Sewage backing up
Posted by One-Entertainer-5499@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 78 comments
Depending on where your house sits elevation wise in relation to the other houses on your street, your sewage can start backing up within a few days after the grid goes down. If you haven’t experienced living in a house where the sewage backed up, let me tell you it’s awful. The best solution is a pipe plug, however, most people will not take the initiative to buy one ahead of time or know how to correctly install it. What are some ideas to stop the sewage from backing up if you don’t have a pipe plug ?
throwawaywitsec@reddit
I'm a plumber. There's no reason the city sewer should go down; everything is pitched. But use a backflow presenter on the main line if you're concerned about it; but have the plumber install a cleanout in both directions and allow you to access it to remove obstructions.
Berlynprimal@reddit
Can someone explain where to buy these and how to use them like I'm five? Or maybe direct me to a place that explains it?
overkill@reddit
Here's one on Amazon.
Basically you push it into the bowl and then inflate it, stopping any water/sewage coming up.
Postman556@reddit
Blocking inside the toilet does nothing for the connection where the plumbing toilet flange bolts to the ceramic base and wax seal.
overkill@reddit
The one I have (and have never used) has a long enough hose on it that it will go through to the soil pipe.
Also, this is in the UK, so toilet and plumbing design is probably a little different. We don't have wax seals for instance.
Lancifer1979@reddit
I’m assuming you’re talking about the lowest bowl in the house… what if other, smaller drains are closer to where the sewer leaves the house… like a shower
overkill@reddit
Yes, lowest on the house, or all ground floor toilets. If you have other ones then you'll need some kind of reverse flow valve for the whole house.
ErinRedWolf@reddit
If my lowest toilet is on the second floor (multilevel attached townhome), is this something I don’t have to worry about? The kitchen is also on the second floor; showers are one floor above that.
overkill@reddit
Probably not. If water reaches that high you have other problems.
Sk8rToon@reddit
Lived in an apartment where the shower had all the sewage. Roots in the pipes at the street plus new tenants upstairs to us who didn’t quite get how things work meant we had a diaper floating in our shower! Landlords tried to pin it on us when I was 12 & the only child yet upstairs had a newborn. Yeah that wasn’t us, we were just the victim.
Sk8rToon@reddit
Lived in an apartment where the shower had all the sewage. Roots in the pipes at the street plus new tenants upstairs to us who didn’t quite get how things work meant we had a diaper floating in our shower! Landlords tried to pin it on us when I was 12 & the only child yet upstairs had a newborn. Yeah that wasn’t us, we were just the victim.
ishootthedead@reddit
When the SHTF, the best way to keep the S from HTF is with a plug. Without a plug, hydrolic cement will do the trick. Sometimes SHTF problems require SHTF solutions.
Blueskies777@reddit
A towel or rag
adhd_mechanic@reddit
And sometimes, the shit hits YOU
Skimmington16@reddit
In Soviet America…
WishIWasThatClever@reddit
The best solution is to have a backflow prevention valve added to your sewer line before it enters your house. I plan to have a much-needed clean out valve added in the yard at the same time.
Note that I live in Florida, the land of no basements and the frost line is ground level (eg 0”). Our sewer lines aren’t that deep.
Bitter_Albatross25@reddit
Plumber here I have seen them fail multiple times, especially in a slow backup. You get a piece of debris stuck across the flap the water will still come in.
WishIWasThatClever@reddit
Eek. Perhaps I need to revisit this path then.
While my single story home has never flooded or backed up, I’m in a low lying hurricane prone area in Florida with no backflow prevention and no clean out in my yard. Our sewage lift station was shut down during the 2024 hurricanes so I’m terrified of backup. What’s a reasonable alternative to a backflow preventer?
Blueskies777@reddit
A towel or rage.
Bitter_Albatross25@reddit
Perhaps a backup manual lift station is your answer manual lift I am not endorsing this product but something like this would give you what you require. I would add spring check valves or weighted checks in the vertical position between this and your existing system so If you start operating this the water doesn’t flow back down into the existing pumps.
WishIWasThatClever@reddit
The way I wrote that was confusing. By “our lift station”, I mean 60% of the entire city couldn’t use their toilet for a couple days. The city had to shut down the lowest elevation sewage plant in the city to save the pumps from salt water damage and avoid a long term outage.
Residents were told to not put anything down the sewer system but nothing was technically stopping them. So if too many people don’t follow orders, it has to back up into homes.
In the 1960s, it made a lot of sense to put the largest sewage plant at the lowest elevation in the city so waste could naturally flow downhill. No one could imagine that plant ever being inundated by hurricane storm surge. Hurricane Helene had other ideas.
Bitter_Albatross25@reddit
I get it, I made another comment on here about a pressurized sewer system, if you operate your pumps with proper spring loaded check valves you can push your waste water into the system. It may push into the next lowest point which could be the street or a neighbor, but if you’re protected that’s what matters. The city can bring in honey wagons to remove the waste if they so desire.
WishIWasThatClever@reddit
This is super important to me for obv reasons. lol. Apologies for the questions. When you mentioned “your pumps” what pumps are you talking about?
The houses and businesses do not have individual pumps for sewer here. It’s gravity fed into the municipal sewer system. I’m not sure the point at which the municipal sewer pumps become relevant. I do know the city refers to all of the sewage plants as lift stations, which is kinda funny bc I know the sewage location for my house is at least three feet lower in elevation than I am. (Elevations above sea level around here are commonly in the single digits.)
WrathOfGood@reddit
Lift stations generally pump the waste to the treatment plants. So they are basically lifting the sewage from the lowest point on the city sewers, which is often near waterways, to the treatment plants.
WishIWasThatClever@reddit
Very helpful. Thank you. That makes a lot more sense now.
dittybopper_05H@reddit
No it can't.
Septic system. Those can have their own issues, of course, but a problem down the street or at the sewage treatment facility isn't going to affect my ability to flush.
And I live close enough to a river that I can haul water for that purpose if I get a few buckets and a wagon. And yes, I'm above the flood plain.
Many-Health-1673@reddit
I can tell you when the sewer department runs a jet rodder downstream it can create a back pressure that will blow shit out of your toilets and tubs.
dittybopper_05H@reddit
No it cant because I’m not connected to the sewer system. I have an independent septic system. They can blow shit until they’re blue in the face and it’s not going to affect me in the least.
Many-Health-1673@reddit
I was referring to those on a community sewer system, not septic.
The comment above you said sewage can back up.
I have had septic back up on me before as well when a tractor ran over the building sewer line from the house to the tank and crushed it.
dittybopper_05H@reddit
You replied to me.
And I did point out that septic systems can have their own issues. But I don't have tractors running around my backyard, and in fact the land behind me is "protected wetlands" (read: Government approved swamp) so I'm not going to have neighbors running over my septic system with an International Harvester.
FelineOphelia@reddit
Jesus, shut up
dittybopper_05H@reddit
I appreciate the worship, truly, but I'm not Jesus.
Many-Health-1673@reddit
Yes, and you said sewer can't back up.
dittybopper_05H@reddit
I said my septic system couldn’t back up like OP describes.
roberttheiii@reddit
Maybe it can't at your house, but it absolutely can at some houses. Namely ones that have a lifting station between them and the plant or houses with septic that rely on a pumping system. Probably other situations I'm not aware. Here's one random government site that mentions it as a risk: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/environmental-health/on-site-sewage-systems/maintaining-your-system/what-to-do-during-power-outage
dittybopper_05H@reddit
No septic pumps or lifting station. It's all purely gravity fed. House is built into the side of a hill, so we have a walk-out basement in the back. That means the kitchen sink, toilet, tub, and bathroom sink are all on the second floor on the back of the house. They all drain into the septic tank which is lower than any part of the house, and then into the leach field which is likewise lower.
If we were to put a bathroom in our basement we might have an issue with that, but we keep it unfinished as a handy storage space and somewhere to put the litter boxes for the cats. I've got my big bookshelf down there.
YonKro22@reddit
You can connect a bladder as you use to clear out a 4-in drain and fill it up with water if you have water pressure and if you look downhill you might have plenty of water pressure for a while and then you can cap off that hose
fresh2042@reddit
Install a backwater valve on your drain line
BallsOutKrunked@reddit
Septic crew, chiming in.
More ownership on your system but if you take care of it, septic just keeps on trucking.
Outlet filter, screens on drains, pump it out every big election year!
2beatenup@reddit
Ah o see what you is here…. On those year already sees a lot of shit getting thrown around. No one will notice … lol
Lillianrik@reddit
Or, made sure you have blackflow valves installed. A backflow valve ensures water or sewage can flow in only one direction.
I am not a plumber or contractor -- I've just heard a plumber talk about them.
TempusSolo@reddit
This is about the only thing I like about being on a septic tank.
tabascotazer@reddit
Sump pump hooked up to generator with a hose. Spray that shit in corner of property
Better-Obligation-19@reddit
You can plug into a generator every so often if you have one available or even a dedicated generator for your septic. You wouldn't need a very big one. Run your well and septic off of it.
One-Entertainer-5499@reddit (OP)
I’ve heard stuffing tennis balls in the toilets may work. You also have to block up the sinks and bathtubs Gorilla tape 🤷♂️
WrathOfGood@reddit
The problem with that is that the seal between the bottom of the toilet and the floor is just a wax ring that is not meant to handle pressurized waste, so if all of you’re uphill neighbors flushes are headed you way it can create enough pressure to break that wax seal. It will also come up through your shower and tub drains and eventually sink drains.
Better to have an inflatable plug that is installed between your house and the city sewer system, or preferably a ball valve.
It’s a very nasty scene. I have seen several of these as a property insurance adjuster. Usually cause by a failed municipal lift station. I think of it happened to my house I would just have to move. I would never feel comfortable in that house again, no matter how much cleaning happened before the house was rebuilt. You basically gut the house from the floor up to about 3 feet. Clean it as well as you can then lacquer everything to seal it and rebuild.
One-Entertainer-5499@reddit (OP)
Thank you
Evil_Weevil_Knievel@reddit
We have septic but with a pump. That’s a good reminder to have a backup plan for powering that.
tragicxharmony@reddit
Okay, maybe this is a good place to ask this question. We’re renting a 1950s house with a basement, laundry in the basement, at least 2 floor drains that I know of. No idea how to install anything or where it would install to. But we have this chilling outside next to our outside water source. Did someone already fill this in for plumbing-related reasons? Or is this coincidental and not plumbing-related at all?
Routine_Mortgage_499@reddit
Luckily I have a cesspool. my only utilities are power and internet.
BallsOutKrunked@reddit
cesspool or septic tank? cesspools are pretty old school!
d1v1debyz3r0@reddit
I thought he was joking too! TIL
Routine_Mortgage_499@reddit
Cesspool. They are common here on Hawaii island because it's mostly basalt and nobody wants to spend the money on the infrastructure. They are being phased out and replaced with septic tanks, but really, it's not that big of a difference.
Zaphanathpaneah@reddit
Cesspools are still pretty common in some areas. Where I was born in mid-Missouri, my family (and most other homes) out in the countryside all had cesspools, and still do.
BallsOutKrunked@reddit
That's wild, I always thought those things were pretty gnarly for ground water contamination.
Bitter_Albatross25@reddit
As a plumber I understand many of the above points, I have personally watched back water check valves fail when there is gentle waves of debris lapping across the check(think ocean waves on a beach) plugging the check valve open.
Cement in the line is interesting, it’s not easy to remove after the event is happened unless you intent to cut out that section of pipe. Anything that is left in your line after the event will cause solids to build up on it and not flow down properly.
To be continued
Eredani@reddit
My understanding is a main line inflatable backflow valve is the way to go. But I haven't unable to figure out where my main sewer connection is.
Mcshroomie@reddit
Ohhhhh shit!!!!
Plumbercanuck@reddit
My good lord. Back water valve.
Droidy934@reddit
Oh yes life is going to be "ripe" for a while .
MerelyMortalModeling@reddit
Go-to your last clean out access and from there insert an inflatable plug
If you are like most people and don't just happen to have an inflatable sewer plug pack it tightly with a garbage bag full of garbage bags. Tie off the outer bag and and leave part of the bags accessible from the clean out.
It will stop back flow and will allow you to re access your sewer tap. It would kinda suck if you permanently destroyed your sewer tap for a SHTF scenario which turned out to be more of a "poo grazed the fan" scenario.
SheistyPenguin@reddit
I feel like this is one of those areas where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
If you have issues with backflow today, then you should take steps to address it TODAY. That may mean installing a backflow preventer valve, and/or a new sewer cleanout somewhere accessible between your house and the street.
Otherwise, the first kind of triage I can think of is to get to your sewer cleanout, and insert something that would block the flow of sewage into your house. (It will probably flow into your yard instead, which still sucks but is less of a health hazard than it being in your home).
Beyond that, some kind of battery-operated bilge pump to get the sewer water out of places it shouldn't be.
Would be interested to hear opinions of plumbing and sanitation workers on it!
si2k18@reddit
Basement standpipe
Or a backflow preventer
-jspace-@reddit
New fear unlocked.
BCVinny@reddit
Or perhaps unclogged
RottenRott69@reddit
I have a plug and air hose adapter. This reminds me it would probably be a good idea to check it from time to time to be sure the rubber has not deteriorated.
AmosTali@reddit
pour a bag of quick setting cement down your outside sewage cleanout - tiz a rather permanent solution though.
here, no worries, on an aerator system - only electric it needs is for the aerator motor. no electric you say? then out comes my windmill that attaches directly to aerator shaft…
davidm2232@reddit
You could put in a simple valve. A 4" glue-in PVC valve is $50 at any home improvement store. They also make real backflow preventers.
cancerdad@reddit
I wouldn’t put a backflow preventer on a sewer line. Eventually it will become a forward-flow preventer.
davidm2232@reddit
I like the idea of a simple ball valve
cancerdad@reddit
Plug valves are better for sewage than ball valves in my experience. A knife gate valve is another okay option for sewage. The important thing is that the valves are full port, meaning they don’t reduce the effective diameter of the pipe.
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
Aerobic fan forced septic system with field lines, so not a concern.
NorthernFisher1101@reddit
Bag of quick-dry cement...mix it up and shove it in the stack....don't forget the floor-drain either.
Bored_Acolyte_44@reddit
Bottom of the stack???
NorthernFisher1101@reddit
Houses with basements, the 'stack' is the vertical pipe that runs from just above the roof (to vent the stack) through the basement floor before turning and connecting to the sewer lines. All drains in the house connect to the stack. Just before the stack goes through the basement floor will be an opening that has a removable plug in it. The floor drain enters the stack under the floor, which is why you have to plug that separately.
Bored_Acolyte_44@reddit
Thanks for the explanation. I am now trying to figure out if I have one. I have never seen anything like this on or in my house.
NorthernFisher1101@reddit
Unless your house was built by a shady contractor or independently, stacks for sewer connection are a code requirement anywhere I know of.
silasmoeckel@reddit
The best prep is septic.
A ball valve in the sewer line.
Then the now code backflow preventer.
A plug is that union set of cheap prep and workable.
Hydraulic cement is a basic repair supply, this will be quite disgusting and hard to use once it's a problem but far better than everything flowing into your house.
Now if you live in an apartment the cement may be your only option but remember your neighbors wont have it so things may be untenable regardless.
Remember either way it's coming out of manholes etc in the low areas.