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Basement Flooding
Unfortunately, occasional basement flooding may occur for individual home owners.
Trouble occurs when a large object is flushed down the sewer and lodges against the roots or when there is an exceptionally heavy amount of rainfall and the roots prevent the water from flowing through the sewer as quickly as needed in order to prevent a backup.
Trees as Causes of Flooding
That old tree in your front or backyard may be the cause of your basement flooding. Trees are typically hydrophilic, and the roots from trees located near the sewer line often grow through small cracks in the mortar around the tile joint, ultimately growing to form large masses within the sewer pipe, creating an obstruction. As long as the sewer line is used regularly, the roots usually stop growing at a point which will still permit ordinary usage.Trouble occurs when a large object is flushed down the sewer and lodges against the roots or when there is an exceptionally heavy amount of rainfall and the roots prevent the water from flowing through the sewer as quickly as needed in order to prevent a backup.
Solutions
This problem may be corrected by the following possible solutions. Ultimately one needs to consult with their licensed plumber and civil engineer to determine more specifically what options are most likely able to deal with the water problem(s) you are experiencing:Downspout Drainage
If the downspouts connect with the house drain or sewer, basement flooding can occur when the underground connections become broken, causing the water to seep through the foundation in the vicinity of the break. Or if the downspout is emptying into a sewer which is clogged by tree roots or other obstruction, the sewer may back up into the basement. The earliest subdivision and individual homes built prior to Village incorporation of most likely to have such connections.Disconnecting
By code the downspouts should be disconnected, which will let the rain be absorbed into the ground instead of entering the house sewer. If rainwater from downspouts is being discharged onto the ground, be sure to use splash blocks or other means to direct the flow of water well away from the house foundation.Exterior Grading
Basement floor and wall leaks can also be caused by excessive amounts of ground water collecting around the basement walls due to improper grading. It is extremely important that the ground around the foundation be sloped away from the house for several feet in order to prevent excessive amounts of water from accumulating in the soil next to the house.
Footing Drains
Most basements have a footing drain around the outside wall which is designed to collect ground water in the soil and keep it from seeping through cracks in the basement floor and walls. In older homes, the footing drain is connected directly to the house sanitary sewer. When a basement develops leaks in the floor or walls, it is often due to blockage or breakage of the footing drains. When the footing drains are not functioning properly, the ground water collects around the foundation of the house instead of draining into the sewer system.Footing Solutions
If your basement is flooding due to problems with the footing drains, here are three possible solutions, none of which are inexpensive:- Clean the footing drains
- Disconnect the footing drains from the sanitary sewer and install a sump pump. Footing drains should not be connected to the sanitary sewer line by code.
- Eliminate deep roots
Install A Backwater Valve
A mechanical valve or a check valve will help prevent basement flooding. A check valve that closes automatically when flow through the sewer line reverses may be installed either outside the house or inside the basement, depending on your specific situation. A mechanical valve is normally located outside the basement and must be opened or closed manually.Clogged Valves
Check valves installed in sewer lines sometimes become clogged with debris and fail to close completely. When this happens, the valve will slow down the flow of sewage but will not stop it completely. For this reason, a valve should not be depended upon completely, and the valve should always remain accessible for service and repair. Remember that when a valve is installed in a house sewer, the house plumbing cannot be used during a storm when the valve is closed to prevent basement flooding.- Install Floor Drain Standpipe
- Install Overhead Sewer System
- Sewer Cleaning
- Sewer Pipe Replacement
- Tile Replacement
Install a Floor Drain Standpipe
A standpipe installed in the floor drain will raise the overflow level. The standpipe is designed to hold back the water only if it would have flooded several" deep. If the pressure builds to a higher point, it is better to let some of the water flow onto the floor in order to equalize the pressure, rather than taking a chance on having the sewer and floor broken. The standpipe may be left in place at all times if the floor drain is not needed.
Plugging the Floor Drain
It is not a good idea to plug the floor drain when the sewer surcharges and the flow begins to back up through the drain. If the drain is plugged, pressure in the piping under the floor may build up sufficiently to break the tiles and heave the basement floor.
Install an Overhead Sewer System
An overhead sewer is a system in which all sewage from above ground level flows by gravity to the Village sewer, but all sewage and storm water collected below grade in the basement must be pumped up to the house sewer at a connection near the basement ceiling. There are no direct connections between the main sewer system and the basement, so there is no way for the sewage to backup into the basement area.Costly Solution
Although an overhead system is very effective in eliminating basement backups, the plumbing charges required make it a costly solution. However, it is still a good choice for homeowners who have a substantial investment in finished basements or who have valuable equipment or storage items housed in the case.
Disadvantages of Overhead Systems
One disadvantage of an overhead system is that the pumps used to force the water up from the basement level will not operate during a power outage, so overflow could occur if the power is out for an extended time. Even so, the overhead system in most cases is the most effective way to prevent basement flooding.When excessive ground water is allowed to accumulate around the foundation of the house, water may seep into the basement through the basement floor and walls.
Sewer Cleaning
In many cases, periodic rodding is all that is needed to control root growth and reduce the likelihood of sewer backup. Rodding maybe needed as often as every six months or as infrequently as every few years, depending upon how fast the tree roots grow.Sewer Pipe Replacement
The most effective (and most expensive) method of eliminating tree roots is to dig up old sewer pipe where the obstruction is located and replace it with new pipe. The good news is the sewer pipe has joints with an extremely tight seal which virtually eliminates the possibility of tree roots growing into the sewer line in the future.Tile Replacement
When a heavy rainfall causes the quantity of storm water to exceed the capacity of the Village's sewer system, pressure builds up in the system and water can back up into unprotected basements. If your basement is affected by backups caused by surcharging in the system, there are several courses of action available to you.