Sewer backups are one of the most common and devastating events that can strike a home. Every year 500,000 homes experience sewer backups. The financial cost may be staggering and unless your insurance policy specifically covers a sewer backup you may find that you have very costly and incredibly overwhelming repairs to your home.
Some of these backups occur when extremely heavy rain overwhelms your municipal sewer system. Other times the origin of the backup may be closer to your house, like tree roots blocking the sewer line.
A simple and relatively inexpensive device called a check valve will provide significant protection to your home from these events. A check valve is a simple device which only allows water and sewage to flow in one direction, out of your home. In the event of a major flood overwhelming a city’s sewer system which may cause backups the check valve will not allow water to come backwards into your home creating a messy, messy situation.
There are two basic types of check valves, the first is known as a flap check valve which permits sewage to escape but then the flap closes if the sewage is starting to back up. The advantage of this type of valve is they work 24/ 7 automatically but there is a possibility of some leakage through the valve.
The second type is known as a gate check valve which will be 100% effective, the downside is the valve requires a manual procedure to close off the sewer line.
Given most of us may not be able to react quickly enough the flap check valve is probably a good solution. Or, if you’re particularly concerned you can install both devices for maximum protection. Make sure that you use a competent licensed plumber to install these devices because you don’t want to learn the hard way the valves were installed improperly. These are also helpful to prevent septic tank backups, too.
Moses wrote, “So you shall not pollute the land in which you are…”
(Numbers 35:33)
Likewise, we need to be careful to protect our homes from being polluted and a check valve may be a very useful tool.
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Excellent information. Aerobic systems, now common in many urban sub-communities, will need this application as well. Even though your system only serves a small community, the possibility of f flood oriented situation still exists as many will attest to. In Texas, they seem to be more prevalent around lakeside communities.
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