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Frequently Asked Questions
Basement Plumbing - General
If I have a sump pump installed in my basement and it fails, will
my basement flood?
The basement may flood with clear water, depending how much water is in the ground
around your house. If you want more protection, a battery-operated sump pump
is available as a backup to the electric driven sump pump.
What is a battery-operated sump pump?
A battery-operated sump pump can be used as a backup for the
standard electric motor-driven sump pump in case of a power failure.
It operates on a storage battery similar to the one in your car and includes
a battery charger.
In addition to the sump pump, what kind of protection do I need?
You need to do one of three things for protection:
1. Disconnect the basement floor drain and plumbing fixtures from the sewer, or
2. Install a check valve that prevents sewage backflow into your basement, or
3. Install an ejector pump that pumps the sewage into the sewer whether or not the sewer is flooded.
If my basement walls leak, is it clear water or sewage?
It's most likely rainwater or clear water from the ground.
What is a footing drain?
A footing drain is a pipe with holes that allows water in the ground to enter
it. The footing drain collects rainwater as it seeps down next to your basement
wall and allows it to flow to either a sump or a sewer. If it flows to a sump,
the sump includes a pump that pumps the water to the ground surface or to a storm
sewer outside the basement. A footing drain protects your basement walls and
floor from excessive water pressure by keeping water from collecting to high
levels on the outside. A footing drain or basement drain system is a kind of
french drain.
If I have an older house (before 1965), are the footing drains connected to the sewer?
Yes. If you have a basement without a sump pump, the footing drains are most likely connected to the sewer. The water drains into the sewer by gravity.
Are some basements more subject to flooding due to sewer backup than others?
Yes. Water seeks its own level. If your basement floor is below the water level in the city sewer system, it will flood to that level. Houses with basements at higher elevations may not experience flooding or water damage.
If my basement has neither a floor drain nor plumbing fixtures
connected to the city sanitary sewer, will my basement flood with sewage
if the city sewer backs up?
No. The plumbing in the basement is enclosed and sewage will not enter the basement
as long as the pipe joints are sound. The sewer water will rise in the piping
but will not enter the basement. If there are any doubts, a reputable licensed
plumber can verify the situation at your home.
Are the footing drains of new homes connected to the sanitary sewer system?
No. A new home with a basement normally has a sump pump that pumps the footing
drain water to the storm sewer. See state
of the art sewer connection
My house was constructed in a modern Michigan city in the 1970’s.
I have a sump pump and two floor drains in my basement. How does my basement
plumbing work?
Generally, one floor drain is connected to the sanitary sewer and one floor drain
is connected to the sump in this situation. One advantage of this type of plumbing
system is that the sanitary floor drain acts as a backup to sump pump. If the
sump pump is inoperable for any reason, the water will build up in the sump and
overflow onto the basement floor. The water then flows across the floor and down
the floor drain connected to the sanitary. If there are any doubts, a reputable
licensed plumber can verify the situation at your home.
Why aren't many older sewer systems as reliable as new separate sewer systems?
The footing drains or the perforated pipes around the basements of many older
homes remain connected to the sewer. If storm water can enter a sewer system,
the sewer system can flood under extreme conditions. See combined sewer systems
In addition, the pipe connecting an older home to the city sewer may be in disrepair. Tree roots can enter a sewer house lead and cause damage or blockage. The city can repair pipes in the city sewer system. However, the city has no juridsdiction to perform any work on private property.
If the electric sump pump fails in a new home, relatively clear water will backup from the sump and one of the floor drains into the basement. The water will flow across the floor into the other floor drain connected to the sanitary sewer. So the water level in the basement will not build up to any great extent. This is based on the premise that the home is served by a separate sewer system having adequate capacity. The floor drain connected to the sanitary acts as a safety measure against catastrophic flooding.
If a home does not have a reliable drain outlet for sanitary wastewater as
a safety measure, the homeowner should consider installing a back up battery-operated
sump pump.
How are roots chemically treated in a sewer lead?
When the substance is applied, it foams up to treat the whole inside
of the pipe. This is effective because many of the roots enter from the
top of the pipe. The substance kills the roots that it comes in contact
with at the time of treatment.
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