There are signs that your sewer is beginning to block up. These are indicators to watch for and actions to take to prevent a messy situation. Your floor drain is your first warning.
If you notice water backing up from your floor drain when doing laundry or after a heavy rain, you need to be concerned.
The water will often drain away slowly and people will think the problem is solved. The reality is that the problem did not go away. It’s an indication that the line is getting partially blocked. Under a heavy load it cannot handle a large amount of water.
When the water has nowhere to go it will back up into your basement. Newer homes in London, Ontario have sump pumps that the weeping tiles are connected to. When there is a heavy rain, and a backup occurs in a newer home, it usually shows up during laundry. In older homes that do not have a sump pump, the weeping tile is more likely to be tied into the drain. In a heavy rain the water is trying to go down the sewer which is partially blocked, so then it backs up into the basement.
What You Need to do if You Think There is a Problem
At Salmon Plumbing, we suggest if you notice issues, get us out to your home. We will get the sewer line cleaned out. With cameras we can tell what is going on and advise you if there is anything further that should be done. In most cases a sewer clean-out is all that is required. It is just a matter of getting it done. Some people need to get drains cleaned regularly if they live in an older part of London.
Ignoring the warning signs can lead to major problems. The damage that is caused by a backed up sewer can be very expensive. Flooring, drywall and family treasures can be damaged.
