 | Braden Peak is the manager of Roto-Rooter Sewer, Drain, Septic and Grease Trap Service in Pittsburg, KS. A Girard native and a graduate of Pittsburg State University, he is a licensed sewer contractor and has been with the company since 2002. He can be reached at 620-231-5630 or by emailing kpp_rotorooter@yahoo.com. You can also become a fan of Roto-Rooter of Pittsburg on Facebook.
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Plumbing
2013-06-25 09:41:32
Understanding flooded basements
A-That is a great question and since the recent rainfall caused a lot of flooding, this is a great time to address this issue. There are many causes of unwanted water in basements and the amount of water can also range from just a wet spot to several feet of water. Older homes and newer homes generally have different types of storm drainage because of changes in codes. Because of this, basement drainage issues must be diagnosed accordingly. The first step in water prevention is to learn how your basement is plumbed. Since there are many issues that can cause basements in both older homes and newer homes to take on water, I will share some recent service calls I am familiar with as a problem and solution scenario. Hopefully this will allow for a better understanding of what happens and what can be done to prevent it from happening again.
Older Home with storm water gravity drain to sanitary sewer:
Problem: Several inches of clear water standing in basement
Solution: Clean the clogged floor basin drain line that the perimeter lines around the basement drain into.
Problem: Several inches of dirty water standing in basement or remnants of toilet paper or solids around drain. Either the service lateral for the house is clogged or the city sanitary sewer main is clogged and/or overwhelmed with the amount of storm water running through it.
Solution: Clean service lateral or if the city main is overwhelmed, contact your local city office and report the problem. Also an inline backflow prevention device to keep city waste water from back flowing into your basement should be installed by a professional.
Home (Old or New) with Sump Pump:
Problem: The toilets are gurgling when the sump pump is running. The water keeps cycling causing the sump pump to run continuously.
Solution: Clear blockage from sanitary service lateral and replumb sump pump as soon as possible so that it does not discharge into the sanitary service lateral.
Problem: Sump pump not operating.
Solution: First of all, if you don’t feel comfortable with investigating the problem, consult with a professional. Check for power going to the electrical outlet serving the pump. Also, check the float switch on the pump. Determine if the pump needs to be replaced.
