ensure you connect your eaves trough pipes with the drainpipe at least one metre away from the home.
Most basement flooding is not related to the sanitary sewer system.